How to hire a quality control scientist

How to hire a quality control scientist, step by step

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

What does a quality control scientist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the quality control scientist you need to hire. Certain quality control scientist 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a quality control scientist 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 quality control scientist that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of quality control scientists.

   Type of Quality Control Scientist	Description	Hourly rate
   Quality Control Scientist		$24-53
   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
   Chemical Technician	A chemical technician is responsible for supporting chemists and laboratory technicians in performing laboratory investigations and examining chemical components and structures. Chemical technicians ensure the stability of laboratory tools and equipment, performing proper sterilization and segregation of disposable materials, and maintaining the adequacy of inventory... Show more	$14-27

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • QC
   • HPLC
   • Dosage Forms
   • Analytical Methods
   • Test Methods
   • UV/Vis
   • GC
   • Test Results
   • Microbiology
   • Laboratory Equipment
   • Data Analysis
   • Qc Testing
   • FDA
   • EP

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • SAP, Trackwise and outlook manage.
   • Assist with timely release of raw materials and finish products through several test methods including HPLC and GC testing and analysis.
   • Conduct DNA/RNA manual testing with PCR assays such as ELISA, extractions and poison assays/high pure assays.
   • Analyze air samples by GC.
   • Maintain sole responsibility for all GC testing perform.
   • Perform human error tracking and trending with QA.

   More quality control scientist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, quality control scientists' average salary in missouri is 50% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level quality control scientists earn 55% less than senior-level quality control scientists.
   • Certifications. A quality control scientist 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 scientist's salary.

   Average quality control scientist salary

   $75,410yearly

   $36.25 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level quality control scientist salary

   $50,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average quality control scientist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$99,549	$48
   2	Massachusetts	$95,033	$46
   3	California	$92,110	$44
   4	Washington	$89,180	$43
   5	North Dakota	$83,543	$40
   6	Wisconsin	$83,029	$40
   7	Maryland	$78,580	$38
   8	Pennsylvania	$71,679	$34
   9	Indiana	$70,442	$34
   10	North Carolina	$70,259	$34
   11	Colorado	$69,558	$33
   12	South Carolina	$68,394	$33
   13	Wyoming	$65,483	$31
   14	Ohio	$65,140	$31
   15	Texas	$65,012	$31
   16	New Jersey	$61,405	$30
   17	Utah	$56,281	$27
   18	Missouri	$51,406	$25

   Average quality control scientist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$104,627	$50.30	78
   2	Genentech	$103,272	$49.65	56
   3	FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies	$102,083	$49.08	39
   4	Novo Nordisk	$97,739	$46.99	2
   5	Alexion Pharmaceuticals	$94,041	$45.21	2
   6	BASF	$89,307	$42.94	8
   7	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$88,478	$42.54	39
   8	Syngenta	$86,803	$41.73	10
   9	Ortho Clinical Diagnostics	$85,804	$41.25	3
   10	Alpha Consulting	$85,715	$41.21
   11	Johnson Matthey Plc	$85,368	$41.04	2
   12	Corning Incorporated	$84,796	$40.77	43
   13	Elanco	$83,201	$40.00	21
   14	ImClone Systems LLC	$82,895	$39.85
   15	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$80,960	$38.92	131
   16	Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.	$80,580	$38.74	62
   17	Commonwealth Fusion Systems	$80,216	$38.57	9
   18	Sanofi US	$80,130	$38.52	33
   19	Regeneron	$79,504	$38.22	49
   20	Sanofi Genzyme	$77,603	$37.31

4. Writing a quality control scientist job description

   A quality control scientist 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 scientist job description:

   Quality control scientist job description example

   Job Title: QC Scientist
   Job Function: Performs Quality Control Method Transfer.
   Job Type: Full Time Contract.
   Location: Caguas, PR
   
   About RCM:
   RCM IT & Life Sciences is a leading provider of IT Business Solutions and Engineering Services to over 1,000 clients in the commercial and government sectors. RCM partners with clients to define implement and manage a broad range of technologies across multiple platforms, systems, and networks. Our broad geographic presence ensures that a proven and reliable tactical and strategic capability is available and deployable virtually everywhere in North America.
   
   Scope of Job RCM is looking for QC Scientist to perform analytical method transfer in an FDA regulated environment for our client located in Caguas, PR.
   
   Primary Responsibilities & Qualifications Experienced in method development, validation, and analytical technology transfer for API and finish good methods
   Participate in the transfer of analytical technology to the commercial laboratories,
   Perform testing of experimental, and registration lots, stabilities (CEDIPROF products) and new supplier certifications.
   Interpret results obtained during method transfer and troubleshoot tests as needed.
   Keeps track of the reagents and supplies inventory
   Must be computer literate, bilingual (Spanish / English). Support EHS program to assure compliance with safety policies
   Knowledge in FDA, USP and ICH guidelines for method development and validation
   Bilingual (both English/Spanish).
   
   Education & Certifications BS in Chemistry or related discipline and five years of related experience within the life sciences industry.
   
   Equal Opportunity Statement
   
   RCM is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
   
   Disclaimer
   
   This job description is intended to describe the general nature and the level of the work being performed by the people assigned to this position. It is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to the position. RCM reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit quality control scientists, 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.

   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 control scientist

   Once you've selected the best quality control scientist candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing 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 quality control scientist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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How much does it cost to hire a quality control scientist?