How to hire a research and development chemist

How to hire a research and development chemist, step by step

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

What does a research and development chemist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your research and development 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 research and development 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 research and development chemist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, research and development 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.

   This list presents research and development chemist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Research And Development Chemist	Description	Hourly rate
   Research And Development 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.	$25-54
   Postdoctoral Scholar	A Postdoctoral Scholar is responsible for supporting an educational research group to conduct studies and gather relevant data to support study claims and scientific evidence. They review initial findings, perform field investigations, and interview the target respondents for data and statistical analysis... Show more	$19-37
   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:

   • R
   • Product Development
   • Laboratory Equipment
   • Analytical Methods
   • HPLC
   • Synthesis
   • D Chemist
   • Method Development
   • FDA
   • Technical Support
   • GMP
   • Troubleshoot
   • Stability Studies
   • GC

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Plan, manage, and maintain laboratory's SPC and TQM programs.
   • Utilize Citrix LIMS to register, manage, enter and release sample results for supervisor review.
   • Lead technology evaluation, scale-up & commercialization (milling, extraction, distillation, clarification, ultra-filtration & concentration).
   • Perform formulation development of generic solid dosage narcotic pharmaceuticals from initial research and development through scale-up to manufacturing and FDA submission.
   • Analyze process panels using XRF, GD-OES, and SEM.
   • Establish and implement numerous OSHA and EPA regulatory programs.

   More research and development chemist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the research and development chemist job description is a good way to get more applicants. A research and development 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 research and development chemist in Arkansas may be lower than in Virginia, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level research and development chemist. Additionally, a research and development chemist with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average research and development chemist salary

   $77,233yearly

   $37.13 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level research and development chemist salary

   $52,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average research and development chemist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Virginia	$106,315	$51
   2	California	$88,418	$43
   3	Texas	$87,295	$42
   4	Massachusetts	$86,393	$42
   5	Tennessee	$86,287	$41
   6	New Jersey	$83,521	$40
   7	Oregon	$81,167	$39
   8	Ohio	$78,066	$38
   9	Kentucky	$75,534	$36
   10	Wisconsin	$75,185	$36
   11	Missouri	$70,947	$34
   12	North Carolina	$70,886	$34
   13	New York	$68,413	$33
   14	Illinois	$67,550	$32
   15	Pennsylvania	$65,434	$31
   16	Arizona	$64,638	$31
   17	Florida	$52,798	$25

   Average research and development chemist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Sandia National Labs	$113,607	$54.62	86
   2	Agilent Technologies	$105,714	$50.82	4
   3	SAS Institute	$105,659	$50.80	12
   4	Bunge	$105,499	$50.72	2
   5	Oak Ridge National Laboratory	$103,956	$49.98	31
   6	Albemarle	$103,786	$49.90
   7	Afton Chemical	$103,781	$49.89
   8	VMware	$103,462	$49.74
   9	NewMarket	$103,393	$49.71	4
   10	FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA	$102,383	$49.22	26
   11	Alvogen	$100,362	$48.25
   12	Halliburton	$99,223	$47.70	5
   13	Celanese	$98,722	$47.46	2
   14	The Dow Chemical Company	$98,109	$47.17	38
   15	Amphastar Pharmaceuticals	$97,985	$47.11
   16	Dassault Systèmes	$97,117	$46.69
   17	W. R. Grace & Co	$96,412	$46.35
   18	American Water	$95,735	$46.03	1
   19	FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies	$95,163	$45.75	17
   20	Hexion	$93,404	$44.91	2

4. Writing a research and development chemist job description

   A research and development chemist 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 research and development chemist job description:

   Research and development chemist job description example

   The Principal Chemist will be responsible for assisting in the design, then synthesizing and characterizing new digestion resistant soluble fiber ingredients.
   Core Responsibilities:
   Apply chemistry, biochemistry, and understanding of dietary/bulking fibers in the commercialization of new sugar reduction ingredients Conduct fiber synthesis and characterization protocols, work with Analytical Science subject matter experts for specialized analyses Collaborate with Application and Sensory team members to assess fiber compositions for commercial suitability.Work in a safe manner in all aspects of the work environment such as laboratory and office settings.Record and document all stages of R&D work, operate within Knowledge Management and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).Prepare reports and presentations
   
   Qualified candidates will have:
   M.S/B.S. degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or related field with 5 to 8+ years' experience in with applied knowledge in synthetic organic and/or ingredient synthesis techniques.Preferred experience with dietary fibers. .Experience with fiber characterization including chemical linkage analysis, in vitro digestibility analysis techniques, and prebiotic compounds is desired. Experience in the formulation and performance attributes of bulking agents and soluble fibers is desirable.Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey information to internal and external customers (both domestic and international) in a clear, focused, and concise manner Ability to drive for results and work within appropriate guardrails and time/resource constraints. Ability to anticipate needs and advance projects and workflows.
   
   Ingredion provides accommodations to job applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If a job applicant requires an accommodation during the application process or through the selection process, we will work with the applicant to meet the job applicant's accommodation needs.
   #LI-JG1
   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, military status, or disability status.
   
   Relocation Available:
   Yes, Within Country

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right research and development chemist 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 research and development chemist job on Zippia to find and recruit research and development 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 research and development 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 research and development chemist

   Once you've found the research and development chemist 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new research and development chemist 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 research and development chemist?