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The average salary for a formulation scientist in the United States is approximately $90,067 per year, or around $43 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors, including experience, education level, and the specific industry sector. Typically, formulation scientists with advanced degrees or specialized training command higher salaries.
Experience plays a significant role; early-career formulation scientists may earn less, while those with extensive experience can see substantial increases in their salaries. Additionally, geographical location significantly impacts compensation. States with higher living costs often offer higher salaries to attract skilled professionals.
Formulation scientists have numerous opportunities for advancement in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and cosmetics. Each sector may offer different salary ranges, with pharmaceutical companies generally providing the highest compensation. It's advisable to research specific companies and roles to understand the salary landscape fully.
Understanding the salary dynamics of formulation scientists helps job seekers make informed decisions about their career paths. For those considering a career in this field, exploring job openings and salary expectations can lead to rewarding opportunities.
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The highest-paying states for formulation scientists are California, Montana, and Minnesota. The lowest average formulation scientist salary states are Mississippi, Florida, and Georgia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $118,637 | $57.04 |
| 2 | Montana | $107,182 | $51.53 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $93,967 | $45.18 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $106,140 | $51.03 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $95,537 | $45.93 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $93,860 | $45.13 |
| 7 | Indiana | $102,944 | $49.49 |
| 8 | Washington | $93,391 | $44.90 |
| 9 | Nevada | $101,164 | $48.64 |
| 10 | Illinois | $93,164 | $44.79 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $92,701 | $44.57 |
| 12 | Delaware | $89,673 | $43.11 |
| 13 | Arizona | $97,580 | $46.91 |
| 14 | Maine | $89,678 | $43.11 |
| 15 | Oregon | $90,142 | $43.34 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $95,416 | $45.87 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $82,428 | $39.63 |
| 18 | Maryland | $87,763 | $42.19 |
| 19 | Virginia | $84,441 | $40.60 |
| 20 | Alaska | $92,318 | $44.38 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $82,664 | $39.74 |
| 22 | Ohio | $85,425 | $41.07 |
| 23 | Colorado | $90,015 | $43.28 |
| 24 | New York | $81,856 | $39.35 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $76,697 | $36.87 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $90,719 | $43.61 |
| 27 | Utah | $79,021 | $37.99 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $76,998 | $37.02 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $79,777 | $38.35 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $72,892 | $35.04 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $73,324 | $35.25 |
| 32 | Vermont | $76,248 | $36.66 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $77,551 | $37.28 |
| 34 | Missouri | $74,551 | $35.84 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $78,861 | $37.91 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $69,827 | $33.57 |
| 37 | New Hampshire | $71,043 | $34.16 |
| 38 | Idaho | $72,140 | $34.68 |
| 39 | Kansas | $71,308 | $34.28 |
| 40 | Texas | $70,498 | $33.89 |
| 41 | Michigan | $70,601 | $33.94 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $71,003 | $34.14 |
| 43 | Alabama | $69,786 | $33.55 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $69,988 | $33.65 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $53,461 | $25.70 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $60,189 | $28.94 |
| 47 | Florida | $62,699 | $30.14 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $64,591 | $31.05 |
| 49 | Iowa | $57,447 | $27.62 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| 51 | Georgia | $62,693 | $30.14 |
The highest-paying cities for formulation scientists are Novato, CA, Minneapolis, MN, and Indianapolis, IN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novato, CA | $128,608 | $61.83 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $106,136 | $51.03 |
| 3 | Indianapolis, IN | $102,870 | $49.46 |
| 4 | Chandler, AZ | $97,450 | $46.85 |
