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How to hire a Research And Development Technician

Research and development technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring research and development technicians in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a research and development technician is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per research and development technician on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 21,327 research and development technicians in the US, and there are currently 111,268 job openings in this field.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for research and development technicians, with 22 job openings.

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

To hire a research and development technician, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a research and development technician:

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

What does a Research And Development Technician do?

A research and development technician specializes in performing mathematical and laboratory operations to support projects concerning products and development. Usually functioning as an assistant to a more experienced researcher, a research and development technician's responsibilities revolve around conducting analysis, building models and prototypes, producing reports, and performing various experiments. Furthermore, as a technician, it is crucial to coordinate with all team members, keeping an accurate record of all processes while adhering to the company's standards and regulations.

Learn more about the specifics of what a research and development technician does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your research and development 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 research and development 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?

    Hiring the perfect research and development technician also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    The following list breaks down different types of research and development technicians and their corresponding salaries.

    Type Of Research And Development TechnicianDescriptionHourly Rate
    Research And Development TechnicianBiological technicians help biological and medical scientists conduct laboratory tests and experiments.$26-60
    Laboratory InternshipA laboratory intern is responsible for assisting laboratory operations and perform examinations and experiments under the supervision of tenured laboratory staff. Laboratory interns shadow all the laboratory processes, document their observations, and conduct an in-depth analysis of the results... Show More$12-23
    Microbiological Laboratory TechnicianA microbiological laboratory technician specializes in handling and testing samples, ensuring accuracy and safety. Often working under the supervision of a more experienced scientist, a microbiological laboratory technician has the responsibility to operate various devices and machines, record all progress and data, review results, and produce reports and documentation... Show More$13-24
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common Skills:
    • R
    • Project Management
    • Product Management
    • Product Development
    • Business Development
    • Strong Analytical
    • Lab Equipment
    • PowerPoint
    • Laboratory Equipment
    • Prototype
    • Customer Satisfaction
    • Math
    • Lifecycle Management
    • Data Analysis
    Check All Skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Lead team to standardize test procedures and develop test database to achieve UL approve test laboratory status.
    • Develop BlazeMaster and TempRite products and achieve CSA, UL and NSF approvals.
    • Design and manage the infrastructure of a quality management system to support regulate clinical and non-clinical GLP studies.
    • Manage customer support, and administered/instal office mini-computers and PC network.
    • General laboratory duties; coordinate maintenance of equipment, maintain ingredient and prototype inventory, manage shipping and receiving.
    • Manage project from conceptual design through final debugging and animal/clinical testing resulting in a new business unit within the company.
    More Research And Development Technician duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your research and development technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A research and development technician can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, research and development technicians' average salary in south dakota is 46% less than in connecticut.
    • Seniority. Entry-level research and development technicians 56% less than senior-level research and development technicians.
    • Certifications. A research and development technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a research and development technician's salary.

    Average research and development technician salary

    $83,552yearly

    $40.17 hourly rate

    Entry-level research and development technician salary
    $55,000 yearly salary
    Updated February 10, 2025

    Average research and development technician salary by state

    RankStateAvg. SalaryHourly Rate
    1California$117,316$56
    2Connecticut$105,154$51
    3New Jersey$102,907$49
    4Washington$101,343$49
    5Massachusetts$95,919$46
    6Texas$92,466$44
    7New Mexico$89,734$43
    8Virginia$88,135$42
    9New York$86,465$42
    10Pennsylvania$85,946$41
    11Illinois$85,887$41
    12Oklahoma$83,860$40
    13Arkansas$82,868$40
    14Delaware$81,852$39
    15Georgia$81,023$39
    16Arizona$80,739$39
    17North Carolina$77,764$37
    18Missouri$76,250$37
    19Wisconsin$74,854$36
    20Ohio$71,983$35

