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The differences between formulation scientists and chemistry laboratory assistants 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 a chemistry laboratory assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a formulation scientist has an average salary of $90,067, which is higher than the $30,971 average annual salary of a chemistry laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a formulation scientist include dosage forms, scale-up and GMP. The most important skills for a chemistry laboratory assistant are lab equipment, lab safety, and chemistry lab.
| Formulation Scientist | Chemistry Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $90,067 | $30,971 |
| Hourly rate | $43.30 | $14.89 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 45,763 | 40,180 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| 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.
Chemical Laboratory Assistants are professionals who help researchers and scientists in performing lab experiments and tests. Their tasks involve the maintenance, cleanliness, or sterilization of laboratory equipment or instruments. They perform physical or chemical laboratory tests assisting scientists in the quantitative or qualitative analyses of liquids, gaseous materials, and solids. The necessary skills and knowledge for this job include chemistry, lab reporting, chemical solutions, and safety procedures.
Formulation scientists and chemistry laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Formulation Scientist | Chemistry Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $90,067 | $30,971 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $126,000 | Between $16,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | BioMarin | Pace University |
| Best paying industry | Agriculture | Education |
There are a few differences between a formulation scientist and a chemistry laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Formulation Scientist | Chemistry Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Pharmacy | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between formulation scientists' and chemistry laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Formulation Scientist | Chemistry Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.6% Female, 38.4% | Male, 45.5% Female, 54.5% |
| 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, 6.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 9.5% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |