How to hire a biotechnician

How to hire a biotechnician, step by step

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

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The biotechnician 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?

   Yes

   No

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

   Type of Biotechnician	Description	Hourly rate
   Biotechnician		$23-53
   Lead Operator	Lead operators are responsible for the direction and supervision of the day-to-day activities in facilities. As machine operators, they control machines and take charge of industrial operations... Show more	$25-68
   Manufacturing Supervisor	A manufacturing supervisor is a management-level employee who takes responsibility for the daily operations of the production processes in the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing supervisors execute different roles as sponsors, coaches, directors, counselors, and educators... Show more	$26-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • GMP
   • ISO
   • Environmental Monitoring
   • PPE
   • Production Schedules
   • Lims
   • Clean Room Environment
   • Government Regulations
   • Data Analysis
   • FDA
   • In-Process Checks
   • MES
   • Performs Review
   • Sigma

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage a team of 16-35 to insure packaging lines are running to standards as far as USDA guidelines and company productivity.
   • Set up and execute sterile environment procedures (LIMS) including formulating final product.
   • Participate in internal audits in preparation for regulatory inspections involving MHRA, EPA, and FDA.
   • Perform daily monitoring of bioreactors and make appropriate adjustments as necessary.
   • Perform manufacture and testing of vaccines and other biological products in large scale GMP manufacturing facility.
   • Perform various production processes including batching media, centrifugation and filtration, flocculation and final harvesting for Bioreactor processes.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, biotechnicians' average salary in iowa is 39% less than in south carolina.
   • Seniority. Entry-level biotechnicians 56% less than senior-level biotechnicians.
   • Certifications. A biotechnician 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 a biotechnician's salary.

   Average biotechnician salary

   $74,450yearly

   $35.79 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level biotechnician salary

   $49,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a biotechnician job description

   A job description for a biotechnician role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a biotechnician job description:

   Biotechnician job description example

   Job Title
   Production Support Biotechnician - Clarification & Concentration (1st Shift: 7AM - 3:30PM)
   Location(s)
   San Diego - BioLegend
   BioLegend develops world-class, cutting-edge antibodies and reagents for biomedical research, manufactured in our state-of-the-art facility in San Diego, CA. Our mission is to accelerate research and discovery by providing the highest quality products at an outstanding value, along with superior customer service and technical support. Our product expertise covers a diverse set of research areas including Immunology, Neuroscience, Cancer, Stem cells, and Cell Biology.
   
   Job Summary
   
   BioLegend's Production Support Technician will be responsible for clarification and concentration of cell culture harvests; In addition to, other production support related functions such as running SDS and IEF gels, ELISA's, and mycoplasma assays as needed. Additional duties will include washing dirty containers that are used throughout the process, lab cleanliness, monitoring supply stocks and completing batch records.
   
   The candidate will be a key member in our Manufacturing team and work closely with tissue culture and purification. The successful candidate will be responsible for performing large and small scale cell culture clarification and concentration. The desired candidate must be a team-player who is organized and has strong verbal and written communication skills and is able to work in a very fast paced environment. Great attention to detail is also a skill that will allow the candidate to be successful. The candidate must also be able to multitask, work independently and meet deadlines.
   
   Essential Functions
   
   Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   Large and small scale cell culture clarification and concentration Perform analytical assays such as SDS PAGE gels, IEF gels and other assays as needed Follow SOP's, batch records and other compliance related documentation Experience working in a regulated environment such as ISO 9001, ISO 13485, QSR or GMP is preferred Familiarity with inventory control and/or ERP systems is a plus Other projects or responsibilities as may be required.
   
   iACT Competencies
   
   innovate - Be better, keep improving, be more efficient, creative, and be in the forefront of development Aspire - Have desire, purpose, and ambition challenging ourselves to push the limits and reach new heights Collaborate - Foster teamwork, common goals, selflessness, communication and mutual support Transform - Adapt, learn, re-invent and change for future development and growth
   
   Minimum Qualifications - Education and Experience
   AA degree with minimum of 2 yrs industry experience.
   
   Work Environment & Physical Demands
   Lab
   While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in a laboratory environment with occasional data entry on a computer. Occasional exposure to a warehouse environment.The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, talk and hear.
   
   Condition of Employment
   
   Concerns regarding COVID-19 continue as positive cases are experienced in the communities in which we operate. Please be aware that, as a condition of employment, BioLegend requires proof of COVID vaccination for all U.S.-based employees (subject to limited exceptions) beginning January 18, 2022.
   PerkinElmer is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, or veteran status or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. PerkinElmer is committed to a culturally diverse workforce.

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find biotechnicians 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 biotechnician job on Zippia to find and recruit biotechnician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit biotechnicians, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 biotechnician

   Once you've selected the best biotechnician 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new biotechnician. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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