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The differences between formulation technicians and chemistry 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 a chemistry laboratory technician. Additionally, a formulation technician has an average salary of $48,107, which is higher than the $40,072 average annual salary of a chemistry laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a formulation technician include lean manufacturing, FDA and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a chemistry laboratory technician are lab equipment, test results, and laboratory tests.
| Formulation Technician | Chemistry Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $48,107 | $40,072 |
| Hourly rate | $23.13 | $19.27 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 45,585 | 43,043 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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 laboratory technician is an individual who works in a designated laboratory to conduct analytical or lab-based tests on a variety of chemicals, materials, or products. Chemical laboratory technicians receive and test samples for quality assurance, safety inspection, or environmental impact. Under the supervision of chemists and other team members, they perform lab activities such as setting up lab equipment and preparing chemical solutions. Chemistry laboratory technicians can work in different industries such as pharmaceutical, mining, food, and environmental organizations.
Formulation technicians and chemistry laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Formulation Technician | Chemistry Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $48,107 | $40,072 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $75,000 | Between $32,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rockville, MD | Denver, CO |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Boehringer Ingelheim | Zoetis |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Energy |
There are a few differences between a formulation technician and a chemistry laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Formulation Technician | Chemistry Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between formulation technicians' and chemistry laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Formulation Technician | Chemistry Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% | Male, 47.7% Female, 52.3% |
| 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, 7.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 9.2% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |