How to hire a microbiology laboratory manager

How to hire a microbiology laboratory manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step microbiology laboratory manager hiring guide:

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

What does a microbiology laboratory manager do?

Post a microbiology laboratory manager job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The microbiology laboratory manager 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a microbiology laboratory manager 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 microbiology laboratory manager that fits the bill.

   This list presents microbiology laboratory manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Microbiology Laboratory Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Microbiology Laboratory Manager	Natural sciences managers supervise the work of scientists, including chemists, physicists, and biologists. They direct activities related to research and development, and coordinate activities such as testing, quality control, and production.	$31-64
   Environmental Manager	An Environmental Manager supervises the environmental performance of private, public, and voluntary sector organizations. They are employed by government agencies, non-governmental organizations, or commercial entities.	$20-50
   Laboratory Supervisor	The primary job of laboratory supervisors is to oversee the daily operations of laboratories. They are responsible for facilitating the collection, analysis, and interpretation of laboratory results... Show more	$22-46

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • QC
   • FDA
   • Microbiology Lab
   • Environmental Monitoring
   • Laboratory Operations
   • Test Methods
   • Chemistry
   • OOs
   • ISO
   • GMP
   • Continuous Improvement
   • USP
   • Bioburden
   • Laboratory Procedures

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Set up forensic DNA laboratory, train laboratory technicians in advance molecular techniques, and manage day-to-day activities of forensic DNA laboratory
   • Assist with client and regulatory quality GMP audits.
   • Purchase and implement new non-viable particle counters to support ISO certification.
   • Perform GMP audits of suppliers, ensuring that they meet internal expectations for quality.
   • Determine triglycerides in vegetable oil and polyphenols in olive oil by (HPLC).
   • Create purchase orders and place orders with vendors for all production aspects of the microbiological and chemistry operations.

   More microbiology laboratory manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your microbiology laboratory manager job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A microbiology laboratory manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a microbiology laboratory manager in Indiana may be lower than in Arizona, and an entry-level microbiology laboratory manager usually earns less than a senior-level microbiology laboratory manager. Additionally, a microbiology laboratory manager with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average microbiology laboratory manager salary

   $94,179yearly

   $45.28 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level microbiology laboratory manager salary

   $65,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average microbiology laboratory manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Arizona	$112,646	$54
   2	Washington	$109,593	$53
   3	New York	$106,428	$51
   4	Texas	$102,370	$49
   5	Ohio	$91,074	$44
   6	Pennsylvania	$90,766	$44
   7	Illinois	$89,263	$43
   8	Massachusetts	$87,197	$42
   9	Connecticut	$85,095	$41
   10	District of Columbia	$83,635	$40
   11	Michigan	$82,648	$40
   12	North Carolina	$81,365	$39
   13	Oklahoma	$78,302	$38
   14	Georgia	$74,962	$36
   15	Indiana	$70,856	$34
   16	Minnesota	$69,900	$34
   17	Colorado	$69,443	$33
   18	Tennessee	$69,361	$33
   19	Florida	$68,945	$33
   20	Wisconsin	$67,122	$32

   Average microbiology laboratory manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Abbott	$102,447	$49.25	16
   2	Washington Health System	$97,628	$46.94	1
   3	One Brooklyn Health	$95,704	$46.01
   4	Teligent	$95,395	$45.86
   5	B. Braun Medical	$93,005	$44.71
   6	Leprino Foods	$92,077	$44.27
   7	Atrium Health Floyd	$91,891	$44.18	42
   8	Eurofins	$91,744	$44.11	75
   9	Smith & Nephew	$87,392	$42.02
   10	SGS	$87,119	$41.88	64
   11	Pace Analytical	$86,926	$41.79
   12	EMSL Analytical	$85,880	$41.29
   13	Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings	$85,826	$41.26	350
   14	Reid Health	$85,805	$41.25
   15	LifePoint Health	$85,729	$41.22	74
   16	Fresenius Kabi	$85,218	$40.97	1
   17	Randstad North America, Inc.	$85,121	$40.92	1
   18	Kelly Services	$83,772	$40.27	49
   19	System One	$78,335	$37.66	16
   20	Greenfield-Central High School	$68,486	$32.93

4. Writing a microbiology laboratory manager job description

   A job description for a microbiology laboratory manager 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 microbiology laboratory manager job description:

   Microbiology laboratory manager job description example

   Indiana University Health is Indiana's most comprehensive health system, with 16 hospitals and more than 34,000 team members serving Hoosiers across the state. We're looking for team members who are inspired by challenging and meaningful work for the good of every patient. People who are compassionate and serve with a purpose. People who aspire to excellence every day.
   
   The laboratories of IU Health offer some of the most comprehensive laboratory services in Indiana! Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the laboratories perform more than 19 million tests a year. In addition to IU Health, laboratory testing services are provided to hospitals and physicians across the country.
   
   The Microbiology Laboratory Manager assists the Director in planning, directing and overall operation of the area. Effectively manages assigned team members in a manner consistent with organizational policies and values. Manages ongoing analysis, development, and implementation of methods and systems to improve overall efficiency and effectiveness of services and functions. Ensures compliance with all applicable quality and accreditation standards within the assigned areas or region. Provides for effective monitoring and financial management of assigned areas. Develops protocols for division and department. Develops methods for testing and provides appropriate input for selection of equipment.
   • Bachelor's in medical technology, chemical, physical or biological science is required.
   
   • Masters in medical technology, clinical laboratory science, chemical, physical, or biological science preferred.
   
   • Requires 5-7 years of training/experience in high complexity testing in the respective specialty.
   
   • Requires appropriate certification by ASCP, AMT, NCA or equivalent certification.
   
   • Requires comprehensive background in supervision.
   
   • Requires ability to deal with multiple laboratory needs within the division.
   
   • Requires extensive knowledge about computers and use of various software programs.
   
   • Requires familiarity with automated and non-automated testing equipment.
   
   • Requires knowledge of state and federal regulations.
   
   • Requires ability to plan and manage the utilization of resources.
   
   • May be required to travel.
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion at IU Health. IU Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
   
   REQNUMBER: 339282

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit microbiology laboratory managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 microbiology laboratory manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the microbiology laboratory manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new microbiology laboratory manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a microbiology laboratory manager?