How to hire a chemical laboratory technician

How to hire a chemical laboratory technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step chemical laboratory technician hiring guide:

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

What does a chemical laboratory technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The chemical laboratory technician 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

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   Hiring the perfect chemical laboratory technician 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.

   Here's a comparison of chemical laboratory technician salaries for various roles:

   Type of Chemical Laboratory Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Chemical Laboratory Technician	Chemical technicians use special instruments and techniques to help chemists and chemical engineers research, develop, produce, and test chemical products and processes.	$15-24
   Quality Control Chemist	A Quality Control Chemist uses chemistry lab skills to test and measure materials, usually in a manufacturing or pharmaceutical field. They analyze samples using scientific equipment, prepare study protocols, collect data, and identify and investigate abnormal test results.	$21-36
   Microbiologist	Microbiologists are responsible for studying the microscopic organisms causing infections and environmental damage, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their work focuses on the identification and growth of these microbes to better understand their characteristics that may help in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and bacterial diseases... Show more	$18-36

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Lab Equipment
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Chemical Analysis
   • Analytical Methods
   • Chemical Processes
   • Chromatography
   • R
   • QC
   • PH Meter
   • Titration
   • Lab Procedures
   • Test Results
   • Math
   • PPE

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage daily production schedule, monitor machine operation, addressed any etching machinery problems.
   • Utilize instrumental and titration analysis on various chemical baths to maintain control of processes and insure product quality.
   • Keep accurate records and report results as per ISO documentation requirements.
   • Perform test on in-process products using UV and HPLC instruments including cleaning equipment verification tests.
   • Prepare and analyze samples in compliance with TCEQ, ISO 14001 and 9001, and other regulatory standards
   • Perform extractions, cold point, and viscosity processes per NIST, ASTM, GMP, and GLP guidelines.

   More chemical laboratory technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the chemical laboratory technician job description is a good way to get more applicants. A chemical laboratory technician salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a chemical laboratory technician in Tennessee may be lower than in Maryland, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level chemical laboratory technician. Additionally, a chemical laboratory technician with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average chemical laboratory technician salary

   $41,087yearly

   $19.75 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level chemical laboratory technician salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 6, 2025

   Average chemical laboratory technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Mexico	$50,586	$24
   2	Arkansas	$49,962	$24
   3	Minnesota	$44,314	$21
   4	Texas	$44,031	$21
   5	Illinois	$44,021	$21
   6	Ohio	$41,799	$20
   7	Virginia	$41,382	$20
   8	California	$40,851	$20
   9	Arizona	$40,357	$19
   10	Iowa	$40,204	$19
   11	Nebraska	$38,740	$19
   12	New York	$38,682	$19
   13	Missouri	$38,550	$19
   14	Oregon	$38,539	$19
   15	Wisconsin	$38,490	$19
   16	Louisiana	$38,208	$18
   17	South Carolina	$38,060	$18
   18	Michigan	$36,592	$18
   19	North Carolina	$36,212	$17
   20	Tennessee	$33,824	$16

   Average chemical laboratory technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Basin Electric Power Cooperative	$52,756	$25.36
   2	Clean Harbors	$48,124	$23.14	63
   3	BD	$47,319	$22.75	2
   4	Praxair	$45,044	$21.66	1
   5	Integrated DNA Technologies	$43,378	$20.85
   6	Kaiser Aluminum	$43,236	$20.79
   7	Oxford Solutions	$42,876	$20.61
   8	Belcan	$42,820	$20.59	7
   9	Sanmina	$42,749	$20.55	4
   10	Danaher	$42,258	$20.32	32
   11	University of Nebraska Medical Center	$42,003	$20.19	1
   12	Hired	$41,908	$20.15
   13	NewMarket	$41,835	$20.11	3
   14	Triumph Group	$41,675	$20.04	1
   15	TTI Maumee Equipment	$41,673	$20.04
   16	RGBSI	$41,454	$19.93
   17	Eclaro	$41,272	$19.84
   18	Primera	$41,232	$19.82
   19	HRU Technical Resources	$41,113	$19.77
   20	Eurofins	$40,252	$19.35	112

4. Writing a chemical laboratory technician job description

   A chemical laboratory technician 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 chemical laboratory technician job description:

   Chemical laboratory technician job description example

   IDT is the leading manufacturer of custom oligonucleotides and proprietary technologies for genomics applications. Our work is complex and cutting-edge, and our team members are curious, creative thinkers who understand that good data drives smart decisions. At IDT, we realize that although science may be uniform, people are unique. We promote a culture where engaged people are motivated and have opportunities to achieve their full potential, as part of one global team.
   
   IDT is proud to work alongside a community of nine fellow Danaher Life Sciences companies. Together, we're pioneering the future of science and medicine, developing products that enable researchers in the fight to save lives.
   
   This position is part of the HQC located in Coralville, IA and will be on-site, At IDT, we are one global team. We celebrate our differences, engage in healthy debate, and are inclusive. Together, we accomplish great things
   What We Offer: Here are a few of the benefits you'd enjoy. For a complete overview of health benefits, see . Generous Paid Time Off Accruals - Work your way up to 1 month accrued per year PAID Volunteer Time Off - Get paid to volunteer in your community! 10 Paid Holidays + 1 Flex Holiday 8 weeks of 100% paid parental leave for both parents 401(k) with Company Match Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Options, No waiting period, effective Day 1! Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA Options Available Company Paid Life Insurance Wellness and Mental Health Programs Employee Resource Groups fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture Eligible for Annual Bonus Program Additional programs available to continue your education, assist with adoption, care for your pet, protect your home and auto, help with creating a legacy plan, protect your identity, and more. ADDITIONALS for OBT Shift Differential Pay (Additional hourly premium pay for less traditional shifts) Sign-On Bonus for Weekend and Overnight positions Set (Non-Rotating) Schedule Danaher Benefit Microsite Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) conducts drug screens and background checks on applicants who accept employment offers. In this role, you will have the opportunity to: Creates reagents to internal specifications in a timely manner and delivers throughout IDT. Participates in customer and regulatory audits, as necessary. Maintains product, process, instrument, and training records. Follows processes for manufacturing, storage, and transportation of chemicals. Gathers, interprets, and analyzes scale readouts and BCMS scripts. Will be required to troubleshoot issues with quality and delivery as they arise. Adheres to current waste disposal (RCRA) and hazardous material DOT regulations and follows hazardous material spill response protocols. Utilize ERP system to create work orders, transfer material and decrement from the system. The essential requirements of the job include: Associate's degree plus 2 years of applicable experience. Bachelor's degree preferred. 4 years of chemical processing experience. It would be a plus if you also possess previous experience in: Must be able to comply with all safety standards and procedures Must be able to work around chemicals, and other substances Use of a full-face respirator (APR &/or SCBA) is required to perform essential job functions. When you join us, you'll also be joining Danaher's global organization, where 80,000 people wake up every day determined to help our customers win. As an associate, you'll try new things, work hard, and advance your skills with guidance from dedicated leaders, all with the support of powerful Danaher Business System tools and the stability of a tested organization. Danaher Corporation and all Danaher Companies are committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other characteristics protected by law. We value diversity and the existence of similarities and differences, both visible and not, found in our workforce, workplace and throughout the markets we serve. Our associates, customers and shareholders contribute unique and different perspectives as a result of these diverse attributes.
   
   The EEO posters are available here .
   
   We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at to request accommodation.
   
   If you've ever wondered what's within you, there's no better time to find out.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find chemical laboratory technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any chemical laboratory technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level chemical laboratory technicians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with chemical laboratory technician 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 chemical laboratory technician

   Once you've decided on a perfect chemical laboratory technician 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.

   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.

   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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How much does it cost to hire a chemical laboratory technician?