How to hire a scientific illustrator

How to hire a scientific illustrator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step scientific illustrator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a scientific illustrator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new scientific illustrator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The scientific illustrator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   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 scientific illustrator 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 scientific illustrator that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of scientific illustrators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Scientific Illustrator	Description	Hourly rate
   Scientific Illustrator	Craft and fine artists use a variety of materials and techniques to create art for sale and exhibition. Craft artists create handmade objects, such as pottery, glassware, textiles, and other objects that are designed to be functional... Show more	$16-72
   Technical Illustrator	Technical illustrators create drawings or illustrations for various technical documentation through digital technology. Aside from being familiar with IT and design software, they have strong creativity and imaginative skills to provide illustrations that express an idea or concept... Show more	$14-43

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Adobe Photoshop
   • Animation

   Responsibilities:

   • Create quick sketch for graphic and illustration layout pitch.
   • Create illustrations though collaboration with author for science fiction genre novels.
   • Produce traditional and digital paintings, portraits and short comics base on client commissions
   • Create patterns for embroidery digitizing.
   • Design posters and prepare Powerpoint presentations.
   • Produce 3D scientific animation & illustration work for both pharmaceutical industries & educational institutions.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, scientific illustrators' average salary in arkansas is 43% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level scientific illustrators 77% less than senior-level scientific illustrators.
   • Certifications. A scientific illustrator 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 scientific illustrator's salary.

   Average scientific illustrator salary

   $72,277yearly

   $34.75 hourly rate

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   Entry-level scientific illustrator salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

4. Writing a scientific illustrator job description

   A scientific illustrator 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 scientific illustrator job description:

   Scientific illustrator job description example

   *Please include a portfolio link to be considered for this position.
   
   UWorld's illustration team is growing! We are seeking a Scientific Illustrator to create high-quality scientific images for our educational question banks and products. A successful candidate will have outstanding draftsmanship skills and extensive knowledge of the biological sciences.
   
   Minimum Education:
   
   Bachelor's degree in Scientific Illustration, Biomedical Art, Pre-Medical Illustration or closely related field
   
   Minimum Experience:
   
   1 year of illustration experience preferred
   
   Exceptional proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (ie. Photoshop, Illustrator)
   
   Experience working in 3D modeling ZBrush, UCSF Chimera, Cinema 4D, and Maya is a plus
   
   Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
   
   Confidently work in an environment with high expectations
   
   Experience with realism over cartooning
   
   Proficiency creating and working with 3D modeled assets
   
   Research and comprehend advanced scientific concepts
   
   Be receptive to continuous feedback from peers and management
   
   Have excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
   
   Demonstrate excellence at drawing the human figure, animals, and geological features
   
   Develop new skills rapidly
   
   Job Responsibilities:
   
   Design and Create
   
   Create original illustrations for a wide range of subjects - biology, biochemistry, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics
   
   Utilize a library of 3D and 2D assets
   
   Create original 3D models for illustration and animation teams
   
   Create illustrations according to stylistic guidelines
   
   Ensure artistic excellence and factual accuracy of the illustrated work
   
   Consult and Collaborate
   
   Collaborate with our MCAT & College Readiness teams to create novel ways of visualizing difficult concepts
   
   Collaborate with management and team members to define schedules and deliverables, and to ensure goals are met
   
   Help maintain an efficient and successful production process
   
   Adapt to shifting priorities and be able to assist our on-site medical and scientific illustrators as needed
   
   Technical/Quality Assurance
   
   Communicate effectively with IT & quality assurance teams to anticipate and resolve issues
   
   Work independently or in small groups to trouble-shoot and provide solutions to production issues related to creation and content building
   
   Benefits
   
   Compensation and benefits:
   
   Stable and growing work environment that prioritizes a quality work/life balance
   
   We offer a competitive compensation package that's contingent on experience, including yearly bonus opportunities.
   
   We advocate utilizing your paid time off that is allotted on a sliding scale according to hire date and work hours.
   
   We are excited about our generous paid vacation schedule, which includes the entire week of Christmas off.
   
   We have a comprehensive benefits package including medical, vision, and dental with low copay, as well as life and disability insurance.
   
   We offer a 401(K) plan with 5% employer-matching (eligibility after 90 days of employment).
   
   We offer twice daily onsite group fitness classes and a relaxed work environment.
   
   At UWorld, we believe strength is derived from the talents, ideas, and experiences of a diverse workforce. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, veteran status, or any other protected class. UWorld is proud to be an equal opportunity employer providing a drug-free workplace. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
   
   

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right scientific illustrator 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 scientific illustrator job on Zippia to find and attract quality scientific illustrator candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting scientific illustrators 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 scientific illustrator

   Once you've selected the best scientific illustrator 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new scientific illustrator 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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