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The differences between formulation technicians and analytical laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a formulation technician and an analytical laboratory technician. Additionally, a formulation technician has an average salary of $48,107, which is higher than the $41,538 average annual salary of an analytical laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a formulation technician include lean manufacturing, FDA and troubleshoot. The most important skills for an analytical laboratory technician are lab equipment, analytical lab, and HPLC.
| Formulation Technician | Analytical Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $48,107 | $41,538 |
| Hourly rate | $23.13 | $19.97 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 45,585 | 50,750 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Formulation Technicians are responsible for preparing and testing formulations samples to meet the research and development goals. Their duties include preparing samples for different formulations, undertaking pilot production studies, assessing storage stability, conducting physical property measuring, and performing chemical and physical formulation assessments. They facilitate global sampling, maintain an accurate record of study data, and participate in team meetings. Formulation Technicians also ensure that laboratory resources are up to acceptable standards and work is done to follow best practices, safety standards, and documented procedures.
An analytical laboratory technician is responsible for operating various equipment to perform laboratory research and investigations under a professional scientist's supervision. Analytical laboratory technicians ensure the laboratory and machinery's safety and cleanliness to avoid potential hazards and keep accurate laboratory results. They also manage the adequacy of laboratory inventories, create purchase requests, and document findings for reference. An analytical laboratory technician must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in performing examinations accordingly while following strict safety protocols and regulatory policies.
Formulation technicians and analytical laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Formulation Technician | Analytical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $48,107 | $41,538 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $75,000 | Between $32,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rockville, MD | Elizabethtown, KY |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Boehringer Ingelheim | Zoetis |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a formulation technician and an analytical laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Formulation Technician | Analytical Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between formulation technicians' and analytical laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Formulation Technician | Analytical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% | Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 9.4% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 9.3% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |