How to hire an organic chemist

How to hire an organic chemist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step organic chemist hiring guide:

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

What does an organic chemist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your organic chemist 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 an organic chemist 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 an organic chemist 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 an organic chemist that fits the bill.

   This list presents organic chemist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Organic Chemist	Description	Hourly rate
   Organic Chemist	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.	$24-55
   Postdoctoral Scholar	A Postdoctoral Scholar is responsible for supporting an educational research group to conduct studies and gather relevant data to support study claims and scientific evidence. They review initial findings, perform field investigations, and interview the target respondents for data and statistical analysis... Show more	$19-37
   Research And Development Scientist	A research and development scientist specializes in conducting scientific studies and experiments to develop new products and technologies. They usually work at laboratories where they are in charge of conducting research and assessments, coming up with new ideas, performing tests, streamlining product requirements and guidelines, collaborating with fellow experts, utilizing previous studies and advanced software, and maintaining records of all procedures... Show more	$30-60

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • NMR
   • Method Development
   • HPLC
   • Organic Synthesis
   • Laboratory Equipment
   • Sample Preparation
   • GC
   • Ms
   • Extraction
   • Liquid Chromatography
   • UV-Vis
   • Gas Chromatography
   • Wet Chemistry
   • LC-MS

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve and maintain ISO 9001-2000 certification by creating and implementing policies and serving as management representative.
   • Ensure compounds are of the highest possible purity using LCMS, NMR spectroscopy, GC, and HPLC.
   • Perform organic analysis for semi-volatile and acid-base-neutrals using GCMS, HPLC, GCFID, GCNPD, GCECD and IR.
   • Perform GC analyses for gas, diesel, BTEX and PCB analyses in Washington and remote sites of Alaska.
   • Facilitate routine analyses in organic analytic chemistry - distillation, extraction, separation, crystallization, and purification.
   • Utilize 1H-NMR , 13C-NMR, GC/MS, HPLC, MALDI-TOF, ChemDraw, and ChemWindow.

   More organic chemist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your organic chemist job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An organic chemist 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 an organic chemist in North Dakota may be lower than in Delaware, and an entry-level organic chemist usually earns less than a senior-level organic chemist. Additionally, an organic chemist 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 organic chemist salary

   $76,894yearly

   $36.97 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level organic chemist salary

   $50,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 5, 2026

   Average organic chemist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Delaware	$101,423	$49
   2	California	$85,413	$41
   3	Tennessee	$84,826	$41
   4	Massachusetts	$83,727	$40
   5	Missouri	$80,241	$39
   6	Ohio	$76,868	$37
   7	New Jersey	$76,355	$37
   8	Texas	$75,069	$36
   9	Georgia	$73,765	$35
   10	Minnesota	$73,136	$35
   11	Indiana	$72,905	$35
   12	Pennsylvania	$71,413	$34
   13	Colorado	$66,688	$32
   14	Alabama	$66,687	$32
   15	Florida	$56,228	$27

   Average organic chemist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Entegris	$110,734	$53.24
   2	PerkinElmer	$108,738	$52.28
   3	FMC	$98,974	$47.58
   4	DuPont	$98,318	$47.27
   5	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$95,961	$46.14
   6	Boehringer Ingelheim	$95,087	$45.71
   7	American Chemical Society	$92,887	$44.66
   8	Axalta	$91,981	$44.22
   9	Vertellus	$90,600	$43.56
   10	Novartis	$89,933	$43.24
   11	First Solar	$87,215	$41.93
   12	Goldbelt Falcon	$86,367	$41.52
   13	3D Systems	$81,262	$39.07
   14	Modern Meadow	$75,966	$36.52
   15	Infotree Global Solutions	$75,723	$36.41
   16	ALS, LLC	$74,459	$35.80	1
   17	Nbd	$73,931	$35.54
   18	Knowesis	$72,036	$34.63
   19	St. Jude Children's Research Hospital	$69,139	$33.24
   20	Cambridge Isotope Laboratories	$68,787	$33.07

4. Writing an organic chemist job description

   An organic chemist 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 an organic chemist job description:

   Organic chemist job description example

   Provide technical leadership for non-targeted analytical methods for the identification and confirmation of compounds found in aerosol and tobacco samples for a fortune 200 company with some of the most iconic brands! Have an advanced degree in Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or related field? Have five plus years' experience with chromatography-mass spectrometry-based techniques? If so, we want to speak with you!
   We are currently seeking a highly qualified Organic Chemist to join our Analytical Sciences department in Richmond, VA.
   In this role the successful candidate will need to use specialized scientific knowledge including organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, mass spectral interpretation, and NMR to elucidate compound structures. The candidate should have previous experience in method development and validation to implement new methods that will be used for quantitative analysis to support regulatory compliance and/or product development. Additionally, the individual needs to have experience working in a regulated environment under a quality system such as ISO or GLP.
   What you'll be doing:
   • Perform mass spectral interpretation for the identification of compounds in complex matrices using multiple techniques including high resolution mass spectrometry
   • Perform method development and validation for targeted and non-targeted analysis in tobacco products to support regulatory applications
   • Coordinate cross functional activities to effectively use resources and expertise to understand Nicotine chemistry in tobacco products
   • Provide technical guidance and instructions to junior lab personnel to conduct research, problem solving investigations and instrument troubleshooting
   • Maintain and manage the appropriate documentation for Analytical Sciences to be aligned with ISO 17025 Accreditation, Altria Quality System and Records Management policies
   What we want you to have:
   • Bachelor's degree in Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry or related field is required. (Advanced degree preferred)
   • An advanced degree and 5+ years of experience or bachelor's degree with 8+ years of experience with chromatography-mass spectrometry-based techniques for the quantitation of trace levels of compounds in complex matrices such as natural products.
   • Demonstrated expertise in compound identification using high resolution mass spectrometry (LC/MS Orbitrap or GCxGC-TOF Experience Preferred)
   • Working knowledge of identification techniques (MS, IR, UV, NMR, etc.), preparative LC, and sample preparation and extraction techniques (LL, SPE, etc.)
   • Proficiency with chromatography and mass spectrometry data analysis software's such as Agilent MassHunter, ChromaTOF, Progenesis, Excalibur, Compound Discoverer
   • Excellent technical writing and communications skills as demonstrated by presentations and publications in the areas of expertise
   • Experience working in tobacco industry and in an ISO 17025 Accredited laboratory or another regulated laboratory environment is preferred
   In addition to the opportunity to apply and develop your skills toward key business objectives, we offer an excellent compensation package including a competitive base salary, comprehensive health/vision/dental insurance, participation in our deferred profit sharing and incentive compensation programs as well as a relocation assistance package. Company Overview Altria has a leading portfolio of tobacco products for U.S. tobacco consumers age 21+. Altria's Vision through 2030 is to responsibly lead the transition of adult smokers to a non-combustible future. Altria is Moving Beyond Smoking™, leading the way in moving adult smokers away from cigarettes by taking action to transition millions to potentially less harmful choices - believing it is a substantial opportunity for adult tobacco consumers, Altria's businesses and society. Altria's wholly owned subsidiaries include the most profitable tobacco companies in their categories: Philip Morris USA Inc. (PM USA), U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC (USSTC), and John Middleton Co. (Middleton). Altria's smoke-free portfolio includes Helix Innovations LLC (Helix), the maker of on! oral nicotine pouches, exclusive U.S. commercialization rights to the IQOS Tobacco Heating System * and Marlboro HeatSticks *, and an equity investment in JUUL Labs, Inc. (JUUL). Altria also owns equity investments in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (ABI), the world's largest brewer, and Cronos Group Inc. (Cronos), a leading Canadian cannabinoid company. At Altria, we celebrate the power of diverse teams working together to shape our future. We are inspired to bring our best because our unique strengths are valued. We believe our personal success and progress should be guided by Our Cultural Aspiration, a new articulation of what we value and who we aspire to be, collectively. Our Cultural Aspiration respects and complements individual identity, embracing each other's unique strengths, welcoming newcomers and developing the best, most inclusive and diverse teams. Join us as we work together to shape a better future for adult tobacco consumers, our employees, and our shareholders. Each Altria company is an equal opportunity employer. Learn more about Altria at www.altria.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. *IQOS Devices and HeatSticks are currently unavailable for sale in the United States.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit organic chemists, 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 organic chemist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the organic chemist 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.

   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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