How to hire a quality assurance chemist

How to hire a quality assurance chemist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step quality assurance chemist hiring guide:

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

What does a quality assurance chemist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your quality assurance 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 a quality assurance 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

   A quality assurance chemist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, quality assurance chemists 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of quality assurance chemists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Quality Assurance Chemist	Description	Hourly rate
   Quality Assurance 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.	$20-39
   Chemist, Development	A development chemist is responsible for delivering products that are specially created for a customer. You will be responsible for conducting qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses for process or quality control... Show more	$22-52
   Environmental Chemist	Environmental chemists are chemistry experts who conduct research or experiments about the effects of chemicals on the environment and human activities. These chemists are required to monitor the source and extent of pollution and contamination, especially the compounds that can affect human health... Show more	$18-40

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Lab Equipment
   • R
   • HPLC
   • Analytical Methods
   • ISO
   • Test Results
   • ICP
   • FDA
   • GC
   • Ms
   • GMP
   • Food Safety
   • Wet Chemistry
   • Titration

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Plan, manage, and maintain laboratory's SPC and TQM programs.
   • Assist FDA and ISO audits as required.
   • Operate, programme and troubleshot four HPLC instruments as well as two GC instruments.
   • Analyze liquid and solid generic pharmaceutical products for quality assurance using HPLC and GC methods.
   • Operate multi-samplers, high-performance liquid chromatography units and titration units.
   • Generate in excel and LIMS final reports for clients.

   More quality assurance chemist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the quality assurance chemist job description is a good way to get more applicants. A quality assurance chemist salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a quality assurance chemist in Nebraska may be lower than in Virginia, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level quality assurance chemist. Additionally, a quality assurance chemist with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average quality assurance chemist salary

   $59,242yearly

   $28.48 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level quality assurance chemist salary

   $42,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average quality assurance chemist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$74,707	$36
   2	Maryland	$72,397	$35
   3	Oklahoma	$71,272	$34
   4	Tennessee	$69,799	$34
   5	California	$69,257	$33
   6	Utah	$65,873	$32
   7	Minnesota	$64,347	$31
   8	Ohio	$61,944	$30
   9	Kansas	$60,522	$29
   10	Kentucky	$59,600	$29
   11	Missouri	$58,279	$28
   12	Georgia	$57,628	$28
   13	Texas	$57,619	$28
   14	New York	$56,820	$27
   15	North Carolina	$56,302	$27
   16	Michigan	$55,802	$27
   17	Nevada	$53,974	$26
   18	Florida	$47,126	$23

   Average quality assurance chemist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Clariant	$86,456	$41.57	3
   2	Colgate-Palmolive	$82,543	$39.68	6
   3	The Coca-Cola Company	$75,758	$36.42	12
   4	Bonita	$73,023	$35.11
   5	Hospira	$65,233	$31.36
   6	American Pacific Corporation	$65,164	$31.33
   7	Kao Brands	$65,140	$31.32
   8	Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc.	$63,769	$30.66
   9	Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.	$61,852	$29.74	7
   10	GPAC	$61,449	$29.54
   11	Pharmacare Hawaii	$60,677	$29.17
   12	Mastercontrol, Inc.	$60,062	$28.88
   13	TISHCON	$59,949	$28.82
   14	Environmental Standards	$59,594	$28.65
   15	Advanced Technology	$59,565	$28.64
   16	T. Hasegawa USA	$59,550	$28.63
   17	LNK International	$59,466	$28.59	2
   18	Invagen Pharmaceuticals Inc.	$59,379	$28.55
   19	Bactolac Pharmaceutical	$59,362	$28.54
   20	Swedish Match North America Inc	$59,283	$28.50

4. Writing a quality assurance chemist job description

   A good quality assurance chemist 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 quality assurance chemist job description:

   Quality assurance chemist job description example

   **Kelly Science & Clinical has a new, temporary-to-hire opportunity for an Associate QA Chemist in Romulus, MI!**
   **D** **ay to Day Responsibilities:**
   
   + Test selected raw materials and finished products for conformance to chemical specifications for existing and new products.
   
   + Evaluates final products to satisfy FDA, OSHA, ISO and other regulatory requirements.
   
   + Performs product development analytical test procedures in support of R&D.
   
   + Develops, maintains and updates test procedures and specifications for raw materials and finished products.
   
   + Performs complaint analysis as required.
   
   + Performs troubleshooting and investigative related to product, process and materials as required.
   
   + Participates in the Material Review Board (MRB) function.
   
   + Participates in developing and leading Corrective Action/Preventive Action (CAPA) team functions and meetings.
   
   + Other duties as assigned
   
   **Qualifications:**
   
   + Bachelors degree in chemistry or equivalent.
   
   + One year experience working in similar position including working in a laboratory.
   
   + Ability to learn and utilize computer in standard business applications including word processing, spreadsheets and databases.
   
   + Must be knowledgeable in the proper handling of chemicals and waste, both hazardous and nonhazardous, as defined by FDA, OSHA, EPA and DOT.
   
   + **Physical Demands**
   
   + The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
   
   + Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   
   **Shift:** M-F 8am-5pm
   
   **Pay will range between $25-$30 per hour, based on title, education, and related Industry experience. If you, or someone you know would like to be considered for this opportunity, please apply online today to discuss the next steps.**
   
   **You should know:** Your safety matters! Vaccination against COVID-19 may be a requirement for this job in compliance with current client and governmental policies. A Kelly recruiter will confirm and share more details with you during the interview process.
   
   **Why Kelly** ** ** **Science & Clinical?**
   
   Kelly Science & Clinical is your connection to premier scientific and clinical companies looking to hire industry experts just like you. Our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world's most critical challenges. Every day, we match science professionals with dream jobs that fit their skills, interests, and career goals-it's the way we think job searching should be. Nearly 100 percent of our science recruiters have a professional background and education in science, so we know a thing or two about the science market and how to get your expertise noticed.
   
   **About Kelly** ** **
   
   At Kelly, we're always thinking about what's next and advising job seekers on new ways of working to reach their full potential. In fact, we're a leading advocate for temporary/nontraditional workstyles, because we believe they allow flexibility and tremendous growth opportunities that enable a better way to work and live (plus, did we mention we provide a ton of benefits ?). Connecting great people with great companies is what we do best, and our employment opportunities span a wide variety of workstyles, skill levels, and industries around the world.
   
   Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly's Human Resource Knowledge Center.
   Kelly complies with the requirements of California's state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find quality assurance chemists 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 quality assurance chemists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level quality assurance chemists 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 quality assurance chemist job on Zippia to find and recruit quality assurance chemist 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 quality assurance chemists, 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.

   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 quality assurance chemist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the quality assurance 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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