How to hire a microbiologist

How to hire a microbiologist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step microbiologist hiring guide:

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

What does a microbiologist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a microbiologist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or 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 microbiologist 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 microbiologist that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of microbiologists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Microbiologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Microbiologist	Microbiologists study microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, algae, fungi, and some types of parasites. They try to understand how these organisms live, grow, and interact with their environments.	$18-36
   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
   Research Laboratory Technician	Research laboratory technicians play a vital role in scientific laboratories. They perform varied duties and responsibilities, which include setting up, operating, and maintaining the laboratory equipment, assisting in laboratory-based research activities such as sampling, testing, and analyzing results, and providing technical support to the laboratory team members... Show more	$14-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Lab Equipment
   • Microbiology Lab
   • Environmental Monitoring
   • Test Methods
   • GMP
   • Laboratory Procedures
   • USP
   • FDA
   • Microorganisms
   • Test Results
   • Bioburden
   • Aseptic Technique
   • ISO
   • OOs

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Establish a DNA fingerprinting lab to aid in bacterial food borne disease investigations and manage it for ten years.
   • Manage external contract labs for GLP testing, prepare documentation for regulatory approval.
   • Job duties begin in a general microbiology/ infectious disease laboratory focuse on cultivating and managing infectious strains of microbes.
   • Perform biochemical tests for the detection of communicable disease agents including tuberculosis, HIV, and other sexually transmit diseases.
   • Receive and log samples in LIMS as well as compiled work batches, QC sheets and data reports.
   • Utilize various real time PCR and DNA extraction technologies to identify and characterize various biological agents and infectious diseases.

   More microbiologist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, microbiologists' average salary in south dakota is 56% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level microbiologists earn 48% less than senior-level microbiologists.
   • Certifications. A microbiologist 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 microbiologist's salary.

   Average microbiologist salary

   $54,620yearly

   $26.26 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level microbiologist salary

   $39,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 31, 2025

   Average microbiologist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$74,020	$36
   2	California	$69,288	$33
   3	Georgia	$62,314	$30
   4	Maryland	$60,901	$29
   5	New York	$55,774	$27
   6	Pennsylvania	$48,923	$24
   7	Colorado	$47,421	$23
   8	Hawaii	$46,486	$22
   9	Michigan	$45,886	$22
   10	Washington	$43,443	$21
   11	Illinois	$43,199	$21
   12	North Carolina	$41,164	$20
   13	Minnesota	$41,079	$20
   14	Florida	$40,852	$20
   15	Wisconsin	$40,666	$20
   16	Utah	$39,716	$19
   17	Missouri	$39,158	$19
   18	Indiana	$38,942	$19
   19	Ohio	$36,940	$18
   20	Texas	$36,509	$18

   Average microbiologist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Battelle	$71,564	$34.41	3
   2	Centers For Disease Control And Prevention	$70,532	$33.91
   3	Fraunhofer USA	$65,815	$31.64
   4	Henry M. Jackson Foundation	$64,188	$30.86	3
   5	Alpha Consulting	$61,702	$29.66
   6	Novartis	$61,677	$29.65
   7	CDC Foundation	$61,330	$29.49
   8	Pacira BioSciences	$61,275	$29.46
   9	UChicago Argonne	$60,890	$29.27
   10	ARA	$60,853	$29.26
   11	General Electric	$60,798	$29.23
   12	Goldbelt Falcon	$60,575	$29.12
   13	US Meat Animal Research Center	$60,187	$28.94
   14	Aqua	$60,150	$28.92
   15	Bureau Veritas	$59,912	$28.80	3
   16	Ventura County Community Foundation	$59,303	$28.51
   17	NanoBio Corp	$58,754	$28.25
   18	Medstaff	$58,643	$28.19
   19	Mindlance	$58,636	$28.19	27
   20	Mérieux NutriSciences	$58,445	$28.10	15

4. Writing a microbiologist job description

   A good microbiologist 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 microbiologist job description:

   Microbiologist job description example

   At C16 Biosciences, we believe that palm oil doesn't have to be a problem. Our team is building a sustainable and environmentally-friendly alternative to “conflict palm oil,” which relies on tropical rainforest deforestation and emits over 1 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year. C16 Bio's technology platform harnesses naturally-occurring biological processes, improved by the latest innovations in strain engineering, fermentation, and low-cost lipid extraction to produce a better kind of palm oil.
   
   Please note: This is a posting for general consideration of future Microbiologist roles at C16 Biosciences. At present, we are not actively looking to fill this position, but intend to be in the coming months. All candidates will hear back regarding next steps upon review of their application.
   
   You will join an ambitious and productive team, dedicated to strain screening, selection, and improvement, in addition to fermentation process development, scale up, and commercialization, for production of sustainable palm oil alternatives and value-added products.
   
   In this role, you will take ownership of banking and managing the company's high-value strains for high purity, viability, and functionality. You will utilize and expand your knowledge in microbiology, molecular biology, and biochemistry, as well as your microbiology techniques and hands-on skills in fermentation, automation, and analytical instrumentation. You will be expected to be self-motivated, highly organized, and a fast learner.
   
   Major responsibilities:Take ownership of banking and managing the company's high-value strains for high purity, viability, and functionality Develop standard operating procedures (SOP) for evaluating microbial purity, viability, and functionality Monitor and maintain the inventory of glycerol stocks of each high-value strain Investigate microbial stability Develop solutions to increasing microbial robustness for high growth, high stress tolerance, and high production performance Study microbial physiological and morphological characteristics Identify new microorganisms in isolation and contaminants in fermentation Develop solutions to minimize contamination issue in fermentation and downstream processing (DSP) Support on strain screening, media development, metabolite characterization, and strain engineering Provide professional documentation and report
   
   Minimum education and experience:BS or MS degree in Microbiology or related field5+ years of experience as a microbiologist (3+ years for MS) Ability to plan and execute experimental protocols Excellent knowledge of electron microscopes, electronic equipment, and strain identification & characterization Highly skilled in microbiology techniques, methodology, equipment, and supplies Willingness to keep up to date with current information and research Excellent verbal, written & documentation skills Excellent organizational, communicational, and interpersonal skills Microbial banking & management experience (not required)
   
   C16 offers:Competitive salary within the industry Unlimited PTOMedical, dental & vision insurance coverage Access to well-being tools and development opportunities (e.g. mental health, CitiBike memberships, and more)401(k) retirement plan options
   
   Diversity:We celebrate diversity in all its forms. We are committed to EEO regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, national origin, gender, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital or parental status, disability, veteran status, and more.
   Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required.
   
   In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find microbiologists 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 microbiologist job on Zippia to find and recruit microbiologist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with microbiologist 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.

   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 microbiologist

   Once you've decided on a perfect microbiologist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   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 microbiologist?