How to hire a bioinformatician

How to hire a bioinformatician, step by step

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

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

What does a bioinformatician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The bioinformatician hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

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   Hiring the perfect bioinformatician also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents bioinformatician salaries for various positions.

   Type of Bioinformatician	Description	Hourly rate
   Bioinformatician	Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.	$19-61
   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
   Fellow	A fellow's responsibility will depend on the organization or industry where one belongs. However, most of the time, a fellow's duty will revolve around conducting research and analysis, presiding discussions and attending dialogues, handle lectures while complying with the guidelines or tasks set by supervisors, and assist in various projects and activities... Show more	$22-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • Data Analysis
   • Next-Generation Sequencing
   • Java
   • Visualization
   • NGS
   • RNA-seq
   • Linux
   • Perl
   • Unix
   • Data Management
   • C++
   • DNA
   • Data Processing

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop UNIX shell script, PERL and AWK program and apply TECPLOT software macro files to automate data processing and report.
   • Perform data, results visualization, full SDLC
   • Identify single nucleotide variants from NGS data.
   • Develop and teach introductory shortcourses in Perl and HTML.
   • Identify differentially express genes among different populations using NGS RNAseq data from TCGA.
   • Learned and adapt accepted RNA-seq pipeline to analyze data generate by lab members.

   More bioinformatician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your bioinformatician job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A bioinformatician 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 a bioinformatician in Colorado may be lower than in Rhode Island, and an entry-level bioinformatician usually earns less than a senior-level bioinformatician. Additionally, a bioinformatician 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 bioinformatician salary

   $71,359yearly

   $34.31 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level bioinformatician salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average bioinformatician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Connecticut	$99,396	$48
   2	California	$95,153	$46
   3	Delaware	$85,451	$41
   4	Massachusetts	$80,721	$39
   5	New York	$80,338	$39
   6	Michigan	$77,823	$37
   7	Arizona	$77,433	$37
   8	Illinois	$76,866	$37
   9	Pennsylvania	$76,240	$37
   10	Maryland	$76,116	$37
   11	Indiana	$75,025	$36
   12	North Carolina	$73,799	$35
   13	Minnesota	$72,401	$35
   14	Wisconsin	$66,878	$32
   15	Virginia	$65,159	$31
   16	Florida	$61,298	$29
   17	Hawaii	$61,242	$29
   18	Washington	$60,671	$29
   19	Missouri	$59,924	$29
   20	Georgia	$55,714	$27

   Average bioinformatician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	AstraZeneca	$127,826	$61.45	13
   2	Natera	$121,858	$58.59	3
   3	Novartis	$121,031	$58.19
   4	Kaiser Permanente	$119,049	$57.24
   5	DNAnexus	$118,774	$57.10
   6	Brigham and Women's Hospital	$111,145	$53.44	45
   7	Harvard University	$106,642	$51.27
   8	NorthShore University HealthSystem	$105,203	$50.58
   9	Pfizer	$102,279	$49.17	14
   10	Kforce	$96,659	$46.47
   11	PerkinElmer	$95,115	$45.73	6
   12	Battelle	$95,111	$45.73	4
   13	ICF	$91,763	$44.12
   14	Fred Hutch	$90,822	$43.66	17
   15	Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc.	$90,815	$43.66
   16	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	$90,203	$43.37
   17	Massachusetts Eye and Ear	$90,009	$43.27	41
   18	Mayo Clinic	$88,478	$42.54	113
   19	Cedars-Sinai	$87,713	$42.17	16
   20	Eagle Medical	$86,037	$41.36

4. Writing a bioinformatician job description

   A bioinformatician 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a bioinformatician job description:

   Bioinformatician job description example

   Come Be Part of a Mission that Matters!
   Neogen is seeking a Bioinformatician with a NGS and microbiology background. The ideal candidate will have experience with NGS workflows, design and analysis; PCR; oligonucleotide design and software tools. The candidate will be responsible for designing new genomics services, overseeing internal sequencing requests, troubleshooting QC samples, and maintaining databases. Programming script interpretation and writing is a plus. The position will report to Lansing, MI, but can be remote.
   
   Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
   Oversee scheduling of internal sequencing requests.Work with Genomics R&D team to establish methods centered on genome characterization and delivery of marketable genomic services including facilitating scale-up of new methods.Work with Molecular R&D team to identify unique nucleic acid targets for product development.Actively survey literature on new bioinformatic analytical technologies.Collaborate with information technology team to develop requirements and processes for new and existing products to facilitate automation where possible.Provide oral and written reports to relevant management.Aid in technical transfer of unique Genomics R&D product features and benefits to sales and marketing and assist in training and other activities to support effective implementation for the benefit of customers.Review output data and reports from current and future software platforms.Identify problems with current software and develop improvements or work with relevant parties, IT or outside vendors, to resolve issue.
   
   Qualifications
   Ph.D. in the field of Genomics, Molecular Biology, Computer Science or related with experience in bioinformatic analysis; or a Master of Science degree in Genomics, Molecular Biology, Computer Science or related with experience in bioinformatic analysis.Experience with bioinformatic skills necessary for the analysis of nest generation sequencing, assembly of genomes and Blasting.Proficiency with one or more DNA manipulation/analysis software, including Genome Analysis Tool Kit, Burrows Wheeler Alignment, Bowtie, SAMtools, bamtools, Tophat, SIFT, LiftOver, Geneious Primer, and/or DNAStar.Coding experience with languages; C/C++, JAVA, Fortan, R, Perl, and/or Python a plus.Proficiency with MS Office products.Good communication skills, both oral and written.
   
   WHO IS NEOGEN:
   
   From farm to fork, we offer solutions to enhance the quality, quantity and safety of the global food supply. Our food safety diagnostics are used within farming operations to the production facilities of most of the world's best-known food companies. Neogen's solutions are critical to the health and well-being of our customers' operations - and in turn their consumers. What we do matters!
   
   Neogen's culture combines stability with a deep believe in providing professional and personal growth. Our Pillars of Trust - the principles which guide our everyday decision-making, include Openness, Honesty, Credibility, Respect, and Service. It's the belief in these characteristics that provide a consistent, happy and healthy work environment for our employees.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find bioinformaticians for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit bioinformaticians, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up 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 bioinformatician

   Once you have selected a candidate for the bioinformatician position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new bioinformatician 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.)

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