How to hire an entomologist

How to hire an entomologist, step by step

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

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the entomologist you need to hire. Certain entomologist 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an entomologist 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 an entomologist that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of entomologists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Entomologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Entomologist	Zoologists and wildlife biologists study animals and other wildlife and how they interact with their ecosystems. They study the physical characteristics of animals, animal behaviors, and the impacts humans have on wildlife and natural habitats... Show more	$17-38
   Researcher	A researcher is responsible for collating, organizing, and verifying necessary information for a specific subject. Researchers' duties include analyzing data, gathering and comparing resources, ensuring facts, sharing findings with the whole research team, adhering to required methodologies, performing fieldwork as needed, and keeping critical information confidential... Show more	$17-57
   Research Technician	A research technician is responsible for assisting in research studies and laboratory experiments. Research technicians operate laboratory tools and equipment, process data for experiments, collect samples for study, analyze existing research materials, analyze experiment results, manage inventories and stock supplies, record observations, and create reports for further examination... Show more	$14-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Insect
   • Public Health
   • Pest Management
   • Pathogens
   • GIS
   • IPM
   • Bioassays
   • Vector-Borne Disease
   • Scientific Journals
   • Vector Surveillance
   • Research Projects
   • GLP
   • RNA
   • SAS

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Create Linux shell scripts to automate common process which severely reduce manual work load and processing time for the entire lab.
   • Perform IPM, inspections, and water/soil tests.
   • Assist in development of an IPM program for NIH laboratory buildings.
   • Trap and identify various bug species using pheromone bait traps as well as UV light traps.
   • Inspect horticultural products in greenhouses, nurseries and garden centers to detect harmful disease or insect infestation.
   • Request instructor for NAVFAC DoD pesticide applicator recertification courses.

   More entomologist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, entomologists' average salary in south carolina is 46% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level entomologists 55% less than senior-level entomologists.
   • Certifications. An entomologist 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 an entomologist's salary.

   Average entomologist salary

   $53,997yearly

   $25.96 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level entomologist salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 29, 2025

   Average entomologist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Missouri	$64,702	$31
   2	California	$60,595	$29
   3	Hawaii	$58,800	$28
   4	Utah	$58,707	$28
   5	Delaware	$57,921	$28
   6	District of Columbia	$56,181	$27
   7	Alabama	$51,494	$25
   8	Kansas	$50,143	$24
   9	Florida	$45,673	$22
   10	Georgia	$41,550	$20

   Average entomologist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Smithsonian Institution	$76,634	$36.84
   2	Rollins	$68,844	$33.10
   3	Belcan	$65,409	$31.45	1
   4	United States Department of Justice	$64,277	$30.90
   5	US Meat Animal Research Center	$64,124	$30.83
   6	USDA	$61,134	$29.39
   7	Certified Laboratories	$57,680	$27.73
   8	Food Safety Net Services	$57,608	$27.70
   9	U.S. Department of Education	$57,255	$27.53
   10	Monsanto	$56,985	$27.40
   11	Department of Agriculture and Fisheries	$56,904	$27.36
   12	Massey Services	$54,465	$26.19
   13	Randstad North America, Inc.	$51,290	$24.66
   14	Clemson University	$49,619	$23.86	4

4. Writing an entomologist job description

   A good entomologist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an entomologist job description:

   Entomologist job description example

   Who are we, and what do we do?
   
   At Corteva Agriscience, you will help us grow what's next. No matter your role, you will be part of a team that is building the future of agriculture - leading breakthroughs in the innovation and application of science and technology that will better the lives of people all over the world and fuel the progress of humankind.
   
   Corteva Agriscience is seeking a Field Scientist to join our Crop Protection Discovery and Development (CPDD) Field Science team at the Woodland R&D Center in Woodland, California. In this role, you will use your scientific skills to execute the CPDD project workplan for entomology and nematology. You will work closely with the CPDD Field Science Leader and other stakeholders to plan and implement the assigned CPDD field trial program, including completing work in specialty and row crops on the efficacy, crop safety, and characterization of insecticides and nematicides.
   
   Responsibilities:
   
   How will you help us grow? It matters to us, and it matters to you!
   
   + Establish, implement, evaluate, record, summarize and archive field research focused on approved biology research questions
   
   + Provide technical leadership to the biology and commercial teams you support
   
   + Effectively interact with other Field Scientists, biology leaders, and commercial counterparts, collaborating on various entomology and nematology research programs
   
   + Perform robust data summary, statistical analysis, and reporting activities for project stakeholders
   
   + Support commercial stakeholders in customer technical educational opportunities and technical field support activities as needed
   
   + Champion a world-class safety culture by actively learning, applying, and promoting best-in-class safety processes and procedures
   
   Qualifications
   
   Requirements:
   
   What expertise have you grown? What do you bring to the table?
   
   + PhD degree in Ag related field of study (Entomology preferred) or 10+ years of direct experience in a similar role
   
   + Experience with applied agricultural field trial work
   
   + Good understanding of statistical tools and principles commonly used in agricultural field trial activities
   
   + Experience with pesticide applications/able to obtain a valid applicator license
   
   + Familiarity with farming and field trial equipment, such as tractors, sprayers, implements, etc.
   
   + Good organizational skills to plan and coordinate experiments across multiple projects
   
   + Demonstrates the ability and willingness to work independently and during non-conventional work-hours
   
   + Excellent personal interaction skills required for effectively developing strong internal and external working relationships with a diverse group of people
   
   + Familiar with Microsoft Office Suite
   
   + Valid driver's license and the ability to drive
   
   + Ability to work outside during high summer temperatures
   
   + English-speaker
   
   + Must be authorized to work in the United States
   
   Community:
   
   We care about you and we care that you're comfortable. While there's no place like home, Corteva comes close.
   
   Benefits:
   
   Let's peek at how you can grow your wellbeing, health, and future at Corteva!
   
   * Strike a better worklife balance with robust time off benefits including paid maternity, paternal and family illness leave
   
   * Prepare for your future with our competitive retirement savings plan, tuition reimbursement program, and more
   
   * Enjoy access to health benefits for you and your family on your first day of employment
   
   * And much, much more!
   
   Ready to grow your perspectives, impact and career? Start by applying to this opportunity today!
   
   \#LI-CK1
   
   \#entomology
   
   Corteva Agriscience™ is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to boldly embracing the power of inclusion, diversity, and equity to enrich the lives of our employees and strengthen the performance of our company, while advancing equity in agriculture. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or any other protected class. Discrimination, harassment and retaliation are inconsistent with our values and will not be tolerated. If you require a reasonable accommodation to search or apply for a position, please visit:
   
   Accessibility Page for Contact Information
   
   For US Applicants: See the 'Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law' poster
   
   To all recruitment agencies: Corteva does not accept unsolicited third party resumes and is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right entomologist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with entomologists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entomologists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your entomologist job on Zippia to find and recruit entomologist 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 entomologists, 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.

   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 entomologist

   Once you've selected the best entomologist 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is 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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