How to hire a fish technologist

How to hire a fish technologist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step fish technologist hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The fish technologist 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

   No

   A fish technologist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, fish technologists 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.

   Here's a comparison of fish technologist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Fish Technologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Fish Technologist	Biological technicians help biological and medical scientists conduct laboratory tests and experiments.	$12-23
   Laboratory Internship	A laboratory intern is responsible for assisting laboratory operations and perform examinations and experiments under the supervision of tenured laboratory staff. Laboratory interns shadow all the laboratory processes, document their observations, and conduct an in-depth analysis of the results... Show more	$12-23
   Microbiological Laboratory Technician	A microbiological laboratory technician specializes in handling and testing samples, ensuring accuracy and safety. Often working under the supervision of a more experienced scientist, a microbiological laboratory technician has the responsibility to operate various devices and machines, record all progress and data, review results, and produce reports and documentation... Show more	$13-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Harvest
   • Data Entry
   • QC
   • Fish Health
   • Fish Culture
   • Laboratory Equipment
   • Boats
   • Wet Lab
   • Clipping
   • Water Quality
   • GIS
   • Fish Behavior
   • Data Collection
   • FDA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Identify owl species by sight and sound prompt using hoot flute and reed caller.
   • Experience aquir also on turbine engine commponents, as well as DCS, PLC's, and ESD systems.
   • Support fish harvest to recover operational costs of non-profit hatchery.
   • Train associates how to maintain and troubleshoot immunoassay instruments, prepare dilutions, evaluate interfering substances and perform accelerate stability testing.
   • Provide information under confrontational circumstances regarding controversial endanger trout issues

   More fish technologist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, fish technologists' average salary in kentucky is 51% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level fish technologists 49% less than senior-level fish technologists.
   • Certifications. A fish technologist 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 a fish technologist's salary.

   Average fish technologist salary

   $35,891yearly

   $17.26 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level fish technologist salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average fish technologist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$45,244	$22
   2	New York	$45,241	$22
   3	New York	$44,791	$22
   4	California	$44,492	$21
   5	California	$43,910	$21
   6	California	$43,277	$21
   7	Alaska	$42,040	$20
   8	Maine	$38,155	$18
   9	Texas	$37,956	$18
   10	Oklahoma	$36,065	$17
   11	Arizona	$33,597	$16
   12	Washington	$32,262	$16
   13	Iowa	$32,162	$15
   14	Florida	$30,491	$15
   15	Florida	$30,458	$15
   16	Florida	$30,294	$15
   17	Florida	$30,235	$15
   18	Florida	$30,223	$15
   19	Alabama	$26,050	$13

   Average fish technologist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Columbia University in the City of New York	$54,360	$26.13
   2	University of California-Berkeley	$50,637	$24.34
   3	Washington State University	$48,630	$23.38
   4	Gulf of Maine Research Institute	$44,981	$21.63
   5	NeoGenomics Laboratories	$44,664	$21.47
   6	Nomura Securities	$43,801	$21.06
   7	Trident Seafoods	$41,547	$19.97
   8	Staff Icons	$39,298	$18.89
   9	Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute	$38,690	$18.60	73
   10	State of Nevada Employees' Association Inc	$38,049	$18.29
   11	CBLPath	$37,364	$17.96	1
   12	Peter Pan Seafoods Inc	$37,325	$17.94
   13	Nippon Suisan Kaisha	$37,325	$17.94
   14	Pacific Choice Seafood	$37,325	$17.94	3
   15	Iowa Department of Transportation	$36,033	$17.32
   16	Kenaitze Indian Tribe	$35,472	$17.05	2
   17	Central Garden & Pet	$34,171	$16.43
   18	Ocean Beauty Seafoods	$32,705	$15.72
   19	Icicle Seafoods	$31,192	$15.00

4. Writing a fish technologist job description

   A fish technologist 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 a fish technologist job description:

   Fish technologist job description example

   Only applicants who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and meet all selective requirements (listed below) will be placed on the eligible list.
   Applicants may attach a Resume/Cover Letter to the online application.
   
   The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) employs over 850 employees that are dedicated to protecting Iowa's natural resources and providing citizens recreational opportunities to enjoy them. The Iowa DNR's mission is to conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations. If our mission aligns with your personal goals and you want to work alongside committed and passionate coworkers, then you should consider the Iowa DNR as your next employer.
   
   We currently have a Natural Resources Technician 2 (NRT 2) position that is an integral part of the dedicated team of professionals that operate the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery. The Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery propagates, cultures, and distributes Muskellunge, Northern Pike, and Walleyes to provide recreational opportunities for Iowa anglers. The primary job duties of the successful candidate are fish culture, and buildings, grounds, and equipment maintenance.
   
