How to hire a public health microbiologist

How to hire a public health microbiologist, step by step

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

Post a public health microbiologist job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a public health 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

   A public health microbiologist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, public health microbiologists 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 presents public health microbiologist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Public Health Microbiologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Public Health 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.	$21-43
   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
   Microbiologist	Microbiologists are responsible for studying the microscopic organisms causing infections and environmental damage, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their work focuses on the identification and growth of these microbes to better understand their characteristics that may help in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and bacterial diseases... Show more	$18-36

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Extraction
   • Quality Control Procedures
   • Body Fluids
   • Pathogens
   • Proficiency Testing
   • DNA
   • Environmental Samples
   • Salmonella
   • Tuberculosis
   • Laboratory Procedures
   • HIV
   • TB
   • EIA
   • Microorganisms

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Job duties begin in a general microbiology/ infectious disease laboratory focuse on cultivating and managing infectious strains of microbes.
   • Extract DNA from patient samples using complex laboratory equipment.
   • Perform high-complexity public health testing including ELISA, PCR, DFA/IFA, viral and bacterial cultures, serologies and drug susceptibilities.
   • Secure database entry within FDA compliance regulations and laboratory notebook entries.
   • Conduct biochemical assays including biochemical identification of microorganisms.
   • Conduct biochemical assays including biochemical identification of microorganisms.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, public health microbiologists' average salary in south dakota is 51% less than in virginia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level public health microbiologists earn 50% less than senior-level public health microbiologists.
   • Certifications. A public health 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 public health microbiologist's salary.

   Average public health microbiologist salary

   $64,113yearly

   $30.82 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level public health microbiologist salary

   $45,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 24, 2025

4. Writing a public health microbiologist job description

   A public health microbiologist 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a public health microbiologist job description:

   Public health microbiologist job description example

   Under supervision, to perform microbiological, chemical and similar biological tests in a public health laboratory.
   
   Submission of a valid Public Health Microbiologistlicenseissued by the State of California Department of Public Health is required.
   COVID-19 Risk Tier - HighRisk
   
   Twitter I @scvmctalent
   
   Facebook I facebook.com/SCVMC
   
   LinkedIn | linkedin.com/SCVMC
   
   Typical Tasks
   
   * Makes microbiological examinations for the detection and identification of microbial and viral agents for the purpose of assisting in the detection, definition and control of diseases;
   
   * Makes microbiological and chemical examinations of daily products, food, water and other substances of importance to environmental sanitation;
   
   * Makes serological and biochemical examinations to assist in the detection, definition and control of disease;
   
   * Makes examinations for bacterial toxins or other toxic substances;
   
   * Performs hematological and chemical examinations on blood and other body fluids;
   
   * Assists in the collection and analyzing of laboratory data;
   
   * Completes records and makes reports;
   
   * May prepare difficult culture media, stains, and reagents for diagnostic and biological examinations;
   
   * Maintain proper safety precautions and procedures;
   
   * May assist in the training of students;
   
   * May assist in laboratory research by performing varied and specialized examinations using new procedures and apparatus;
   
   * Performs related work as required.
   
   Employment Standards
   
   Possession of valid license as a Public Health Microbiologist issued by the State of California Department of Public Health. Possession of a California license as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist is desirable.
   
   Knowledge of:
   
   * The microbiological principles, techniques, equipment, and terminology used in the laboratory diagnosis of disease;
   
   * The chemical and bacteriological principles, techniques and terminology used in the examination of body fluids, foods and water; the common causes of disease and of the methods of transmission and control of communicable disease, general quality control procedures applicable to the general field of microbiology;
   
   * General knowledge of available scientific resource material.
   
   Ability to:
   
   * Keep records and make reports;
   
   * Perform public health laboratory tests skillfully;
   
   * Work cooperatively and effectively with others;
   
   * Analyze situations accurately and take appropriate action;
   
   * Observe safety precautions and procedures.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right public health microbiologist 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 public health microbiologist job on Zippia to find and recruit public health microbiologist 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 public health microbiologists, 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 public health microbiologist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the public health microbiologist 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 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a public health microbiologist?