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The differences between formulation scientists and quality control chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a formulation scientist has an average salary of $90,067, which is higher than the $58,892 average annual salary of a quality control chemist.
The top three skills for a formulation scientist include dosage forms, scale-up and GMP. The most important skills for a quality control chemist are QC, HPLC, and lab equipment.
| Formulation Scientist | Quality Control Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $90,067 | $58,892 |
| Hourly rate | $43.30 | $28.31 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 45,763 | 90,467 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 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.
A Quality Control Chemist uses chemistry lab skills to test and measure materials, usually in a manufacturing or pharmaceutical field. They analyze samples using scientific equipment, prepare study protocols, collect data, and identify and investigate abnormal test results.
Formulation scientists and quality control chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Formulation Scientist | Quality Control Chemist | |
| Average salary | $90,067 | $58,892 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $126,000 | Between $45,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | North Kingstown, RI |
| Highest paying state | California | Vermont |
| Best paying company | BioMarin | Hallstar |
| Best paying industry | Agriculture | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a formulation scientist and a quality control chemist in terms of educational background:
| Formulation Scientist | Quality Control Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | Pharmacy | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between formulation scientists' and quality control chemists' demographics:
| Formulation Scientist | Quality Control Chemist | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.6% Female, 38.4% | Male, 56.5% Female, 43.5% |
| 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, 7.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 21.4% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |