How to hire an application scientist

How to hire an application scientist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step application scientist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an application scientist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new application scientist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an application scientist do?

Post an application scientist job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an application scientist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An application scientist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, application scientists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of application scientists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Application Scientist	Description	Hourly rate
   Application Scientist	Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.	$27-67
   Research Fellow	A research fellow is an academic researcher who conducts research and analysis of comprehensive literature, data, and results and provides literature reviews. He/She supervises research assistants and recruits study participants to interview them for a particular study... Show more	$18-34
   Chemist	Chemists are generally responsible for observing and investigating chemical substances to create new and safe compounds essential for practical applications. They are often grouped depending on a particular area of specialization to focus and understand the complexities of the matter... Show more	$22-43

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Diagnostics
   • Technical Support
   • Sample Preparation
   • Application Support
   • Customer Service
   • Next-Generation Sequencing
   • Customer Support
   • Data Analysis
   • Customer Training
   • Customer Sites
   • CRM
   • Customer Feedback
   • Trade Shows
   • Pre Sales

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
   • Develop and standardize protocol for pathogen detection in food matrices using real time PCR.
   • Utilize free energy perturbation and molecular dynamics approaches to evaluate binding of proprietary camptothecins to DNA.
   • Structure-Base design and synthesis of biologically active compounds targeting SH2 domains for the treatment of osteoporosis and/or cancer.
   • Conduct technology comparison study to assess applicability of a wide range of chromatography products to support specific HTS assays.
   • Develop new product QC program significantly reducing costs and delays for experimental vaccine.

   More application scientist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your application scientist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An application scientist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, application scientists' average salary in iowa is 55% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level application scientists 60% less than senior-level application scientists.
   • Certifications. An application scientist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an application scientist's salary.

   Average application scientist salary

   $89,939yearly

   $43.24 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level application scientist salary

   $57,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average application scientist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$108,932	$52
   2	Tennessee	$100,459	$48
   3	New Jersey	$90,585	$44
   4	Oregon	$86,698	$42
   5	Arizona	$85,694	$41
   6	Delaware	$83,653	$40
   7	Massachusetts	$82,417	$40
   8	Montana	$78,890	$38
   9	New York	$76,891	$37
   10	Rhode Island	$76,776	$37
   11	Maryland	$76,580	$37
   12	New Hampshire	$71,118	$34
   13	Illinois	$65,411	$31
   14	Ohio	$65,268	$31
   15	Texas	$63,351	$30
   16	New Mexico	$62,639	$30
   17	Michigan	$61,343	$29
   18	Missouri	$60,039	$29
   19	Colorado	$59,428	$29
   20	Nebraska	$57,808	$28

   Average application scientist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Accelrys	$131,410	$63.18
   2	10x Genomics	$122,983	$59.13	2
   3	Schrödinger Inc	$121,554	$58.44	3
   4	Waters	$119,838	$57.61	6
   5	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$116,332	$55.93	20
   6	Eastman	$114,051	$54.83	1
   7	Nanometrics	$112,804	$54.23
   8	Beckman Coulter	$112,509	$54.09
   9	HP	$110,602	$53.17	5
   10	HORIBA	$110,332	$53.04
   11	Sensient Technologies	$108,002	$51.92	2
   12	Zurich	$106,273	$51.09	6
   13	DuPont	$106,091	$51.01	6
   14	A123 Systems	$105,094	$50.53	6
   15	Rigaku Corp.	$104,592	$50.28	2
   16	Baker Hughes	$104,219	$50.11	3
   17	Agilent Technologies	$103,995	$50.00	5
   18	AMETEK	$103,977	$49.99	4
   19	Siemens	$103,299	$49.66	5
   20	Hummingbird Trading	$103,229	$49.63

4. Writing an application scientist job description

   A good application scientist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an application scientist job description:

   Application scientist job description example

   Zurich Instruments is a technology leader in advanced test and measurement instruments and a pioneer in quantum computing control systems. Our products are used by the most ambitious scientists and engineers around the world. In 2018 we launched the first-ever commercial Quantum Computing Control System (QCCS) to accelerate the progress of the community towards impactful quantum computers.
   
   At present, we have several projects with leading groups and companies to extend the capabilities and reach of our QCCS. To develop further our customer base and ensure successful adoption by our customers, we are looking to grow our Marketing & Sales team in Munich.
   
   Your responsibilities Establish new customer contacts and maintain existing ones, securing future sales mainly related to quantum computing Represent Zurich Instruments at trade shows and visit customers worldwide with a focus on GermanyProvide application-specific customer support, including on-site system integration Refine key product features of our arbitrary waveform generators, quantum analyzers and other quantum stack products, thus helping to strengthen and secure Zurich Instruments' position as a technology leader Perform acceptance testing of the QCCS to meet scientific requirements Produce material such as product documentation, website content, blog posts, application notes, videos, etc.
   
   Your profile Ph.D. in Physics with relevant background in quantum technologies Solid scientific track record with years of practical lab experience, including RF/microwave signal generation and measurement Experience in controlling and automating complex experiments, preferentially with PythonSales experience and/or an interest to develop your skills in this area Excellent oral and written communication skills; fluency in English is a must Entrepreneurial spirit and know-how of basic marketing strategies are an advantage
   
   We offer a diverse work environment in an international high-tech arena with an open and transparent company culture where personal development forms the basis of our success. We thrive on cooperation and support distributed decision-making that allows everyone to take responsibility and generate substantial impact from the start and on many levels.
   Now is a great time to join the team.
   
   We look forward to receiving your resume and motivation letter.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right application scientist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with application scientists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit application scientists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your application scientist job on Zippia to find and recruit application scientist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting application scientists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new application scientist

   Once you've selected the best application scientist candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new application scientist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire an application scientist?