   Fry Production: Collect adult Muskellunge, Northern Pike, and Walleye broodfish, transport, examine and sort by sex and spawning readiness when they are received into the hatchery and daily thereafter. Keep accurate records of numbers and sex captured by location and date. Assist with the injection of hormone into adult female Muskellunge and Walleyes to induce ovulation and spawning. Extend Muskellunge and Walleye semen using the correct ratio of semen and extender solution. Take eggs/semen from adult fish and return adult fish to capture location. Fertilize, water harden, and transfer to incubation jars using established procedures. Maintain proper incubation conditions by monitoring temperature, flow rates to each jar, and removing dead or infectious eggs by siphoning. Monitor eggs for hatch, clean catch tank screens as needed, and remove and stock fry.
   
   Intensive Fingerling Production: Clean fish culture units daily, observe and monitor behavior, and collect and record mortalities. Maintain safe densities in rearing units. If fish health is compromised or a disease outbreak occurs, perform necropsy and determine causative agent(s). Determine appropriate treatment, calculate proper dosages, and apply treatments safely and accurately in accordance with established treatment protocols that satisfy any applicable INAD exemption requirements. Maintain accurate and thorough records as required by INAD protocols and provide this information to INAD investigator and study monitor as required. Monitor fish growth and use this information to ensure correct feed amounts are delivered by calibrating and adjusting feeders. Clean/disinfect fish culture units and fish feeders at the conclusion of production cycle.
   
   Extensive Fingerling Production: Assist with the application of fertilizer, aquatic herbicides, and fish toxicants. Assist with weekly sampling of fish to assess growth, condition, and forage availability. Assist with the collection of forage using traps or seines. Assist with fish harvest using seines or fyke nets.
   
   Fish Distribution: Estimate fish size to yield the correct number of fish to be stocked at a particular location. Inspect fish to ensure that no extraneous species of fish are being inadvertently stocked. Load fish onto distribution units at safe densities. Administer chemical treatments to transport tanks to reduce stress or for the control of Zebra Mussel veligers. Unload fish and ensure correct distribution. Keep accurate mileage records of all stocking trips.
   
   Ensure all buildings and grounds are maintained such that a clean, attractive, and safe working environment exists. Building maintenance includes participating in a rotation for cleaning public areas of the Hatchery. Grounds maintenance includes mowing, tree trimming, and removal of brush. Equipment is to be kept in good operating condition at all times, including replacement, repair, and design and construction of new equipment as needed. Assist with cutting off old mesh and hanging new mesh on existing gill net float and lead line and dip net frames. Assist with the repair of pond and nursery lake seines.
   
   Essential Functions
   
   Assists with fish propagation, culture, and distribution.
   
   Assists with daily fish culture duties.
   
   Assists with the data collection and entry.
   
   Assists with maintenance of buildings, grounds, and equipment.
   
   Critical Job Competencies
   
   Fisheries Biology, Animal Husbandry, Team Player, Integrity, Accountability, Mathematical Reasoning, Creative Thinking, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Interpersonal Skills, Technical Competence (fisheries and maintenance), Communication Skills (oral and written), Customer Service, Computer Skills, Information Management, Self-Management, Flexibility, Attention to Detail, High Productivity, Common Sense, Positive Attitude.
   
   Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a Pesticide Applicator license with category 5 certification and a Commercial driver's license with air brake and tanker endorsement within 6 months of employment.
   
   Normal hours are 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Monday through Friday with participation in a weekend work rotation. Standby duty mandatory, therefore employee must live (or arrange for temporary housing when on standby) within 15 miles of the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery. May be required to work 2nd or 3rd shift during broodstock collection and spawning operations. Some travel with overnight lodging required.
   
   The starting salary for new state (Executive Branch) employees is expected be at the base of the pay range. Additional salary increases may occur after the first six months, and then annually (if applicable). The State's total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation.
   
   For more information about DNR Employment Opportunities and position specific notices, please visit the DNR Employment website.
   
   The State of Iowa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
   
   The DNR seeks to hire individuals who wish to support our mission, which is to conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organization, to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.900 Fisheries Biology
   
   6 months' experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both.The equivalent of three years of full time experience involving facilities maintenance in plumbing, electrical, and/or heating and cooling, or technical work in a biological, horticultural, conservation, or natural resources program;
   
   OR
   
   an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting 30 semester hours of college level course work in a biological or natural resources program for each year of the required experience;
   
   OR
   
   employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes the equivalent of 12 months of full-time experience as a Natural Resources Technician 1 shall be considered as qualified.
   
   For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.Certain designated positions require the employee to be certified by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship as a Pesticide Applicator within a period of time as determined by the appointing authority at the time of hire.

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5. Post your job

   To find fish technologists 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 fish technologists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level fish technologists 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 fish technologist job on Zippia to find and recruit fish technologist 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 fish technologists, 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 fish technologist

   Once you've found the fish technologist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new fish technologist. 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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