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The differences between formulation chemists and research chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a research chemist has an average salary of $75,843, which is higher than the $66,678 average annual salary of a formulation chemist.
The top three skills for a formulation chemist include scale-up, R and product development. The most important skills for a research chemist are laboratory equipment, method development, and R.
| Formulation Chemist | Research Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $66,678 | $75,843 |
| Hourly rate | $32.06 | $36.46 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 3,011 | 53,769 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A formulation chemist is responsible for generating new concepts for product development that adhere to quality standards and safety regulations. Formulation chemists identify product opportunities by analyzing the current industry trends, developing cost-reduction initiatives, and determining efficient formulations through in-depth research and laboratory experiments. They write formulation reports and product processing, collaborating with the marketing and sales team for brand promotion and awareness. A formulation chemist must have a critical understanding of scientific methods, including chemical mixing, to achieve desired outputs.
A research chemist specializes in conducting studies and experiments to develop new products. Their duties primarily focus on conducting research and assessments, gathering and analyzing chemical samples, developing ideas, conducting tests to study chemical reactions, maintaining records of all procedures, and utilizing previous studies. Their research findings can be used to create new medicines, enhance existing products, and lead to innovations. When it comes to employment, a research chemist may work for pharmaceutical companies, private laboratories, government agencies, and learning institutions.
Formulation chemists and research chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Formulation Chemist | Research Chemist | |
| Average salary | $66,678 | $75,843 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $94,000 | Between $53,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Frederick, MD | McLean, VA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Apple | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a formulation chemist and a research chemist in terms of educational background:
| Formulation Chemist | Research Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between formulation chemists' and research chemists' demographics:
| Formulation Chemist | Research Chemist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.6% Female, 39.4% | Male, 68.5% Female, 31.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 18.6% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 22.2% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |