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The differences between formulation technicians and analytical 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 technician. Additionally, an analytical technician has an average salary of $69,177, which is higher than the $48,107 average annual salary of a formulation technician.
The top three skills for a formulation technician include lean manufacturing, FDA and troubleshoot. The most important skills for an analytical technician are lab equipment, HPLC, and SQL.
| Formulation Technician | Analytical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $48,107 | $69,177 |
| Hourly rate | $23.13 | $33.26 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 45,585 | 48,581 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| 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.
Analytical technicians are professionals who are responsible for managing the daily operation of activities in a laboratory as well as maintain lab equipment to ensure a high standard of sanitation. These technicians must assist in laboratory work, such as developing analytical test methods and performing analysis of raw materials and in-process samples. They are required to maintain relevant files and data records but should inform the laboratory manager when they are faced with technical problems. Analytical technicians should also determine the physical and chemical properties of compounds by using quantitative and qualitative analyses.
Formulation technicians and analytical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Formulation Technician | Analytical Technician | |
| Average salary | $48,107 | $69,177 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $75,000 | Between $41,000 And $114,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rockville, MD | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Boehringer Ingelheim | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a formulation technician and an analytical technician in terms of educational background:
| Formulation Technician | Analytical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between formulation technicians' and analytical technicians' demographics:
| Formulation Technician | Analytical Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% |
| 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, 8.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 8.4% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |