How to hire a laboratory worker

How to hire a laboratory worker, step by step

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

Post a laboratory worker job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

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

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

   This list shows salaries for various types of laboratory workers.

   Type of Laboratory Worker	Description	Hourly rate
   Laboratory Worker	Medical laboratory technologists (commonly known as medical laboratory scientists) and medical laboratory technicians collect samples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue, and other substances.	$9-24
   Certified Medical Technician	Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms... Show more	$13-25
   Dialysis Technician	A dialysis technician is responsible for the control and maintenance of a dialysis machine. Dialysis technicians' duties include monitoring the stable performance of the equipment, assisting patients on the dialysis process, and adhering to the safety standards and protocols on the dialysis operation all the time... Show more	$13-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Lab Equipment
   • Photoshop
   • Lab Procedures
   • Chemistry Lab
   • Lab Computers
   • Cell Culture
   • GEL Electrophoresis
   • Electrophoresis
   • Lab Environment
   • Autoclaves
   • Test Results
   • DNA
   • RT-PCR
   • Computer System

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Create Powerpoint presentation on work accomplish and present 15 minute speech on the findings to peers and faculty at USM.
   • Comfort frighten patients and maintain an exceptionally bright professional demeanor to accomplish a procedure that makes most people very uncomfortable.
   • Set denture teeth, process and finish removable partial dentures.
   • Receive training on DNA extraction and classification as well as tissue imaging
   • Survey and design of partial dentures and implant support removable frameworks.
   • Process, sanitize and decontaminate cages and relate equipment, using automate cage washing equipment and sterilizers.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your laboratory worker job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A laboratory worker salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, laboratory workers' average salary in oklahoma is 53% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level laboratory workers earn 60% less than senior-level laboratory workers.
   • Certifications. A laboratory worker with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a laboratory worker's salary.

   Average laboratory worker salary

   $15.38hourly

   $31,998 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level laboratory worker salary

   $20,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 30, 2026

4. Writing a laboratory worker job description

   A laboratory worker 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. Below, you can find an example of a laboratory worker job description:

   Laboratory worker job description example

   USD80,000-USD100,000
   
   **APM-Commercial/Lab work-Boston, MA Responsibilities:**
   
   + Coordinate the work to ensure overall project quality
   
   + Provide safety leadership
   
   + Secure and process subcontractor/vendor submittals
   
   + Support field team with procurement and expediting of equipment and materials
   
   + Attend weekly project meetings in support of the PX/PM
   
   + Maintain compliance to client site rules
   
   _MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants._
   
   **APM-Commercial/Lab work-Boston, MA Successful Candidate:**
   
   + 2-3 year's experience
   
   + Lab/tenant/office fit out experience (will also look at MEP backgrounds)
   
   + Somewhat familiar with Procore and MS Office
   
   + Some on-site experience
   
   They are a full-service construction management firm, and was founded on refined work processes, experience, knowledge, great people and an acute understanding of the design and construction process. Their core services focus on Preconstruction, Construction Management, Design Assist, Design Build and Facility Assessment. They focus on all aspects of the construction process from conception to the eventual finished product. They handle a wide range of projects in multiple sectors of construction including Life Sciences, Industrial/Advanced Tech, Utility and Infrastructure, Institutional and Commercial. Their construction professionals take the time to get to know you and your specific needs, objectives and challenges so we can provide you with the best possible solutions. They are well known for their lab and office fit outs, most recently completing three lab/office fit outs at 480 Arsenal Way as well as a lab conversion at 65 Grove Street.
   
   **APM-Commercial/Lab work-Boston, MA Offer:**
   
   + $80k - $100k depending on experience
   
   + 401k with 4%match
   
   + Health & Dental coverage
   
   + Life Insurance
   
   + 20 days PTO, 8 paid holidays
   
   + Mileage reimbursement
   
   + Company laptop and cell phone

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find laboratory workers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your laboratory worker job on Zippia to find and attract quality laboratory worker candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit laboratory workers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 worker

   Once you've found the laboratory worker 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new laboratory worker. 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a laboratory worker?