How to hire an experimental physicist

How to hire an experimental physicist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step experimental physicist hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your experimental physicist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an experimental physicist for hire on a part-time basis or as a 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 an experimental physicist 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 experimental physicist that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of experimental physicist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Experimental Physicist	Description	Hourly rate
   Experimental Physicist	Physicists and astronomers study the ways in which various forms of matter and energy interact. Theoretical physicists and astronomers may study the nature of time or the origin of the universe... Show more	$13-68
   Physicist	Physicists explain the effect of structures, phenomena, and forces on the natural world. Physicists determine and explore the primary principles governing the behavior and structure of matter... Show more	$32-86
   Research Physicist	A research physicist's job is to conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories based on observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories. Their duties and responsibilities include describing observations, developing simulations, and advising authorities on procedures to be followed.	$24-51

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Image Analysis
   • LabVIEW

   Responsibilities:

   • Conduct simulation and modeling using ALEGRA-MHD and CTH computational codes to study non-ideal plasma and penetration.
   • Produce detailed solid models of components and systems that are used for both parametric analysis (FEA).
   • Hire as part of a team of physicists and engineers testing specific theories relating to IEC fusion energy.
   • Specialize in performing and evaluating radiation shielding calculations for radiation oncology facilities under the guidance of a qualify health physicist.
   • Service on review panels for projects at DARPA and NSF.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, experimental physicists' average salary in south dakota is 65% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level experimental physicists 80% less than senior-level experimental physicists.
   • Certifications. An experimental physicist 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 experimental physicist's salary.

   Average experimental physicist salary

   $64,791yearly

   $31.15 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level experimental physicist salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average experimental physicist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Maryland	$94,101	$45
   2	Maryland	$93,720	$45
   3	California	$83,688	$40
   4	California	$83,467	$40
   5	California	$82,982	$40
   6	California	$74,718	$36
   7	Tennessee	$61,854	$30
   8	Colorado	$60,784	$29

   Average experimental physicist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	University of Maryland, Baltimore	$150,787	$72.49	1
   2	Applied Materials	$131,247	$63.10
   3	Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory	$98,733	$47.47	5
   4	Oak Ridge National Laboratory	$97,459	$46.86
   5	The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory	$95,182	$45.76	2
   6	ColdQuanta	$62,462	$30.03

4. Writing an experimental physicist job description

   An experimental physicist 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. To help get you started, here's an example of an experimental physicist job description:

   Experimental physicist job description example

   ColdQuanta is seeking an atomic/AMO physicist with a strong background in cold atoms, particularly ultracold atoms in optical lattice potentials, to join our quantum signal processing team in the development of the world's first commercial quantum matter platform, “Albert.” You will work with a highly motivated team to develop novel quantum signal processing modalities based on atoms in complex potentials; and aid the transition of those techniques to cloud-deployed quantum signal processing and emulation platforms. We are looking for self-motivated, energetic individuals with strong problem solving and technical skills.
   
   ColdQuanta is the leader in Cold Atom Quantum Technology, the most scalable, versatile, and commercially viable area of quantum. ColdQuanta is dedicated to making quantum a reality through the deployment of Information Processing Systems; and development of precision timing, sensing and networking solutions. ColdQuanta's Quantum Signal Processing (QSP) team is lowering the barriers associated with quantum technology development, research, and education. The QSP team is developing cloud-based quantum signal processing platforms. Recipient of the 2022 SPIE Prism Award for top quantum innovation, ColdQuanta's QSP Platforms will revolutionize the future of quantum technologies.
   Primary Responsibilities
   
   Participate in and ultimately lead R&D projects that will expand the functional capabilities of our quantum matter platforms
   
   Develop expertise, operating modes, and techniques for manipulation of atomic samples in periodic potentials
   
   Work with a diverse team of scientists and engineers to achieve specific project benchmarks and milestones
   
   Contribute to project direction, design reviews, and external customer interactions; author/co-author papers, presentations and reports; give invited papers; attend project workshops and conference
   
   Requirements
   
   Required Skills and Qualifications:
   
   PhD in atomic physics, with a specific emphasis on cold or ultracold atoms
   
   Direct experience with and a deep understanding of experimental physics systems, especially laser and ultra-high vacuum, systems.
   
   Working knowledge of control systems, machine learning, and signal processing
   
   Entrepreneurial drive, intellectual agility and personal eagerness to develop with the needs of the business.
   
   Desirable Skills and Knowledge
   
   Direct experience with experiments with atoms in optical lattice potentials
   
   2-3 years of post-doctoral experience, inclusive of research fellowships
   
   Proficiency with Python, Mathematica, LabView, MATLAB, SolidWorks.
   
   Benefits
   
   This position will pay between $80,000 and $140,000
   
   Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
   
   Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
   
   Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
   
   Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
   
   Family Leave
   
   Stock Option Plan
   
   Student Loan Repayment Program

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5. Post your job

   To find the right experimental physicist 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 experimental physicists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit experimental physicists 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 experimental physicist job on Zippia to find and recruit experimental physicist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with experimental physicist 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 experimental physicist

   Once you've decided on a perfect experimental physicist 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 also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new experimental physicist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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