How to hire a manufacturing scientist

How to hire a manufacturing scientist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step manufacturing scientist hiring guide:

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

What does a manufacturing scientist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your manufacturing scientist 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 manufacturing scientist 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 manufacturing scientist 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 manufacturing scientist that fits the bill.

   This list presents manufacturing scientist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Manufacturing Scientist	Description	Hourly rate
   Manufacturing Scientist	Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.	$29-58
   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
   Laboratory Analyst	A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation.	$14-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Chemistry
   • Continuous Improvement
   • QC
   • GMP
   • FDA
   • Technical Support
   • Cell Culture
   • III
   • Electrophoresis
   • DNA
   • Process Improvement
   • ISO
   • HPLC
   • Oligonucleotides

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop and manage third party claim investigations and contractor remedial oversight for various insurance companies.
   • Perform calculations according to procedures, and maintains accurate records of work perform according to GLP / GMP.
   • Characterize various oligonucleotides by reversed-phase HPLC.
   • Develop locus specific PCR assays.
   • Serve as the manufacturing subject matter expert during regulatory (FDA / EMA) inspections.
   • Write and review CMC analytical sections for IND/IMPD to ensure that corporate timelines are met.

   More manufacturing scientist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, manufacturing scientists' average salary in louisiana is 46% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level manufacturing scientists earn 49% less than senior-level manufacturing scientists.
   • Certifications. A manufacturing scientist 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 manufacturing scientist's salary.

   Average manufacturing scientist salary

   $87,366yearly

   $42.00 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level manufacturing scientist salary

   $62,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average manufacturing scientist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$108,924	$52
   2	Minnesota	$97,225	$47
   3	Massachusetts	$90,672	$44
   4	Indiana	$88,702	$43
   5	New York	$86,438	$42
   6	Michigan	$81,103	$39
   7	Virginia	$80,223	$39
   8	Pennsylvania	$79,269	$38
   9	Maryland	$77,316	$37
   10	Illinois	$74,046	$36
   11	Wisconsin	$73,728	$35
   12	Ohio	$72,631	$35
   13	North Carolina	$71,594	$34
   14	Texas	$70,452	$34
   15	Missouri	$55,326	$27

   Average manufacturing scientist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Lumileds	$113,604	$54.62
   2	BioMarin	$105,419	$50.68	9
   3	Agilent Technologies	$100,814	$48.47	16
   4	Eli Lilly and Company	$100,211	$48.18	94
   5	Novartis	$99,979	$48.07	9
   6	Bio-Rad Laboratories	$99,957	$48.06	3
   7	Albemarle	$99,015	$47.60
   8	Adaptimmune	$98,654	$47.43
   9	DuPont	$95,916	$46.11	8
   10	Promega	$95,299	$45.82	5
   11	Mars	$95,093	$45.72
   12	CTG	$94,689	$45.52	2
   13	Nuclear Fuel Services	$93,050	$44.74
   14	Elanco	$92,177	$44.32	20
   15	Alpha Consulting	$91,322	$43.90
   16	BWX Technologies	$88,279	$42.44	22
   17	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$87,006	$41.83	147
   18	Life Tech International	$78,677	$37.83
   19	Ionis Pharmaceuticals	$77,609	$37.31	1
   20	Lilly & Company	$74,856	$35.99	68

4. Writing a manufacturing scientist job description

   A job description for a manufacturing scientist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a manufacturing scientist job description:

   Manufacturing scientist job description example

   Are you inspired by “what's next”? So are we.
   
   When you join the Albemarle team, you contribute to a better tomorrow. You will play a role in powering many of the world's largest and most critical industries, from energy and communications to transportation and electronics. We are putting innovation to work to improve people's lives and we want YOU to be a part of it.
   
   Job Description
   
   Company and Job Overview
   
   Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is a leading global producer of lithium, bromine, and catalyst solutions. As one of the world's largest lithium chemicals producers, our products enable today's rapid growth in lithium-ion batteries that power everything from pacemakers, to cell phones, to electric vehicles. Our unique lithium natural resource position, global derivatization capabilities and technology leadership allow Albemarle to execute an aggressive growth strategy. Join us to help develop the technologies and materials that will accelerate the electrification revolution!
   
   The “Lithium Metal Anode Manufacturing Scientist” position is a hands-on role within the fast-growing Lithium R&D team located in Kings Mountain, NC. The successful candidate will join a diverse and passionate team developing new lithium-based products and technologies for Albemarle and its customers.
   
   The Lithium Metal Anode Manufacturing Scientist will spearhead development of advanced lithium metal anodes for current and future generations of high energy density batteries, targeting cost effective manufacturing and cell level performance/useful life. The position requires innovative and hands-on independent laboratory work and collaboration across groups, internally and externally. Success in the position will open career growth opportunities within and outside the R&D team.
   Essential Duties & Responsibilities
   Design high performance lithium metal anodes by developing anode/foil processing techniques with the ultimate goal of scale-up and commercialization Practice proper laboratory procedures in compliance with Corporate HS&E policies and maintain a safe lab environment Collaborate with a broad technical team and proactively share data to achieve optimal outcomes and meet timebound technical milestones Generate lithium foils and laminates for R&D and customers at the gram to multi-kilogram scale Characterize physical properties of lithium in different forms Document experiments, observations, and results clearly in both written and electronic formats
   
   Required Qualifications
   A Ph.D. degree in metallurgy, materials science, chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or related scientific discipline1-3 years of metallurgic experience, including all or some of the following techniques: extrusion, rolling, and lamination of metals At least 1 year of hands-on experience working with lithium metal Strong background in metal processing including melting, alloying, and various processes to shape metal products suitable for customer needs. Experience in rolling and casting is an advantage.Able to find innovative solutions to technical challenges
   
   Desired Competencies
   Skilled in safely handling air-sensitive materials Experience with surface metrology and characterization Experience with glovebox operation and working inside a dry room Good understanding of metallography techniques Conversant in the metallurgical literature Knowledge of process automation is an advantage Work cross-functionally in the organization to meet expected deliverables and manage stakeholders Strong organizational and time management skills Excellent communication skills and able to distill complex concepts into clear messages for a wider audience in both formal and informal settings High attention to detail, accuracy, and precision
   
   Physical Requirements
   Must be able to work in a chemical laboratory and a dry room environment, which requires standing for 50% or more of the time Must have dexterity to handle small, delicate components and lab equipment Must be able to physically operate lab-scale roll-to-roll equipment Must be able to lift and carry 30-35 pounds
   
   Choose to unlock your full POTENTIAL. Apply today.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right manufacturing scientist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your manufacturing scientist job on Zippia to find and recruit manufacturing scientist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit manufacturing scientists, 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 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 manufacturing scientist

   Once you've selected the best manufacturing scientist 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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How much does it cost to hire a manufacturing scientist?