How to hire a laboratory chemist

How to hire a laboratory chemist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step laboratory chemist hiring guide:

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

What does a laboratory chemist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your laboratory chemist 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 a laboratory chemist 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 a laboratory chemist 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 laboratory chemist that fits the bill.

   This list presents laboratory chemist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Laboratory Chemist	Description	Hourly rate
   Laboratory Chemist	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.	$21-41
   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
   Chemical Technician	A chemical technician is responsible for supporting chemists and laboratory technicians in performing laboratory investigations and examining chemical components and structures. Chemical technicians ensure the stability of laboratory tools and equipment, performing proper sterilization and segregation of disposable materials, and maintaining the adequacy of inventory... Show more	$14-27

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Lab Equipment
   • Chromatography
   • Analytical Methods
   • Laboratory Procedures
   • Sample Preparation
   • Wet Chemistry
   • Lims
   • Titration
   • HPLC
   • OSHA
   • Hazardous Waste
   • R
   • Gas Chromatography
   • Test Methods

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Test developmental compounds to ASTM standards and manage certification submissions.
   • Perform testing on BioGlue components, titration - uv-vis - gel electrophoresis, and FTIR examination of incoming raw materials.
   • Develop and execute HPLC, UV and dissolution test methods for non-routine raw materials and finish products.
   • Conduct raw material analyses, perform tests using FTIR and GC instrumentation, develop policies and procedures, conduct trouble shooting.
   • Include GPC, GC-MS, FTIR, NMR and others
   • Participate in all kind of audit like ISO 17025, ISO 18001, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

   More laboratory chemist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the laboratory chemist job description is a good way to get more applicants. A laboratory chemist salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a laboratory chemist in Oregon may be lower than in Virginia, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level laboratory chemist. Additionally, a laboratory chemist with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average laboratory chemist salary

   $62,702yearly

   $30.15 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level laboratory chemist salary

   $45,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

   Average laboratory chemist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$76,097	$37
   2	Massachusetts	$75,850	$36
   3	California	$74,302	$36
   4	Rhode Island	$73,660	$35
   5	Connecticut	$71,410	$34
   6	Minnesota	$61,585	$30
   7	Texas	$60,393	$29
   8	New York	$59,998	$29
   9	Wisconsin	$59,891	$29
   10	North Carolina	$57,754	$28
   11	Utah	$57,250	$28
   12	Pennsylvania	$56,436	$27
   13	Indiana	$54,605	$26
   14	Illinois	$53,677	$26
   15	Louisiana	$53,503	$26
   16	Nevada	$50,515	$24
   17	Florida	$48,117	$23

   Average laboratory chemist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	BASF	$89,315	$42.94
   2	Vertex Pharmaceuticals	$83,894	$40.33
   3	Harsco	$79,054	$38.01
   4	Tyson Foods	$75,852	$36.47
   5	The Travelers Companies	$67,082	$32.25
   6	Shiseido	$63,819	$30.68
   7	Electronic Interconnect Corp.	$61,025	$29.34
   8	Prime Healthcare	$60,589	$29.13	65
   9	San Antonio Water System	$60,552	$29.11
   10	Michelin	$60,120	$28.90	1
   11	Eurofins	$60,118	$28.90	96
   12	University of California	$60,092	$28.89	28
   13	US Ecology	$60,037	$28.86
   14	Intertek USA, Inc.	$59,966	$28.83	8
   15	The Independent Traveler	$59,963	$28.83
   16	Noah & Co.	$59,937	$28.82
   17	Goodyear	$59,882	$28.79
   18	AmSpec Group	$59,811	$28.76
   19	CHRISTUS Health	$59,642	$28.67	59
   20	Bluestar Us	$58,920	$28.33

4. Writing a laboratory chemist job description

   A laboratory chemist 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 laboratory chemist job description:

   Laboratory chemist job description example

   • BS in physical Science required (5 years Experience equivalent)
   • Certified Hazardous Materials Manager
   • Motor vehicle record (MVR) that meets or exceeds HCC's published standards including, but not limited to the following;
     • Seat belt and cell phone violations
     • Excessive speeding
     • DUI, suspension and/or multiple vehicle collisions

   Personal Protective Equipment*:

   • Ability to wear personal protective equipment, which may include a respirator, steel toe boots, gloves, uniform, safety glasses, reflective vest, and hard hats

   Physical Requirements*:

   • Frequent lifting of materials that typically weigh 54-80lbs
   • Frequent pushing/pulling of 16-55 gallon drums or larger containers of waste/product using HCC-approved equipment for safe material handling, drum weight may exceed 400lbs
   • Frequent lifting of drums weighing up to 100lbs.
   • Frequent climbing of ladders to access approved waste streams
   • Occasionally pulling/dragging of hoses weighing up to 100lbs each
   • Frequent lifting of grates, manhole covers, and other plates to access approved waste streams
   • All applicants must pass the pre-employment physical including drug & alcohol screening

   Work Environment*:

   While performing essential duties of this position an individual regularly works in a variety of environments, and is required to see, talk, hear, reach, stand, walk, drive frequently, and comfortably use electronic devices and other office equipment. Essential duties require bending, squatting, climbing, lifting and twisting frequently. Noise level in the workplace can vary based upon the work environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.

   AET Environmental A Heritage Crystal Clean Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply

   #HP

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting laboratory chemists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 laboratory chemist

   Once you've found the laboratory chemist 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new laboratory chemist. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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How much does it cost to hire a laboratory chemist?