How to hire a quality laboratory technician

How to hire a quality laboratory technician, step by step

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

What does a quality laboratory technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your quality laboratory technician 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 laboratory technician 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 laboratory technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, quality laboratory technicians 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 laboratory technician salaries for various positions.

   Type of Quality Laboratory Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Quality Laboratory Technician	Industrial engineering technicians help industrial engineers implement designs to use personnel, materials, and machines effectively in factories, stores, healthcare organizations, repair shops, and offices. They prepare machinery and equipment layouts, plan workflows, conduct statistical production studies, and analyze production costs.	$14-23
   Quality Control Supervisor	A quality control supervisor specializes in carrying out and implementing systems and procedures that ensure product quality within an organization. They are primarily responsible for devising priorities and standards, managing schedules to abide by the production timeline, monitoring activities, coordinating with production and quality control personnel, assessing employee performance, and thoroughly discussing new systems for all staff... Show more	$22-41
   Quality Engineer	A quality engineer's responsibilities include ensuring that the manufacturing processes are efficient and accurate, documenting findings that would raise concerns, conducting quality tests while observing parameters, and implementing changes as necessary to meet the highest quality standards. Quality engineers need to have excellent problem-solving and observation skills to detect any irregularities and possible malfunctions... Show more	$29-49

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Lab Equipment
   • Quality Lab
   • Test Results
   • Food Safety
   • GMP
   • Laboratory Procedures
   • Data Entry
   • FDA
   • PH Meter
   • Quality Checks
   • ISO
   • R
   • Corrective Action
   • Quality Standards

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage CAPA projects/assignments using CATSWeb system.
   • Perform tests on raw ingredients, ration and finish product of dry pet foods using GMP and HACCP practices.
   • Perform quality control testing on refrigerant gases utilizing gas chromatography
   • Conduct rigorous quality control analyses using gas chromatography to verify product purity.
   • Measure parts for conformity with specifications, using micrometers, calipers and other precision instruments.
   • Follow good laboratory practices and ensure HACCP plans are being follow.

   More quality laboratory technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your quality laboratory technician job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A quality laboratory technician 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 a quality laboratory technician in Alabama may be lower than in Idaho, and an entry-level quality laboratory technician usually earns less than a senior-level quality laboratory technician. Additionally, a quality laboratory technician 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 quality laboratory technician salary

   $38,902yearly

   $18.70 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level quality laboratory technician salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average quality laboratory technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Oregon	$46,027	$22
   2	California	$44,882	$22
   3	North Dakota	$44,195	$21
   4	Massachusetts	$43,461	$21
   5	Georgia	$41,897	$20
   6	New Jersey	$40,683	$20
   7	Pennsylvania	$40,048	$19
   8	Texas	$39,958	$19
   9	Illinois	$39,376	$19
   10	New York	$38,197	$18
   11	Wisconsin	$37,920	$18
   12	Colorado	$37,506	$18
   13	Utah	$36,665	$18
   14	Kentucky	$35,491	$17
   15	Indiana	$35,364	$17
   16	Minnesota	$34,966	$17
   17	North Carolina	$33,854	$16
   18	Alabama	$33,119	$16
   19	Ohio	$32,725	$16
   20	Iowa	$32,499	$16

   Average quality laboratory technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	OMNOVA Solutions	$46,962	$22.58
   2	Church & Dwight Co.	$46,562	$22.39	12
   3	Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc	$46,354	$22.29	3
   4	University of Rochester	$46,300	$22.26	25
   5	Emergent BioSolutions	$45,532	$21.89	2
   6	ArcelorMittal	$44,964	$21.62	2
   7	Altec	$44,764	$21.52	5
   8	Kemps	$44,213	$21.26	1
   9	Johns Manville	$43,829	$21.07
   10	Dairy Farmers of America	$43,805	$21.06	35
   11	Martin Marietta	$43,034	$20.69	4
   12	Edwards Lifesciences	$42,943	$20.65	24
   13	Avery Dennison	$42,357	$20.36	15
   14	Fortune Brands Home & Security	$42,317	$20.34	3
   15	Yoh	$42,309	$20.34	4
   16	Gillette	$42,253	$20.31
   17	PPG	$42,006	$20.20	17
   18	DuPont	$42,005	$20.19	10
   19	PepsiCo	$41,984	$20.18	3
   20	Celanese	$41,846	$20.12	7

4. Writing a quality laboratory technician job description

   A quality laboratory technician 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 laboratory technician job description:

   Quality laboratory technician job description example

   Quality Lab Technician II FULL-TIME
   $1/hr - Perform test to ensure compliance with Company product specifications
   - Perform bench-work and micro analysis according to SOPs and standard methods
   - Swab production lines and surfaces and samples air in production environment
   - Inform appropriate personnel of non-conforming results.
   - Execute product hold procedure.
   - Prepare and maintain microbiological laboratory testing reagents and equipment.
   - Review and file incoming material certificates of analysis.
   - Maintain lab supply inventory.
   - Coordinate hazardous waste collection and disposal.
   - Collaborate with associate microbiologist and sanitation staff and assist when necessary
   - Perform audits on equipment, materials, products, procedures
   - Enter analysis results into database and analyze and trend data IND-03 WS-03 WS-LC
   Schedule
   Shift start: 6:00PM
   Shift length: 12 hours
   3-days a week
   Benefits
   Dental, vision insurance Paid time off 401(k) plan
   Qualifications
   Must pass drug screen Must pass background check Can lift 50 lbs Must be at least 18+ years old Ability to use standard lab equipment Ability to read, analyze, and interpret data Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing with individuals at all levels of the organization Reasoning AbilityAbility to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.Ability to interpret a variety of technical information in mathematical and/or narrative form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.Ability to work in a team environment as well as independently with good time management skills and flexibility.Ability to use standard lab equipment Ability to read, analyze, and interpret data
   
   About Conagra Foods
   ConAgra Foods brands found in grocery, convenience, mass merchandise and club stores. ConAgra Foods also has a strong business-to-business presence, supplying frozen potato and sweet potato products as well as other vegetable products to a variety of well-known restaurants, foodservice operators and commercial customers. RequiredPreferredJob Industries Warehouse & Production

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right quality laboratory technician 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 quality laboratory technician job on Zippia to find and recruit quality laboratory technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting quality laboratory technicians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 quality laboratory technician

   Once you've found the quality laboratory technician 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.

   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.)

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How much does it cost to hire a quality laboratory technician?