How to hire a quality control microbiologist

How to hire a quality control microbiologist, step by step

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

What does a quality control microbiologist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the quality control microbiologist you need to hire. Certain quality control microbiologist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

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

   Type of Quality Control Microbiologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Quality Control 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.	$18-37
   Laboratory Analyst	A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation.	$14-29
   Chemist	Chemists are generally responsible for observing and investigating chemical substances to create new and safe compounds essential for practical applications. They are often grouped depending on a particular area of specialization to focus and understand the complexities of the matter... Show more	$22-43

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Environmental Monitoring
   • GMP
   • Lab Equipment
   • Microbiology Lab
   • FDA
   • Bioburden
   • USP
   • ISO
   • Test Results
   • Test Methods
   • Aseptic Technique
   • Growth Promotion
   • OOs
   • Water Samples

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Job duties begin in a general microbiology/ infectious disease laboratory focuse on cultivating and managing infectious strains of microbes.
   • Serve as GLP trainer for program staff resulting in reduce OOS occurrences due to technician error.
   • Provide quantitative and qualitative testing of pharmaceutical and medical device products in a GMP and ISO 17025 regulate environment.
   • Initiate non-conformance investigations to document and track product/manufacturing/laboratory OOS, RCI and CAPA issues.
   • Perform microbiological testing of raw materials and finish products utilizing filtration and pour plate bioburden testing per USP methods.
   • Teach procedures and the LIMS software to new employees.

   More quality control microbiologist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, quality control microbiologists' average salary in louisiana is 54% less than in virginia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level quality control microbiologists earn 52% less than senior-level quality control microbiologists.
   • Certifications. A quality control 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 quality control microbiologist's salary.

   Average quality control microbiologist salary

   $55,202yearly

   $26.54 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level quality control microbiologist salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average quality control microbiologist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$78,933	$38
   2	Massachusetts	$75,865	$36
   3	Georgia	$68,027	$33
   4	Maryland	$63,147	$30
   5	New York	$60,427	$29
   6	Connecticut	$58,427	$28
   7	Pennsylvania	$53,832	$26
   8	Colorado	$51,342	$25
   9	Washington	$48,401	$23
   10	Minnesota	$45,982	$22
   11	Alabama	$44,159	$21
   12	Indiana	$42,610	$20
   13	Florida	$42,113	$20
   14	Idaho	$40,937	$20
   15	Utah	$39,953	$19
   16	Texas	$39,819	$19
   17	Arkansas	$37,638	$18

   Average quality control microbiologist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Battelle	$68,270	$32.82	6
   2	Novo Nordisk	$66,810	$32.12	2
   3	Novozymes	$57,692	$27.74	4
   4	Sanofi US	$57,241	$27.52	7
   5	HRU Technical Resources	$57,183	$27.49
   6	Melaleuca:The Wellness	$56,680	$27.25	5
   7	Stryker	$56,677	$27.25	31
   8	Neogen	$56,458	$27.14
   9	United Therapeutics	$56,435	$27.13	4
   10	Pharmaceutics International	$55,729	$26.79	2
   11	Eurofins	$54,006	$25.96	58
   12	Partner Therapeutics	$53,662	$25.80	1
   13	Solvay America Inc	$52,788	$25.38	2
   14	Lifecore	$52,690	$25.33	6
   15	STAQ PHARMA	$52,688	$25.33	5
   16	Freudenberg Medical	$52,673	$25.32	15
   17	Planet Pharma	$52,458	$25.22	2
   18	Applied Genetics Technologies Corporation	$51,857	$24.93
   19	ADMA Biologics	$51,077	$24.56	4
   20	Randstad North America, Inc.	$50,567	$24.31	6

4. Writing a quality control microbiologist job description

   A quality control 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. Below, you can find an example of a quality control microbiologist job description:

   Quality control microbiologist job description example

   **Background**
   
   + Works under general supervision of the Lab Manager in a c-GMP regulated manufacturing environment operating under Q7A standards.
   
   + Employees in position at this level will have a considerable degree of independence in conducting a wide range of analyses requiring expertise in the application and adaptation of numerous test methods and techniques, and produce reliable and accurate results
   
   **Tasks**
   
   + Validations of endotoxin testing program / routine endotoxin testing
   
   + Environmental monitoring testing and documenting the environmental monitoring program in a high care packing room
   
   + Test products to ensure that they are free of microbial contamination and safe for consumption
   
   + Compendial microbiology testing for total aerobic microbial / total yeast and mold count
   
   + Compendial microbiology testing for specified organisms
   
   + Train and update technicians on industry standards and regulations
   
   + Assist with creating and implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and test methods for production processes and product release
   
   + Order Supplies as needed
   
   + Maintain documentation
   
   + Any tasks deemed necessary for betterment of Jost Quality
   
   **Specifications**
   
   + B.S. in Biological Science or related field. (Course work may range from mathematics to biochemistry.)
   
   + At least three (3) years' experience working in an Environmental Monitoring and Microbiology laboratory in a food, active pharmaceutical ingredient, or aseptic sterile manufacturing facility is preferred.
   
   + May require willingness to work evening and weekend hours
   
   **Knowledge of:**
   
   + Microbiological techniques including rapid release methods
   
   + Qualifying environmental monitoring processes with reference tocell/gene therapyproducts
   
   + Experience in the application of microbiological techniques such as air monitoring, water, testing, surface monitoring, genus and species identification of various microbes preferred
   
   + Basic analytical laboratory equipment
   
   + MS Office software package
   
   **Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information**
   
   While the position you're applying for may not be for a government role, Astrix is a governmental contractor and, as such, is required to collect certain information in its applicants. Astrix is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status. Completion of these fields will not affect your opportunity for employment or the terms or conditions of your employment.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find quality control 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 quality control microbiologist job on Zippia to find and recruit quality control 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 quality control 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 quality control microbiologist

   Once you've found the quality control microbiologist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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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