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The differences between formulation scientists and associate scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a formulation scientist and an associate scientist. Additionally, a formulation scientist has an average salary of $90,067, which is higher than the $76,461 average annual salary of an associate scientist.
The top three skills for a formulation scientist include dosage forms, scale-up and GMP. The most important skills for an associate scientist are chemistry, patients, and cell culture.
| Formulation Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $90,067 | $76,461 |
| Hourly rate | $43.30 | $36.76 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 45,763 | 54,950 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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 Associate Scientist assists in various experiments and research, working under the direction of a lead scientist. Their specialties may include biological life sciences, geo-science, atmospheric physics, and computing.
Formulation scientists and associate scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Formulation Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Average salary | $90,067 | $76,461 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $126,000 | Between $53,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | BioMarin | Phillips 66 |
| Best paying industry | Agriculture | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a formulation scientist and an associate scientist in terms of educational background:
| Formulation Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Pharmacy | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between formulation scientists' and associate scientists' demographics:
| Formulation Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.6% Female, 38.4% | Male, 48.6% Female, 51.4% |
| 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, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |