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Formulation Scientist information

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How much do formulation scientist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for formulation scientist in the United States is $37.61, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $25.24 and $43.51 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Formulation Scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Formulation Scientist, you need a strong background in chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related field, usually supported by at least a bachelor's or master's degree. Familiarity with laboratory instrumentation, analytical techniques (such as HPLC or GC), and regulatory guidelines is essential, and relevant certifications like Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) can be advantageous. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication skills help distinguish outstanding performers. These competencies are crucial for developing safe, effective products and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

What are Formulation Scientists?

Formulation Scientists are professionals who develop and optimize the composition of products such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, or chemicals to ensure their safety, stability, and effectiveness. They work with various ingredients, testing how they interact and perform under different conditions. Their work includes designing experiments, analyzing data, and ensuring that products meet regulatory and quality standards. Formulation Scientists often collaborate with engineers, chemists, and other scientists throughout the product development process.

What are some common challenges a Formulation Scientist faces when developing new products?

Formulation Scientists often encounter challenges such as ensuring product stability, optimizing ingredient compatibility, and meeting strict regulatory standards. Balancing the desired efficacy and sensory attributes of a formulation while maintaining cost-effectiveness can require extensive experimentation and problem-solving. Additionally, working closely with cross-functional teams like analytical chemistry, quality assurance, and manufacturing is essential to address scale-up issues and ensure a seamless transition from lab to production.

What is the difference between Formulation Scientist vs Chemist?

AspectFormulation ScientistChemist
Required CredentialsBachelor’s or Master’s in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related fieldsBachelor’s or Master’s in Chemistry or related fields
Work EnvironmentLaboratories focused on product development, formulation, and testingResearch labs, manufacturing, or quality control settings
Industry UsagePharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and chemical industriesBroadly across chemical manufacturing, research, and academia

Formulation Scientists specialize in developing and optimizing product formulations, often working closely with R&D teams to create new products. Chemists have a broader scope, including analyzing substances, conducting experiments, and understanding chemical properties. While both roles require chemistry knowledge and lab skills, Formulation Scientists focus more on product development and application-specific formulations, whereas Chemists may work on fundamental research or quality analysis.

What Is a Formulation Scientist?

A formulation scientist designs, develops, tests, and evaluates products. Their job duties involve blending and mixing chemical components to create effective products, often for the pharmaceutical or cosmetics industries. Formulation scientists play an integral role in the product development process by implementing testing procedures, inspecting manufacturing approaches, and creating detailed reports to fix errors and promote improvements. To become a formulation scientist, you need a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a related field, although many also pursue master’s degrees or a doctorate.

What cities are hiring for Formulation Scientist jobs? Cities with the most Formulation Scientist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Formulation Scientist jobs? The most popular types of Formulation Scientist jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Formulation Scientist jobs? The top employers for Formulation Scientist jobs are:
What states have the most Formulation Scientist jobs? States with the most job openings for Formulation Scientist jobs include:
Infographic showing various Formulation Scientist job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $78,236 per year, or $37.6 per hour.

Formulation Scientist (Solid Orals)

Granules

Chantilly, VA • On-site

$100K - $110K/yr

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago


Job description

Description:

Granules Pharmaceuticals Inc., (GPI) is a subsidiary of Granules India LTD. Over the past 34 years, we have worked towards strengthening our core and we are currently the 10th fastest growing generic pharma company in the US!

With our sites in Chantilly and Manassas, Virginia, we have R&D through manufacturing and packaging of our medicines including pulsatile drug release in tablet and capsule dosage form, orally disintegrating modified release tablets (XR, MR, ER), modified release suspension and controlled substances capabilities in an abuse deterrent technology platform.

We are dedicated to excellence in manufacturing, quality, and commercialization of generic drugs to give customers reliable and affordable options.


Job Summary

  • Under general direction, manages, plans, and executes projects for product development.
  • Under limited direction and supervision, carries out design and development of solid oral dosage forms using quality by design (QbD concept) through ANDA filing and/or product launch.
  • Under limited direction and supervision, carries out design and development of complex oral dosage forms using QbD concepts through ANDA filing and/or product launch.
  • Develops and executes formulation strategies related to product development (i.e., project planning and timelines, experimental design, data evaluation, formulation of relevant and scientifically based conclusions
  • Coordinates studies with other technical groups (i.e., Analytical Sciences, Biopharmaceutics, Legal, Regulatory & Tech Services).
  • Maintains a high level of expertise within the field and develops new technologies and concepts to be applied in the development of oral controlled release drug products.
  • Participates as a project leader, manager and/or ad hoc member in Product Development efforts, and identifies, analyzes and suggests corrective actions to optimize R&D processes, technology and regulatory compliance issues.


Principal Accountabilities

  • Developing pharmaceutical products, leading to successful ANDA filings and approval in a timely manner.
  • Managing and scheduling multiple projects, setting objectives, prioritizing activities to meet the milestones in a fast-paced environment.
  • Designing, formulation and process development for various drug from project initiation to commercialization by following appropriate GMP regulations and safety requirements.
  • Participate in the set-up and operation of pilot scale equipment and instrumentation for the completion of small production runs in collaboration with the R&D technician.
  • Design and conduct pre-formulation and formulation studies, process development and optimization of prescription dosage form designs and ANDA oral Dosage forms using DOE
  • Perform Literature search and Evaluate patents to develop non-infringing strategies
  • Preparation of product manufacturing, batch records and protocols for different product development stages, including from R&D prototype formulations to process validations following SOPs and procedures, ensuring the detailed record and data keeping.
  • Utilize formulation techniques, processing equipment and unit operations including Wurster Coating, Tablet Coating, Compression, Blending, Encapsulation, HPLC, Spectrophotometry, Dissolution, Viscometer to develop Bio-Equivalent products
  • Review Analytical Data, draft SOP’s, Process Evaluation protocols, IQ, OQ, PQ protocols and GMP Manufacturing Batch records, Packaging Batch Records.
  • Characterization of APIs, excipients and in process products; analysis of in-process samples or in-process products based on protocols and QbD concept, preparing various formulation samples to support cross-functional programs as needs.
  • Completes documentation associated with manufacturing processes (e.g. batch record, protocols, and logbooks) with detail and accuracy.
  • Establishing documentation management systems for CMC development and meeting FDA GMP, regulatory requirement, and FDA onsite inspections.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of IVIVC, QbD and Design of Experiments (DOE).
  • Ensuring all regulatory documents in compliance with SOPs, FDA Regulations, and cGMP policy where applicable.
  • Knowledge of manufacturing regulatory programs and objectives (cGMP, CFR 210 and 211).
  • Maintaining compliance with GMP, SOPs and DEA regulations.
  • Coordinate with Regulatory Affairs, Operations, QC/QA and Supply Departments to ensure that projects are planned and executed in a timely manner.


Management Responsibility

The Senior Scientist leads the assigned projects and guides the operation of the product development ranging from selection of staff, choice of methods, purchase of equipment, quality assurance, quality control, safety, hours of operation, scheduling of staff, and utilization management.


Reports to

Sr. Vice President, R&D

Requirements:

Minimum Requirements


Knowledge & Skills Good communication skills, critical thinking, flexibility, time management, self-motivation.
Minimum Experience & Education

  • Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences with minimum of 2 years' experience OR;
  • Masters in pharmaceutical sciences with minimum of 5 year' experience in generic product development, with emphasis in solid/liquid orals or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Disclaimer: The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.


We believe in fair and transparent pay practices. Actual compensation is determined based on relevant experience, qualifications, skills, and internal equity.