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The differences between senior formulation scientists and laboratory researchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a senior formulation scientist and a laboratory researcher. Additionally, a senior formulation scientist has an average salary of $102,574, which is higher than the $27,760 average annual salary of a laboratory researcher.
The top three skills for a senior formulation scientist include dosage forms, scale-up and formulation development. The most important skills for a laboratory researcher are lab procedures, cell culture, and molecular biology.
| Senior Formulation Scientist | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Yearly salary | $102,574 | $27,760 |
| Hourly rate | $49.31 | $13.35 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 48,668 | 57,359 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
As a senior formulation scientist, your main aim is to have clinical trials as well as to conduct some tests to compare the reaction of potential customers to that of your previous formulations. You need to design pre-formulation studies. By doing this, you can understand the formulation of different types of medical trials performed. You also need to assist in the pharmaceutical formulation to form a great report for the company.
The main skills which are required to become a senior formulation scientist are observational as well as critical thinking skills. You need to have proper report-making skills so that you can research and analyze the data from your formulations and then condense them into important medical documents. You should be able to communicate clearly to your team members so that they can help and assist you in the formulations as well as develop different ideas.
Laboratory researchers are professionals who manage a research laboratory while performing cellular and biochemical experiments with the primary researcher. These researchers must work with hazardous chemicals and should show expertise in handling lab equipment such as glassware and field equipment. They are required to assist with research projects and interpret the test data of an experiment. They must manage the order of all lab equipment by filling up the purchase requisition forms. Laboratory researchers are required to work with students in all aspects of laboratory research.
Senior formulation scientists and laboratory researchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Formulation Scientist | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Average salary | $102,574 | $27,760 |
| Salary range | Between $74,000 And $141,000 | Between $17,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | New Brunswick, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | Maine |
| Best paying company | Exelixis | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Education |
There are a few differences between a senior formulation scientist and a laboratory researcher in terms of educational background:
| Senior Formulation Scientist | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Pharmacy | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between senior formulation scientists' and laboratory researchers' demographics:
| Senior Formulation Scientist | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.2% Female, 18.8% | Male, 56.7% Female, 43.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |