How to hire a research chemist

How to hire a research chemist, step by step

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

What does a research chemist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your research 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 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a research chemist 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 research chemist that fits the bill.

   This list presents research chemist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Research Chemist	Description	Hourly rate
   Research 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.	$25-51
   Quality Control Analyst	Quality assurance representatives are professionals who are responsible for ensuring the quality of units produced or manufactured is following the standards set by the industry. These representatives supervise the entire production process to identify erroneous methods or tools being used by workers and observing produced for visible defects... Show more	$19-41
   Quality Control	As the name entails, the job of a quality control inspector is to inspect, maintain, and improve the quality and standard of products. They are responsible for ensuring the company's reputation is not damaged due to defective products or inferior manufacturing processes... Show more	$11-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Laboratory Equipment
   • Method Development
   • R
   • HPLC
   • Analytical Chemistry
   • Polymer
   • Organic Synthesis
   • GC-MS
   • NMR
   • Data Analysis
   • Sample Preparation
   • Ms
   • UV/Vis
   • FTIR

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the CDS and LIMS systems for the institute.
   • Manage and record experimental data with lab management software (LIMS).
   • Manage projects involving the development of GC/MS methods, particle collection systems, and Raman spectral database creation.
   • Characterize the particles using SEM, DSC, IR, and UV-Vis.
   • Identify sample structure using microscopy, crystallography, NMR, UV/VIS, GC and AAS.
   • Develop GC & FTIR instrumental methods of analysis to support quality of incoming raw materials to ensure quality of finish products.

   More research chemist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, research chemists' average salary in south dakota is 54% less than in virginia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level research chemists 51% less than senior-level research chemists.
   • Certifications. A research chemist 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 chemist's salary.

   Average research chemist salary

   $75,843yearly

   $36.46 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level research chemist salary

   $53,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 22, 2025

   Average research chemist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Virginia	$108,186	$52
   2	Delaware	$98,095	$47
   3	Tennessee	$93,807	$45
   4	Massachusetts	$86,453	$42
   5	Texas	$82,015	$39
   6	California	$81,369	$39
   7	New Jersey	$80,202	$39
   8	South Carolina	$78,942	$38
   9	Ohio	$75,930	$37
   10	Colorado	$72,097	$35
   11	Michigan	$72,058	$35
   12	Georgia	$70,458	$34
   13	Pennsylvania	$69,584	$33
   14	Louisiana	$68,522	$33
   15	Indiana	$67,046	$32
   16	Illinois	$65,949	$32
   17	New York	$64,486	$31
   18	North Carolina	$63,260	$30
   19	Utah	$61,129	$29
   20	Missouri	$61,001	$29

   Average research chemist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	BP America Inc	$109,313	$52.55
   2	Albemarle	$109,207	$52.50
   3	Cargill	$108,090	$51.97	16
   4	Chevron	$104,740	$50.36
   5	Stepan	$101,182	$48.65
   6	Exxon Mobil	$100,917	$48.52	5
   7	Celanese	$97,339	$46.80	1
   8	RTI International Metals	$96,220	$46.26
   9	The Dow Chemical Company	$95,654	$45.99	21
   10	Valicor	$95,225	$45.78	2
   11	Battelle	$94,035	$45.21	17
   12	Eastman	$93,513	$44.96	4
   13	Energy Inc.	$91,680	$44.08
   14	FMC	$91,273	$43.88
   15	Cytec Industries	$91,056	$43.78
   16	Nitto Avecia	$90,222	$43.38
   17	Merck	$89,883	$43.21	35
   18	BASF	$89,600	$43.08	1
   19	Air Products	$88,971	$42.77
   20	PPG	$88,514	$42.55	6

4. Writing a research chemist job description

   A good research chemist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a research chemist job description:

   Research chemist job description example

   With a focus on analytics, this individual will conduct analytical method development and validation under GLP conditions. The qualifying individual will be required to lead and/or assist in designing and executing analytical procedures as well as the interpretation of laboratory results (Physical chemistry and chromatography). Experience with sample preparation techniques, data acquisition/interpretation, and reporting is required. This individual will work under moderate supervision as a member of a multi-disciplinary research team. As a result, exemplary communication and inter-personal skills are required. Experience with GLP studies is required.
   Following are the job functions involved with this position:
   Conduct both GLP and non-GLP analysis of pesticide formulations.
   Develop and validate methods for the quantitative analysis of active ingredients and formulation inerts.
   Utilize existing, and implement new, analytical technologies towards increasing analytical efficiencies or solving formulation based problems.
   Liaise closely with stakeholders from marketing, biology, regulatory, and manufacturing to understand business needs and determine the best development path forward.
   Communicate project status through technical reports and presentations.
   Participate in the transfer of methods to manufacturing sites and provide subsequent analytical support to those sites as needed.
   Train, develop, and supervise lab personnel.
   
   Required:
   PhD in a scientific discipline (such as chemistry or biology) with 0 years experience; -OR- MS with 2 years industrial experience; -OR- BS with 4 years industrial experience.
   Analytical chemistry background with GLP experience.
   Experience with chromatography.
   Serious safety focus, attention to detail, problem solving, and decision making skills.
   Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
   
   Preferred:
   Knowledge of regulatory guidelines (ie: TSCA, RCRA, etc.).
   Experience with spectroscopy (ie: UV/Vis, Raman, etc.), and physical chemistry techniques.
   Interface with R&D and manufacturing departments through past roles.
   Knowledge of analytical methods for formulation and application technologies (Granulation, emulsion, encapsulation, etc.) in the field of crop protection.
   Excellent performance management skills for self and co-workers

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with research chemist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 research chemist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the research chemist 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 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new research chemist. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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 chemist?