    Average research and development technician salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage SalaryHourly RateJob Openings
    1PayPal$147,862$71.093
    2Western Digital$145,513$69.9611
    3Apple$144,826$69.6390
    4ZS$143,411$68.958
    5eBay$130,646$62.812
    6Applied Materials$130,375$62.6823
    7Microsoft$122,144$58.72233
    8Anaplan$121,242$58.295
    9Dell$120,497$57.937
    10Amazon$119,905$57.651,066
    11Citi$119,679$57.5447
    12Sandia National Labs$119,548$57.48120
    13VMware$119,389$57.40
    14Dolby Laboratories$118,602$57.029
    15Square$118,285$56.87
    16Salesforce$117,162$56.3314
    17Enphase Energy$115,658$55.60
    18AbbVie$115,316$55.44128
    19Genentech$114,429$55.0125
    20QuantumScape$113,608$54.622
  4. Writing a Research And Development Technician Job Description

    A research and development 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a research and development technician job description:

    Research And Development Technician job description example

    Terumo Medical Corporation (TMC) develops, manufactures, and markets a complete, solutions-based portfolio of high-quality medical devices used in a broad range of applications for numerous areas of the healthcare industry. TMC places a premium on providing customers with world-class products, training and education programs that drive clear economic value, better clinical outcomes and improved quality of life for patients. TMC is part of Tokyo-based Terumo Corporation; one of the world's leading medical device manufacturers with $5+ billion in sales, 20,000+ employees worldwide and operations in more than 160 nations. Terumo Medical Corporation is comprised of two strategic business divisions: Terumo Interventional Systems and Terumo Medical Products.

    The Technician II assists R & D engineers and/or teams in the development, building, testing, and analysis of products, materials, and processes. This position will report directly to R&D Engineer or Manager. Assembly efforts may include, but are not limited to, final medical devices, finished assemblies, and sub-assemblies, working at bench, inside or outside of the clean room. The role will support training of assemblers, technicians, and new engineers in procedures, techniques, and testing, during individual personnel onboarding, V&V efforts, process qualification efforts, or the transfer of new products into manufacturing. Will support the manufacturing procedures and provide input into the design and build simple fixtures for use in assembly or testing of materials and assemblies.
    Job Details:

    Assemble prototype products per design specifications, drawing and/or engineering direction.
    Assemble parts by using small instruments with or without a microscope, and through the operations of automated/semi-automated equipment.
    Troubleshoot and suggest creative solutions to design and process issues.
    Assist design and development projects for new products, product/process improvements, and enhancements to testing, tooling, and fixtures.
    Fabricates complex prototypes and process tools and develops and builds fixtures with minimal supervision.
    Support the fabrication of fixtures and other devices using small equipment and handheld tools.
    Support training of all levels of assemblers, technicians, and new engineers in procedures and common practices.

    Independently works on project tasks and assignments to support timely completion of project activities under general supervision.Familiar with general laboratory practices such as handling of chemicals, the use of machine shop tools.Knowledge of measurement methods and mechanical test methods (tensile, compression, fatigue, etc.).Able to keep detailed engineering notebook notes and experiment documentation.Broad knowledge of medical device assembly processes and goods manufacturing practices (GMP).Must be able to support the design of, and build/assemble simple fixtures using sketches, CAD, etc.Working knowledge of the FDA (US) and PMDA(Japan) Quality System Regulations, and ISO 13485
    Background, Experience A high school diploma or GED is required Minimum of 3 years direct experience as a R&D technician, or 5 years as a manufacturing operator/assembler An associate degree or some college classes may be considered in place of direct experience
    It is Terumo's policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As a Company, we value diversity of background and opinion, and prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of any legally protected class in the areas of hiring, recruitment, promotion, transfer, demotion, training, compensation, pay, fringe benefits, layoff, termination or any other terms and conditions of employment.
  5. Post your job

    To find research and development technicians 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 research and development technicians they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level research and development technicians 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 research and development technician job on Zippia to find and recruit research and development technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting research and development 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.

    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 research and development technician

    Once you have selected a candidate for the research and development technician 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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How much does it cost to hire a research and development technician?

Recruiting research and development technicians involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

Research and development technicians earn a median yearly salary is $83,552 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find research and development technicians for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $26 and $60.

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