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The differences between formulation scientists and research 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 a research scientist. Additionally, a formulation scientist has an average salary of $90,067, which is higher than the $89,998 average annual salary of a research scientist.
The top three skills for a formulation scientist include dosage forms, scale-up and GMP. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Formulation Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $90,067 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $43.30 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 45,763 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| 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.
The job of research scientists is to design, undertake, and analyze information from experiments, trials, and laboratory-based investigations. They usually perform experiments in different areas, including medical research, pharmacology, and geoscience. They have varied duties and responsibilities that include planning and carrying out experiments, conducting fieldwork, and overseeing junior staff members like the technicians. They are typically working for a government laboratory, an environmental agency, and other organizations. Many of these scientists also work in teams and support staff.
Formulation scientists and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Formulation Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $90,067 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $126,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | BioMarin | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Agriculture | - |
There are a few differences between a formulation scientist and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Formulation Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Pharmacy | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between formulation scientists' and research scientists' demographics:
| Formulation Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.6% Female, 38.4% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |