Do you want to know how much it cost to hire a chemist for your cosmetic line? If YES, here is an estimated cost breakdown for hiring a cosmetic chemist. Cosmetic chemists are simply chemistry professionals who focus every of their research and development on analyzing or developing new cosmetics, such as makeup, lotions or shampoos.
By leveraging knowledge acquired from their study of molecular interactions of specific substances, these experts conduct research and experiment with the creation and improvement of cosmetic products. The first and primary duty of cosmetic chemists is to ensure the safety of products that will be applied directly to a consumer’s hair or skin.
They also consider how to enhance products and maintain shelf life. Chemists are hired to develop and design functional products, utilizing combinations of compounds that will interact with hair or skin and produce an expected result.
Types of Cosmetic Chemists
Common products such as deodorant, makeup and hair dye are developed by cosmetic chemists. This field is further categorized into different career paths. A chemist formulator is responsible for creating new products. These chemists usually work in a lab setting to conduct experiments using a variety of substances.
A quality control chemist evaluates products to make sure they are safe and meet all U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards.
Cosmetic chemists also write reports based on their research and create marketing plans. Although it is impossible to dictate how much in dollar terms a cosmetic chemist might be able to save you on your particular formula, however, it is unlikely that the amount will be zero and those cents and dollars add up.
Have it in mind that hiring a professional cosmetic chemist isn’t about cheapening your product or replacing your beloved natural or organic ingredients with chemicals, instead it is about bringing it into balance, removing and adjusting the excess, and getting it fighting fit.
You never know, you could even save enough money to do some proper efficacy testing and find out if your product really works.
Estimated Cost of Hiring a Cosmetic Chemist
Note that cosmetic chemists are able to customize deliverables according to the project requirements and charge either a fixed fee or hourly fee. Nonetheless, freelance cosmetic chemists in the united states typically charge in the range of to 0 per hour, and the typical rate of a fixed fee project is $2300.
Have it in mind that cost varies per project — something like performing basic research on a product might cost less than developing a new product through applied research. .
Howbeit, as of May 29, 2022, the average annual pay for a Cosmetic Chemist in the United States is $63,409 a year. Industry reports envisage annual salaries as high as $98,000 and as low as $43,000, the majority of Cosmetic Chemist salaries currently range between $50,000 (25th percentile) to $65,000 (75th percentile) across the United States.
Note that the average pay range for a Cosmetic Chemist varies little (about $15,000), which suggests that regardless of location, there are not many opportunities for increased pay or advancement, even with several years of experience.
However, while hiring a cosmetic chemist for any job, it is necessary you develop a job description that clearly defines the end goal of the job, which also translates to the problem you are trying to solve, the challenge you are facing, and what outcome you expect.
Be sure to clearly state the deliverables, which also means the final output or the results that you are looking to obtain from their work. Do not forget to state the time frame or number of days or weeks you expect the project to take.
If you are working on a specific product or chemical structure, describe the specific issues you are facing. If you are not willing to get into the specifics, don’t worry — you can always sign an NDA with the freelancer before disclosing any confidential information.
In addition, the major thing to look for in a cosmetic chemist is their education and work experience. Most cosmetic chemists these days have a Masters degree; if not a PhD. Industry reports have it that education plays a huge role in determining cosmetic chemist charges or salaries, with cosmetic chemist holding a PhD earning higher median base salaries than those holding a Master’s degree.
Conclusion
With the growing popularity of cosmetic products and the sharp rise in cosmetic chemist salaries, coupled with the equally steep rise in their shortage, cosmetic companies often struggle to be able to access and afford expert cosmetic chemists.
Freelance cosmetic chemists and independent consultants are tapping to tap into the demand by offering their services to those who need them. Note that hiring a freelance cosmetic chemist helps to cut across product formulation boundaries and access top-quality expertise, on demand, and at a fraction of the cost to hire an in-house, full-time employee.