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How to hire a senior applications scientist

Senior applications scientist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring senior applications scientists in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a senior applications scientist is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new senior applications scientist to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a senior applications scientist, step by step

To hire a senior applications scientist, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a senior applications scientist:

Here's a step-by-step senior applications scientist hiring guide:

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

What does a senior applications scientist do?

A senior applications scientist imports and exports data as well as managing user interface security. They must identify issues in their company's database system and resolve them. They are also responsible for designing equipment to automate database systems.

Learn more about the specifics of what a senior applications scientist does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the senior applications scientist you need to hire. Certain senior applications scientist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A senior applications scientist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior applications scientists 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.

    Here's a comparison of senior applications scientist salaries for various roles:

    Type of Senior Applications ScientistDescriptionHourly rate
    Senior Applications ScientistMedical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.$33-76
    Research FellowA research fellow is an academic researcher who conducts research and analysis of comprehensive literature, data, and results and provides literature reviews. He/She supervises research assistants and recruits study participants to interview them for a particular study... Show more$18-34
    FellowA fellow's responsibility will depend on the organization or industry where one belongs. However, most of the time, a fellow's duty will revolve around conducting research and analysis, presiding discussions and attending dialogues, handle lectures while complying with the guidelines or tasks set by supervisors, and assist in various projects and activities... Show more$22-44
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Software Development
    • Data Collection
    • Next-Generation Sequencing
    • Data Analysis
    • Customer Support
    • Technical Support
    • ISO
    • R
    • Cell Culture
    • Training Materials
    • Sops
    • Trade Shows
    • Cell-Based Assays
    • Debugging
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage study protocols and study conduct, intimately involve in the toxicology and pharmacokinetic study protocol development process.
    • Design, develop and implement DNA base assays and immunoassays.
    • Subject matter expert for applications of a pathogen detection system base on principles of PCR and mass spectrometry.
    • Develop, validate and implement robust methods for pharmacokinetic, immunogenicity (ADA) and immunodepletion ELISAs, and cell based-bioassays.
    • Develop novel applications for FDSS6000 HTS instrument.
    • Conduct genotyping and phenotyping of models as required.
    More senior applications scientist duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the senior applications scientist job description is a good way to get more applicants. A senior applications scientist 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 senior applications scientist in North Dakota may be lower than in Rhode Island, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level senior applications scientist. Additionally, a senior applications scientist with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average senior applications scientist salary

    $105,538yearly

    $50.74 hourly rate

    Entry-level senior applications scientist salary
    $69,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 21, 2026

    Average senior applications scientist salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$129,477$62
    2New Jersey$118,521$57
    3Maryland$108,523$52
    4Delaware$102,121$49
    5New York$95,694$46
    6Massachusetts$95,185$46
    7Tennessee$92,955$45
    8Oregon$92,867$45
    9Arizona$92,573$45
    10Indiana$91,102$44
    11Ohio$81,537$39
    12North Carolina$79,047$38
    13Texas$78,219$38
    14Illinois$76,739$37
    15Colorado$76,193$37
    16Oklahoma$74,924$36
    17Florida$72,719$35
    18Georgia$67,682$33
    19Utah$66,085$32
    20Iowa$64,167$31

    Average senior applications scientist salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Schrödinger Inc$125,944$60.553
    2Nanometrics$118,238$56.85
    3Waters$117,380$56.432
    4Arkema$117,343$56.41
    5Eastman$114,929$55.25
    6Shimadzu Corporation$110,768$53.2512
    7Beckman Coulter$110,553$53.15
    8Quidel$109,745$52.76
    9Maxim Integrated$109,143$52.47
    10Agilent Technologies$107,444$51.6614
    11IDEX$105,066$50.51
    12Givaudan$104,939$50.456
    13Danisco US Inc$104,590$50.28
    14Edlong: Everything Dairy Can Be$104,548$50.26
    15A+ Products$103,939$49.97
    16SCIEX$103,733$49.87
    17PerkinElmer$101,449$48.776
    18Caliper Life Sciences$100,475$48.31
    19Advion$100,179$48.16
    20Sentient Energy$100,128$48.14
  4. Writing a senior applications scientist job description

    A good senior applications scientist 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 senior applications scientist job description:

    Senior applications scientist job description example

    This position represents an exciting opportunity for a driven scientist to make a direct impact on the chromatography of small molecules and to teach and share with the world on the most recent column technologies. A keen eye for analytical opportunities will be needed to propose and pursue scientific application work that demonstrates the value of how column technologies can enhance many different types of instruments. Ideas on faster method development and improved method robustness will be captured as case studies and retold to the world's analytical community. This scientist will be taking an important new position within the Chemistry Department at Waters to enthusiastically bring insights to our marketing and sales organizations and energize opportunities for new scientific discussions with customers.

