How to hire an applications chemist

How to hire an applications chemist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step applications chemist hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the applications chemist you need to hire. Certain applications chemist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   An applications chemist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, applications chemists 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.

   Here's a comparison of applications chemist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Applications Chemist	Description	Hourly rate
   Applications Chemist	Chemists and materials scientists study substances at the atomic and molecular levels and the ways in which the substances interact with one another. They use their knowledge to develop new and improved products and to test the quality of manufactured goods.	$19-41
   Chemist, Development	A development chemist is responsible for delivering products that are specially created for a customer. You will be responsible for conducting qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses for process or quality control... Show more	$22-52
   Research And Development Chemist	A research and development chemist primarily works at laboratories to conduct extensive tests and experiments aiming to develop new products and technologies. Although the extent of their duties may vary, it typically revolves around conducting research and studies, observing chemical reactions, maintaining records and databases, collaborating with fellow experts, and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing components or mixtures... Show more	$25-54

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • R
   • Analytical Methods
   • Technical Support
   • Method Development
   • Mass Spectrometers
   • Liquid Chromatography
   • HPLC
   • Test Results
   • LC/MS
   • Customer Samples
   • Product Development
   • ISO
   • UPLC
   • Sales Support

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage personnel in testing and support of TOC software and hardware features.
   • Test developmental compounds to ASTM standards and manage certification submissions.
   • Follow USEPA RCRA, SW-846, UST and NPDES protocols.
   • Perform asset valuation by HPLC/ UPLC and the preparation of final report.
   • Assist in ISO base development of IQ-OQ-PQ procedures for installation of NIR sensors.
   • Exhibit the viability for improvements to EPA and USP methodology using new Agilent GC columns phases and formats.

   More applications chemist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your applications chemist job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An applications chemist salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an applications chemist in Arizona may be lower than in Delaware, and an entry-level applications chemist usually earns less than a senior-level applications chemist. Additionally, an applications chemist with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average applications chemist salary

   $60,368yearly

   $29.02 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level applications chemist salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average applications chemist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Delaware	$84,175	$40
   2	Massachusetts	$74,054	$36
   3	Rhode Island	$72,163	$35
   4	New York	$66,842	$32
   5	Michigan	$63,710	$31
   6	California	$62,895	$30
   7	Connecticut	$59,892	$29
   8	Texas	$52,340	$25
   9	North Carolina	$45,807	$22

   Average applications chemist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Agilent Technologies	$106,678	$51.29	4
   2	Varian Medical Systems	$105,451	$50.70
   3	BASF	$96,991	$46.63
   4	SI Group	$95,289	$45.81
   5	Sun Chemical	$89,976	$43.26
   6	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$87,785	$42.20	15
   7	Symrise	$57,308	$27.55
   8	Interpolymer	$57,223	$27.51
   9	Milestone	$56,495	$27.16
   10	Kelly Services	$54,003	$25.96	16

4. Writing an applications chemist job description

   A good applications chemist 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 applications chemist job description:

   Applications chemist job description example

   ID:
   US-NJ-Carlstadt
   Cost Center: 118300
   Category: R&D, Technology
   Position Type: FT Sal/WhCo NoOT
   
   About the Organization
   
   Sun Chemical, a member of the DIC Group, is a leading producer of packaging and graphic solutions, color and display technologies, functional products, electronic materials, and products for the automotive and healthcare industries. Together with DIC, Sun Chemical is continuously working to promote and develop sustainable solutions to exceed customer expectations and better the world around us. With combined annual sales of more than $8.5 billion and 22,000+ employees worldwide, the DIC Group companies support a diverse collection of global customers.
   
   Sun Chemical Corporation is a subsidiary of Sun Chemical Group Coöperatief U.A., the Netherlands, and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, U.S.A. For more information, please visit our website at or connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter .
   
   Description
   
   The Chemist will be responsible for the development of liquid inks and provide technical assistance and support of current customers and products. Other responsibilities include product portfolio enhancement, profitability improvement, and broaden technology innovation.
   
   Essential Job Functions:
   

   • Handle multiple projects in parallel with variable development timelines depending on the nature of the project and customer expectations.
   • Determine problem cause, test, analyze, and implement product and process improvements.
   • Execute systematic project management utilizing development systems including DfSS, GPM and Stage-Gate.
   • Innovative and utilize novel chemistry or products.
   • Customer and vendor interactions are critical to this position from both a strategic and maintenance perspective.
   • Receives project assignments from supervisor and formulates inks and coatings as required.
   • Carries out approved standard test procedures and develops new ones.
   • Prepares prints of inks and coatings or other exhibits for internal and customer use.
   • Participates in planning and analysis of lab projects as required.
   • In association with the Supervisor, submits final formulation to manufacturing or manufacturing services
   • Follows Chemical Hygiene plan and looks for safety improvements.
   • May perform other duties as assigned

   
   
   Benefit Information
   
   We offer a range of market-competitive total rewards that include merit increases, paid holidays, Paid Time Off, medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability benefits, 401(k)+match and life insurance.
   
   Position Requirements
   
   Required Experience & Education:
   

   • BS Degree in Chemistry other related science or equivalent experience
   • 5+ years direct experience in formulation development and application testing
   • Must be able to communicate technical data - customer reports, technology transfer, internal presentation
   • Competency on internal programs such as GPM, SAP, ISO and RisQ.
   • Solid Math skills and Time/Project Management skills

   
   Preferred Experience & Education:
   

   • Prior experience in ink formulations using solvent, water, or energy curable based technology

   
   Position Type/Expected Hours of Work :
   

   • Exempt -75 hour bi-weekly work schedule

   
   Travel Requirements: 0-5%
   
   Equal Employment Opportunity
   
   It is Sun's policy that applicants for employment are recruited, selected, and hired on the basis of individual merit and ability with respect to the position being filled. Sun prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identify, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law.
   
   JobTarget Code
   
   PM21
   
   

   PI

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right applications chemist 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 applications chemists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit applications chemists 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 applications chemist job on Zippia to find and recruit applications chemist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with applications chemist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 applications chemist

   Once you've found the applications chemist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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.)

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