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The differences between formulation scientists and research 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 $75,843 average annual salary of a research chemist.
The top three skills for a formulation scientist include dosage forms, scale-up and GMP. The most important skills for a research chemist are laboratory equipment, method development, and R.
| Formulation Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $90,067 | $75,843 |
| Hourly rate | $43.30 | $36.46 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 45,763 | 53,769 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| 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 research chemist specializes in conducting studies and experiments to develop new products. Their duties primarily focus on conducting research and assessments, gathering and analyzing chemical samples, developing ideas, conducting tests to study chemical reactions, maintaining records of all procedures, and utilizing previous studies. Their research findings can be used to create new medicines, enhance existing products, and lead to innovations. When it comes to employment, a research chemist may work for pharmaceutical companies, private laboratories, government agencies, and learning institutions.
Formulation scientists and research chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Formulation Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Average salary | $90,067 | $75,843 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $126,000 | Between $53,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | McLean, VA |
| Highest paying state | California | Virginia |
| Best paying company | BioMarin | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Agriculture | Energy |
There are a few differences between a formulation scientist and a research chemist in terms of educational background:
| Formulation Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Pharmacy | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between formulation scientists' and research chemists' demographics:
| Formulation Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.6% Female, 38.4% | Male, 68.5% Female, 31.5% |
| 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, 7.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 22.2% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |