How to hire a biochemist

How to hire a biochemist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step biochemist hiring guide:

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

What does a biochemist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the biochemist you need to hire. Certain biochemist 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

   A biochemist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, biochemists 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 biochemists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Biochemist	Description	Hourly rate
   Biochemist	Biochemists and biophysicists study the chemical and physical principles of living things and of biological processes, such as cell development, growth, heredity, and disease.	$22-52
   Research And Development Scientist	A research and development scientist specializes in conducting scientific studies and experiments to develop new products and technologies. They usually work at laboratories where they are in charge of conducting research and assessments, coming up with new ideas, performing tests, streamlining product requirements and guidelines, collaborating with fellow experts, utilizing previous studies and advanced software, and maintaining records of all procedures... Show more	$30-60
   Research Scientist	The job of research scientists is to design, undertake, and analyze information from experiments, trials, and laboratory-based investigations. They usually perform experiments in different areas, including medical research, pharmacology, and geoscience... Show more	$27-65

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Chemistry
   • Immunoassay
   • Elisa
   • GMP
   • Data Analysis
   • Test Results
   • Protein Purification
   • Assay Performance
   • Statistical Analysis
   • Lab Equipment
   • Enzymes
   • SDS-PAGE
   • Cell Culture
   • R

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage laboratories and perform clinical research in diabetic and thyroid disease states.
   • Design fit-for-purpose assays to track various peptide biomarkers in support of clinical studies.
   • Determine serotype of putative viral infections in clinical samples utilizing RNA extraction and RT-PCR sequencing techniques.
   • Provide early involvement and target support for clinical identification of biomarkers involving gene expression profiling, proteomics, and immunohistochemistry.
   • Compile and process data in LIMs or other validate spreadsheets.
   • Perform patient sample correlations, interference, ANOVA and stability testing.

   More biochemist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your biochemist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A biochemist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, biochemists' average salary in mississippi is 54% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level biochemists earn 57% less than senior-level biochemists.
   • Certifications. A biochemist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a biochemist's salary.

   Average biochemist salary

   $72,910yearly

   $35.05 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level biochemist salary

   $47,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average biochemist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$96,782	$47
   2	New Jersey	$83,718	$40
   3	Massachusetts	$82,351	$40
   4	Michigan	$80,547	$39
   5	Maryland	$78,299	$38
   6	Arizona	$73,026	$35
   7	Delaware	$71,520	$34
   8	Pennsylvania	$70,577	$34
   9	Washington	$68,336	$33
   10	Indiana	$66,946	$32
   11	North Carolina	$63,965	$31
   12	District of Columbia	$59,326	$29
   13	New York	$56,624	$27
   14	Missouri	$55,882	$27
   15	Ohio	$54,934	$26
   16	Texas	$49,913	$24
   17	Utah	$44,679	$21

   Average biochemist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Genentech	$104,199	$50.10	12
   2	Agilent Technologies	$98,515	$47.36	9
   3	Amgen	$95,998	$46.15	24
   4	Oak Ridge National Laboratory	$95,350	$45.84	3
   5	AbbVie	$95,121	$45.73	5
   6	IDEXX	$94,208	$45.29	5
   7	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$93,663	$45.03	62
   8	Ingredion	$93,117	$44.77	3
   9	Battelle	$93,061	$44.74	12
   10	Biogen	$92,847	$44.64
   11	Exelixis	$92,453	$44.45	4
   12	Sanofi Genzyme	$91,746	$44.11
   13	Mayo Clinic	$91,442	$43.96	3
   14	AgaMatrix	$91,224	$43.86
   15	Quidel	$91,024	$43.76
   16	Regeneron	$90,950	$43.73	16
   17	Novartis	$90,906	$43.70	3
   18	Eli Lilly and Company	$90,867	$43.69	29
   19	Vertex Pharmaceuticals	$89,547	$43.05	2
   20	Merck	$89,173	$42.87	26

4. Writing a biochemist job description

   A biochemist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a biochemist job description:

   Biochemist job description example

   Quidel's mission is to provide patients with immediate and frequent access to highly accurate, affordable testing for the good of our families, our communities and the world. We are a leading manufacturer of point of care diagnostic solutions. Quidel's comprehensive product portfolio includes tests for a wide range of infectious diseases, cardiac and autoimmune biomarkers, as well as a host of products to detect COVID-19.
   
   We are excited to announce that Quidel Corporation is now becoming QuidelOrtho! This transaction will bring together two world-class teams and complementary product portfolios to serve patients around the world. During this transition period, we encourage you to continue visiting our career site and also check out more career opportunities at Careers at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics | Ortho Clinical Diagnostics jobs Join our journey as we become one global diagnostics leader!
   
   The Molecular Biochemist is responsible for small to mid-scale purification of proteins and relevant quality control activities, as well as supporting research and new product development. Responsibilities may include maintenance for GMP protein production and providing support in addressing issues that may cause product supply interruptions.
   
   ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:Follow GMP manufacturing and QC protocols.Independently plan and execute experiments.Resolve product performance issues.Summarize experimental data, draws conclusions and makes recommendations to manager.Maintain detailed and organized GMP documentation and laboratory notebooks in accordance with both internal and external regulatory requirements as part of the protein production process.Maintain a safe working environment.Develop raw material, in process, and product specifications.Support development of QC standards and test methods.Participate in team environment and interacts with team members professionally.Attend product development as needed.
   
   EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:BA/BS in life sciences and/or skills usually associated with 2-4 years of relevant industrial experience or MA/MS in life sciences plus 1-2 years' experience.
   
   KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:Background in chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, virology, immunology, or related field required.Knowledge of scientific principals and concepts.Hands on expertise performing protein purification (column based methods, gravity flow). Experience with AKTA instrument preferred. Experience with general molecular biology skills such as PCR amplification, primer design, gel electrophoresis and bacterial transformation preferred.Protein optimization laboratory research experience preferred, particularly in recombinant protein expression.Good organizational skills and an ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously required.Good ability to prepare and present technique data required.Strong analytical and problem solving skills.Ability to work within cross-functional teams.Demonstrate ability to consistently meet proposed objective timelines.Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) required.Must exhibit professionalism and maturity and display desire to succeed, be self-motivated and proactive required.Working knowledge of GMP and ISO 13485 quality system regulations preferred.Appropriate computer skills (e-mail, graphing software, word processing) required.Must possess ability to develop experimental plans and execute associated activities per communicated timelines.
   #LI-HF1
   
   Before you apply, please make sure you share Quidel' s values. We pride ourselves on keeping these values in mind every day as we execute on goals and plan for the future. We are seeking employees who share the same mindset and commitment to be customer driven, focused on execution, and new product oriented. We succeed by being determined, optimistic team players.
   
   Quidel is proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer (Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans). We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting biochemists 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 biochemist

   Once you've decided on a perfect biochemist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   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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