How to hire a chemist scientist

How to hire a chemist scientist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step chemist scientist 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 scientist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new chemist scientist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a chemist scientist do?

Post a chemist scientist job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a chemist scientist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a chemist scientist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a chemist scientist that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of chemist scientist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Chemist Scientist	Description	Hourly rate
   Chemist Scientist	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.	$26-57
   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	As the name entails, the job of a quality control inspector is to inspect, maintain, and improve the quality and standard of products. They are responsible for ensuring the company's reputation is not damaged due to defective products or inferior manufacturing processes... Show more	$11-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • HPLC
   • UV/Vis
   • R
   • FDA
   • NMR
   • Test Results
   • GMP
   • Wet Chemistry
   • Test Methods
   • IR
   • GLP
   • GC-MS
   • Method Development
   • Absorption

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Assume larger role in managing ELISA plate trials to establish optimal antigen dilutions for large-scale plate jobs.
   • Continue role in managing ELISA plate trials to select proper antigen coating factors for large-scale plate jobs.
   • Conduct testing on raw material and on in process samples by conducting IR, UV/VIS, KF moisture, quantitative titrations.
   • Involve in several ongoing projects to develop methods for HPLC, GPC, GC, GC-MS, FT-IR and other techniques.
   • Perform internal calibrations of HPLC, GC and lab instruments on a regular basis.
   • Analyze raw materials, compatibility study samples, in process, finish products and analytical sample under GLP.

   More chemist scientist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   $82,078yearly

   $39.46 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level chemist scientist salary

   $56,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average chemist scientist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$104,867	$50
   2	Texas	$86,607	$42
   3	Maryland	$85,940	$41
   4	Massachusetts	$82,386	$40
   5	Oregon	$77,259	$37
   6	Connecticut	$70,972	$34
   7	Illinois	$67,321	$32

   Average chemist scientist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Entegris	$108,553	$52.19	7
   2	Illumina	$102,133	$49.10	2
   3	Halliburton	$98,276	$47.25	1
   4	Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory	$92,873	$44.65
   5	Masonite	$88,535	$42.56
   6	H.B. Fuller	$84,561	$40.65	3
   7	Infinity Pharmaceuticals	$81,275	$39.07
   8	Pharmaceutical Product Development	$81,145	$39.01
   9	National Renewable Energy Laboratory	$79,460	$38.20
   10	Invagen Pharmaceuticals Inc.	$78,399	$37.69
   11	Als Enviromental Services	$76,663	$36.86
   12	RITA	$76,639	$36.85
   13	Exponent	$75,579	$36.34	51
   14	Dana-Farber Cancer Institute	$72,453	$34.83	16
   15	UCB	$69,963	$33.64	7
   16	Management Recruiters International(MRI)	$68,216	$32.80	2
   17	Cadista Pharmaceuticals	$66,999	$32.21

4. Writing a chemist scientist job description

   A job description for a chemist scientist 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 scientist job description:

   Chemist scientist job description example

   Scientist 1

   Make an impact. Build a career.

   At Pace®, everything we do is built upon an unwavering commitment to making the world a safer, healthier place. We continually work to develop innovative practices that drive sustainability and empower our partners with accurate, quality data at every critical moment and milestone.

   That’s why we need you — your curiosity, your talents, and your drive — to help us advance this important work, and your career.

   Find your place at Pace®

   Join us as a Scientist I, where you’ll put your love of science to work performing and overseeing projects within the wet chemistry department of our environmental testing laboratory.

   What you’ll do

   • Facilitate and support the analysis, administration and oversight of air, water and soil samples using standard chemistry/ biochemistry policies, programs, and practices
   • Clean, maintain and calibrate equipment
   • Maintain detailed and organized documentation on all laboratory work

   What you’ll bring

   • Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry/ Biochemistry or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience
   • Ability to perform work in a lab or office setting, remain standing for long periods while conducting tests, work around strong smells, and wear personal protective equipment while handling samples (e.g., lab coat, safety glasses and gloves; all PPE provided by Pace®).

   What we promise

   • Comprehensive benefit program, including medical, vision and dental insurance, 401(k) matching and tuition reimbursement
   • Opportunities to build a rewarding career
   • An inclusive culture that stands for integrity, innovation and growth

   About PaceⓇ

   PaceⓇ Science and Technology company makes the world a safer, healthier place. We partner with clients to provide the service, science, and laboratory data needed to make critical decisions that benefit us all. Through a nationwide laboratory network, PaceⓇ advances the science of businesses, industries, consulting firms, government agencies, and others. More at PACELABS.com.

   PaceⓇ Analytical Services is a division of PaceⓇ Science and Technology, providing local testing and analytical services backed by a large, national laboratory network.

   PaceⓇ Life Sciences is a division of PaceⓇ Science and Technology, providing full-service CDMO/CRO capabilities and professional services for in-house labs through a nationwide network of service centers, manufacturing sites and FDA-registered laboratories.

   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find chemist scientists 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 chemist scientists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level chemist scientists 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 chemist scientist job on Zippia to find and recruit chemist scientist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with chemist scientist 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.

   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 chemist scientist

   Once you've decided on a perfect chemist scientist 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 chemist scientist 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a chemist scientist?