Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between formulation scientists and microbiologists 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 microbiologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a formulation scientist has an average salary of $90,067, which is higher than the $54,620 average annual salary of a microbiologist.
The top three skills for a formulation scientist include dosage forms, scale-up and GMP. The most important skills for a microbiologist are lab equipment, microbiology lab, and environmental monitoring.
| Formulation Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Yearly salary | $90,067 | $54,620 |
| Hourly rate | $43.30 | $26.26 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 45,763 | 11,444 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| 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.
Microbiologists are responsible for studying the microscopic organisms causing infections and environmental damage, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their work focuses on the identification and growth of these microbes to better understand their characteristics that may help in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and bacterial diseases. They use sophisticated technologies and machinery to study microbes and perform their tasks. These scientists are also responsible for developing best practices and techniques for routine sampling and research. Microbiologists may work in various settings, including laboratories, research institutes, and hospitals.
Formulation scientists and microbiologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Formulation Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Average salary | $90,067 | $54,620 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $126,000 | Between $39,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | BioMarin | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | Agriculture | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a formulation scientist and a microbiologist in terms of educational background:
| Formulation Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Pharmacy | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between formulation scientists' and microbiologists' demographics:
| Formulation Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.6% Female, 38.4% | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% |
| 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, 2.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 13.6% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |