How to hire a materials scientist

How to hire a materials scientist, step by step

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

What does a materials scientist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The materials scientist 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 materials scientist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, materials scientists 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 materials scientists.

   Type of Materials Scientist	Description	Hourly rate
   Materials Scientist	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.	$28-57
   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
   Research Chemist	A research chemist specializes in conducting studies and experiments to develop new products. Their duties primarily focus on conducting research and assessments, gathering and analyzing chemical samples, developing ideas, conducting tests to study chemical reactions, maintaining records of all procedures, and utilizing previous studies... Show more	$25-51

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Polymer
   • SEM
   • Materials Characterization
   • Data Analysis
   • Technical Reports
   • FTIR
   • Characterization Techniques
   • R
   • Additive Manufacturing
   • DSC
   • DOE
   • GMP
   • Product Development
   • Laser

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage equipment calibration and maintenance to comply with CGMPs, FDA and OSHA
   • Achieve API form stability improvement by encapsulation and subsequent analysis.
   • Manage large-scale GMP manufacturing and pilot-scale trials for material development evaluations.
   • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
   • Develop testing methods for characterizations of latent heat storage materials using DSC, TGA, and FTIR instruments.
   • Study the film morphological properties by SEM, XRD, XRF.

   More materials scientist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, materials scientists' average salary in west virginia is 49% less than in nevada.
   • Seniority. Entry-level materials scientists earn 50% less than senior-level materials scientists.
   • Certifications. A materials 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 materials scientist's salary.

   Average materials scientist salary

   $84,459yearly

   $40.61 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level materials scientist salary

   $59,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

   Average materials scientist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$106,122	$51
   2	Washington	$89,914	$43
   3	Hawaii	$85,395	$41
   4	Indiana	$81,959	$39
   5	North Carolina	$81,045	$39
   6	Illinois	$80,960	$39
   7	Ohio	$80,508	$39
   8	New York	$77,305	$37
   9	Pennsylvania	$76,802	$37
   10	Massachusetts	$72,512	$35
   11	Idaho	$71,371	$34
   12	Tennessee	$67,553	$32
   13	Delaware	$67,379	$32
   14	Minnesota	$66,959	$32
   15	Florida	$66,728	$32
   16	Michigan	$60,725	$29
   17	Maryland	$60,183	$29
   18	Texas	$58,932	$28
   19	West Virginia	$57,093	$27

   Average materials scientist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$143,699	$69.09	266
   2	Amazon	$134,421	$64.63	564
   3	ConocoPhillips	$118,949	$57.19
   4	Western Digital	$117,452	$56.47
   5	Cantor Colburn	$117,067	$56.28
   6	American Century Investments	$114,243	$54.92
   7	Genentech	$114,192	$54.90	25
   8	Applied Materials	$109,277	$52.54	10
   9	The Coca-Cola Company	$104,638	$50.31	2
   10	NuvoSun	$104,130	$50.06
   11	Baker Hughes	$103,760	$49.88	3
   12	Arkema	$103,414	$49.72
   13	Halliburton	$103,216	$49.62	2
   14	Eastman	$102,317	$49.19	1
   15	Entegris	$101,921	$49.00	10
   16	Corning Incorporated	$101,245	$48.68	16
   17	FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies	$100,406	$48.27	5
   18	Eli Lilly and Company	$100,089	$48.12	88
   19	Ford Motor	$99,768	$47.97	20
   20	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$99,550	$47.86	197

4. Writing a materials scientist job description

   A good materials scientist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a materials scientist job description:

   Materials scientist job description example

   The Measurement/Materials Scientist will be responsible for providing technical and project leadership in developing characterization techniques necessary for understanding the functional properties of ingredients and systems including proteins, fibers, starches, hydrocolloids. The Measurement/Materials Scientist will use expertise in measurement techniques, including rheology, microscopy, and data analysis and interpretation to enable product, process and formulation development.
   Core Responsibilities:
   Conduct in-depth research and development to understand the structure/function relationship of materials in model and food systems Guide projects through knowledge of chemistry, structure and material interactions using measurement techniques, including rheology, microscopy, texture, etc. Utilize materials science expertise to develop and progress ideas for new product innovations and drive future business growth Partner with key development and technology functions (applications, sensory, process technology, chemistry, biotransformation) and the Go-To-Market functions (Regional Technical Service, IdeaLabs). Develop new data analysis, interpretation and visualization approaches.Identify and develop new and update existing measurement capabilities for characterization of food ingredients.Lead teams to implement new testing technology in Product Development and Manufacturing. Conduct troubleshooting of issues in testing and products with internal and external customers Keep up-to-date on advances in measurement systems through open sources Encourage and drive intellectual property Write reports and effectively communicate results to project teams and stakeholders Develop relationships and networks externally within professional organizations Supervise and develop junior staff
   
   Qualified candidates will have:
   PhD in Materials or Polymer Science or related field with 0 to 2+ years of relevant experience. Master's Degree with 3 to 5+ years relevant experience or Bachelor's Degree with 5 to 10+ years relevant experience also considered.Expertise in materials such as starch, fibers, proteins and their function as food ingredients is preferred Expertise in physical analysis techniques (e.g. rheology, texture) and microscopy techniques (CLSM, SEM, Brightfield) to elucidate structure-function relationships Understanding of materials, polymer, food science, interfacial science, emulsions, suspensions and relevant characterization techniques Knowledge of statistical design and using tools for data processing, analysis and visualization.Ability to effectively link disparate ideas to propose novel approaches Possess strong interpersonal and communication, both written and oral, skills to work in cross-functional teams and have the curiosity to learn from and work with others Demonstrated ability to manage projects independently and lead multifunctional teams Familiarity with method validation and measurement system assessment Excellent planning and organization skills, allowing for shifting priorities and helping others to operate with flexibility Strong critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities Strong computer skills, Microsoft Office
   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
   #LI-JG1
   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, military status, or disability status.
   
   Relocation Available:
   Yes, Within Country

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right materials 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 materials scientist job on Zippia to find and recruit materials scientist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with materials scientist 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 materials scientist

   Once you've selected the best materials 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 materials scientist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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 materials scientist?