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The differences between formulation scientists and assistant research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a formulation scientist, becoming an assistant research scientist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a formulation scientist has an average salary of $90,067, which is higher than the $62,780 average annual salary of an assistant research scientist.
The top three skills for a formulation scientist include dosage forms, scale-up and GMP. The most important skills for an assistant research scientist are research projects, data collection, and data analysis.
| Formulation Scientist | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $90,067 | $62,780 |
| Hourly rate | $43.30 | $30.18 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 45,763 | 88,786 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 41 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A formulation scientist specializes in conducting different scientific experiments to create new products and enhance existing formulations. They usually work at laboratories to establish plans and objectives, conduct extensive research and analyses to design and develop a formula, create test structures to evaluate products, and set strategies to meet budgets, goals, and timelines. They also assess existing products to determine their weaknesses and strengths, developing solutions against potential issues and existing problems. Additionally, a formulation scientist maintains records of all procedures and implements protocols and safety regulations.
An Assistant Research Scientist assists in planning, conducting, and analyzing various research projects. They also order and manage lab inventory, materials, and equipment.
Formulation scientists and assistant research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Formulation Scientist | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $90,067 | $62,780 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $126,000 | Between $43,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | BioMarin | University of California |
| Best paying industry | Agriculture | Education |
There are a few differences between a formulation scientist and an assistant research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Formulation Scientist | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Pharmacy | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between formulation scientists' and assistant research scientists' demographics:
| Formulation Scientist | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.6% Female, 38.4% | Male, 55.6% Female, 44.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 32.9% White, 47.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 16.7% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |