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The differences between formulation technicians and chemical 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 a chemical technician. Additionally, a formulation technician has an average salary of $48,107, which is higher than the $42,584 average annual salary of a chemical technician.
The top three skills for a formulation technician include lean manufacturing, FDA and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a chemical technician are lab equipment, safety procedures, and hazardous materials.
| Formulation Technician | Chemical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $48,107 | $42,584 |
| Hourly rate | $23.13 | $20.47 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 45,585 | 40,191 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| 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.
A chemical technician is responsible for supporting chemists and laboratory technicians in performing laboratory investigations and examining chemical components and structures. Chemical technicians ensure the stability of laboratory tools and equipment, performing proper sterilization and segregation of disposable materials, and maintaining the adequacy of inventory. They also record the research progress, including scientific methods, and write observation reports for reference. A chemical technician manages the cleanliness and orderliness of the facility to avoid potential hazards and complications during chemical operations.
Formulation technicians and chemical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Formulation Technician | Chemical Technician | |
| Average salary | $48,107 | $42,584 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $75,000 | Between $30,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rockville, MD | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Boehringer Ingelheim | Calpine |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a formulation technician and a chemical technician in terms of educational background:
| Formulation Technician | Chemical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon |
Here are the differences between formulation technicians' and chemical technicians' demographics:
| Formulation Technician | Chemical Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% | Male, 80.5% Female, 19.5% |
| 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, 7.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 6.9% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |