How to hire a chemist, development

How to hire a chemist, development, step by step

Here's a step-by-step chemist, development hiring guide:

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

What does a chemist, development do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the chemist, development you need to hire. Certain chemist, development 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 chemist, development's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, chemists, development 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 chemists, development and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Chemist, Development	Description	Hourly rate
   Chemist, Development	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.	$22-52
   Laboratory Analyst	A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation.	$14-29
   Quality Control Analyst	Quality assurance representatives are professionals who are responsible for ensuring the quality of units produced or manufactured is following the standards set by the industry. These representatives supervise the entire production process to identify erroneous methods or tools being used by workers and observing produced for visible defects... Show more	$19-41

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Laboratory Equipment
   • Method Development
   • R
   • Product Development
   • HPLC
   • GMP
   • Technical Support
   • Analytical Procedures
   • GC-MS
   • ISO
   • UV/Vis
   • FDA
   • ICP
   • GLP

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage an analytical laboratory, which include SEM-EDS, GC-MS, GPC, FT-IR, ICP-MS, TGA and DSC equipment.
   • Involve in FDA, vendor and foreign agencies audits and knowledgeable in USP and GMP regulations.
   • Work with analytical instruments such as FTIR, DSC, and TGA.
   • Follow all ISO quality and environmental standards as provided in the various procedural manuals.
   • Enhance operational performance by training lab technicians and chemists in protein dialysis, HPLC analysis, and formulation process.
   • Design, fabricate and operate pilot-scale synthesis and purification equipment for GMP API syntheses (contract and salary).

   More chemist, development duties

3. Make a budget

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

   $71,571yearly

   $34.41 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level chemist, development salary

   $46,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average chemist, development salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Tennessee	$80,574	$39
   2	California	$78,367	$38
   3	Massachusetts	$77,466	$37
   4	Utah	$76,337	$37
   5	New Jersey	$75,827	$36
   6	Virginia	$75,404	$36
   7	Texas	$73,565	$35
   8	Minnesota	$72,170	$35
   9	Ohio	$70,624	$34
   10	Georgia	$69,756	$34
   11	South Carolina	$67,473	$32
   12	North Carolina	$65,342	$31
   13	New York	$62,998	$30
   14	Pennsylvania	$60,860	$29

   Average chemist, development salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	FutureFuel	$103,778	$49.89	1
   2	Arkema	$103,127	$49.58	2
   3	Eastman	$99,571	$47.87	8
   4	AstraZeneca	$97,944	$47.09	12
   5	BASF	$94,477	$45.42	1
   6	PPG	$89,340	$42.95	7
   7	Benjamin Moore	$88,880	$42.73	2
   8	Quaker Houghton	$88,259	$42.43	7
   9	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$87,737	$42.18	85
   10	Upsher-Smith Laboratories	$84,888	$40.81
   11	Syngenta	$83,760	$40.27	14
   12	Revlon	$82,795	$39.81
   13	Vertellus	$81,090	$38.99
   14	Wacker Chemie	$75,677	$36.38
   15	Johnson Matthey Plc	$74,975	$36.05
   16	Henkel	$71,988	$34.61	30
   17	Kodak	$71,453	$34.35
   18	Ultradent Products	$71,135	$34.20
   19	Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.	$70,650	$33.97	7
   20	MeadWestvaco	$67,917	$32.65

4. Writing a chemist, development job description

   A job description for a chemist, development 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 chemist, development job description:

   Chemist, development job description example

   A qualified Development Chemist candidate will have 2-4 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment:

   • Analyze compounds and record data, including competitors when needed, to determine physical and chemical properties for development of compounds
   • Responsible for developing and issuing new formulations for new compounds based on requirements and specifications from customers (FDA, Automotive & W/C specifications) and market demands
   • Investigate applicability of new formulations and past formulations in replacement of raw materials to enhance performance and minimize cost, keeping quality standards
   • Responsible for issuing raw materials substitutions when needed
   • Generate new ideas for new product development of compounds and researching feasibility in terms of profitability, resource availability and compliance with all regulatory requirements.
   • Responsible for evaluating formulations via proper lab verification methods. Do necessary adjustments along the way of evaluation. Make recommendations for improvements in process for pilot line or production line trial formulation.
   • Evaluate production trial compounds for designed chemical, physical and rheological properties
   • Provides technical support internally/externally to Production, QC/QA, Sales and customers for cost savings, raw material evaluation and raw material substitution

   Development Chemist Required Skills/Education & Abilities:

   • Must have a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry
   • Technical knowledge with PVC material and application experience in formulating
   • Ability to research, evaluate and implement new compounds
   • Expertise in chemistry, understand surface-interface properties and surface characterization
   • Must have experience with roll mill, hot press, tensile tester, impact tester, color eyes and other lab device needed for formulations.

   Important to know:

   • Must be able to work in the US without sponsorship
   • ASQ Six Sigma Green Belt preferred*
   • Full time position with benefits
   • Competitive Compensation based on experience

   If you're an Development Chemist with PVC material experience apply today!

   All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.
   
   GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit chemists, development, 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. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 chemist, development

   Once you've decided on a perfect chemist, development 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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