| 5 | Bridgewater, NJ | $93,912 | $45.15 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $93,884 | $45.14 |
| 7 | Vernon Hills, IL | $93,326 | $44.87 |
| 8 | Fort Collins, CO | $89,595 | $43.07 |
| 9 | Gaithersburg, MD | $87,747 | $42.19 |
| 10 | Bethlehem, PA | $82,496 | $39.66 |
| 11 | Central Islip, NY | $81,799 | $39.33 |
| 12 | Morgantown, WV | $80,090 | $38.50 |
| 13 | Saint Louis, MO | $74,641 | $35.89 |
| 14 | Durham, NC | $73,484 | $35.33 |
| 15 | Huntsville, AL | $71,633 | $34.44 |
| 16 | Largo, FL | $63,717 | $30.63 |
A formulation scientist's salary ranges from $63,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $126,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $126,000 | $10,500 | $61 |
| 75th Percentile | $107,000 | $8,917 | $51 |
| Average | $90,067 | $7,506 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| 10th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
The highest paying types of formulation scientists are senior scientist, scientist, and staff scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Chemist | $75,843 | $6,320 | $36.46 | 53,769 |
| Chemist | $64,961 | $5,413 | $31.23 | 20,221 |
| Chemical Technician | $42,584 | $3,549 | $20.47 | 40,191 |
| Research And Development Chemist | $77,233 | $6,436 | $37.13 | 100,225 |
| Quality Control | $32,824 | $2,735 | $15.78 | 83,496 |
| Microbiologist | $54,620 | $4,552 | $26.26 | 11,444 |
Top companies hiring formulation scientists now:
Formulation scientist salaries at BioMarin and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average formulation scientist salary at companies like Alkermes and PTC Therapeutics are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BioMarin | $108,091 | $51.97 |
| 2 | Ironwood Pharmaceuticals | $105,427 | $50.69 |
| 3 | Alkermes | $104,649 | $50.31 |
| 4 | PTC Therapeutics | $104,269 | $50.13 |
| 5 | Sutro Biopharma | $103,842 | $49.92 |
| 6 | Ashland | $103,306 | $49.67 |
| 7 | AbbVie | $103,134 | $49.58 |
| 8 | Bayer | $101,775 | $48.93 |
| 9 | Promega | $101,548 | $48.82 |
| 10 | NovaBay Pharmaceuticals | $100,970 | $48.54 |
| 11 | Corteva | $98,705 | $47.45 |
| 12 | Intellia Therapeutics | $98,343 | $47.28 |
| 13 | DuPont | $97,347 | $46.80 |
| 14 | Regeneron | $97,292 | $46.77 |
| 15 | Vertex Pharmaceuticals | $97,170 | $46.72 |
| 16 | Nesher Pharmaceuticals | $97,116 | $46.69 |
| 17 | PII Holdings Inc | $96,396 | $46.34 |
| 18 | Pfizer | $95,657 | $45.99 |
| 19 | Product Quest | $95,493 | $45.91 |
| 20 | Valent U.S.A | $95,454 | $45.89 |
The average formulation scientist salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agriculture | $98,647 | $47.43 |
| 2 | Health Care | $83,967 | $40.37 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $80,975 | $38.93 |
| 4 | Pharmaceutical | $80,138 | $38.53 |
| 5 | Hospitality | $71,419 | $34.34 |
The average formulation scientist salary has risen by $15,137 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average formulation scientist earned $74,930 annually, but today, they earn $90,067 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for formulation scientists over the last decade.
Compare formulation scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare formulation scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $90,100 | $43.30 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $87,400 | $42.01 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $83,500 | $40.13 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $80,800 | $38.84 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $79,300 | $38.11 | -2.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Scotts Company | Process & Formulations Scientist | Marysville, OH | 06/21/2025 | $77,200 |
| Astrix | Lead Formulation Scientist | Middlesex, NJ | 06/17/2025 | $90,000 |
| Scotts Miracle-Gro Company | Process & Formulations Scientist | Marysville, OH | 06/17/2025 | $77,200 |
| Merck | Scientist, Formulation Sciences | Rahway, NJ | 06/12/2025 | $85,600 |
| Global Channel Management, Inc. | Formulation Scientist | Trumbull, CT | 06/10/2025 | $52,175 |
| Bellair Biotech | Formulation Scientist | Cranbury, NJ | 06/10/2025 | $150,000 |
| Seawolf Therapeutics, Inc. | Scientist I, Formulation Development | San Diego, CA | 05/30/2025 | $100,000 |
| Invitro Cell Research, LLC | Scientist, Formulation and Delivery | Englewood, NJ | 05/29/2025 | $130,000 |
| Insight Global | Formulation Scientist | Montgomery, NJ | 05/29/2025 | $68,871 |
| Kerry | Supplement Formulation Scientist. | Beloit, WI | 05/27/2025 | $91,131 |
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