    In this pursuit, it will be key for this scientist to be engaged with a global network of marketing and sales specialist as well as the broader scientific community. This individual's efforts will be of impact to organizations that are supporting the business continuity of the world's pharmaceutical supply and pushing ahead for more robust capabilities for LC-based testing.

    In this dynamic role, the candidate will become an integral part of an interdisciplinary chemistry R&D environment by engaging with customers to develop new scientific understandings and partnering with product and field marketing teams to create relevant applications that translate technical challenges into scientific benefits. To this end, this scientist will align hypothesis driven experiments with customer needs and apply their knowledge in chromatography and instrumentation towards the generation of novel analytical techniques and publications. This is a visible role that offers a unique opportunity to lead aftermarket activities through the avenues of science and collaboration.
    Basic Responsibilities

    + Generate impactful scientific case studies on the use of column technologies with various LC instruments

    + Obtain application data using customer insights and prepare standout marketing collateral (applications, publications, presentations)

    + Interface with marketing, field, and other cross-functional teams across Waters to collect, discover, and prioritize new ventures for enhancing column technologies (i.e. sample preparation, columns, instrumentation)

    + Formulate and execute test strategies, prepare reports, write whitepapers and provide internal and external presentations to summarize scientific findings.

    + Operate and maintain laboratory instruments while creating and maintaining records of test-related activities.

    + Attend and present at conferences and stay up to date on literature, aid in customer education, and to be versed in current as well as emerging applications and methods of analysis.

    A successful candidate should have:

    Minimum Qualifications

    + BS with 10+ years of experience, Master's Degree with 5+ years of experience, or PhD with 0-3 years of experience in developing LC methods (desired)

    Other Required Qualifications

    + Firsthand experience in liquid chromatography of small molecules (pharma or a contract research organization experience preferred)

    + Inventiveness, enthusiasm, and advanced scientific knowledge related to chromatographic methods development

    + Experience in applying chromatographic theory for LC method development

    + Proficiency in LC instrumentation, troubleshooting, and maintenance

    + Awareness of the sponsorship and use of monograph methods and other QC tools

    + Well-developed oral and written communication skills

    + Proven track record of analytical abilities and learning agility

    + Excellent interpersonal skills and amenability to a team environment

    + Demonstrated record of writing for and presenting to technical audiences

    Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT), the world's leading specialty measurement company, has pioneered chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis innovations serving the life, materials, and food sciences for more than 60 years. With more than 7,000 employees worldwide, Waters operates directly in 35 countries, including 15 manufacturing facilities, with products available in more than 100 countries. Our team focuses on creating business advantages for laboratory-dependent organizations to enable significant advancement in healthcare delivery, environmental management, food safety, and water quality.

    Working at Waters enables our employees to unlock the potential of their careers. Our global team is driven by purpose. We strive to be better, learn and improve every day in everything we do. We're the problem solvers and innovators that aren't afraid to take risks to transform the world of human health and well-being. We're all in it together delivering benefit as one to provide the insights needed today in order to solve the challenges of tomorrow.

    Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our core values at Waters Corporation. It is our responsibility to actively implement programs and practices to drive inclusive behavior and increase diversity across the organization. We are united by diversity and thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, our customers and our community. Waters is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or protected Veteran status.

    Company Name: Waters Division

    External Company URL: www.waters.com

    Street: 34 Maple Street
  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find senior applications scientists for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your senior applications scientist job on Zippia to find and recruit senior applications scientist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit senior applications scientists, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    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 senior applications scientist

    Once you've selected the best senior applications scientist 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.

    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 senior applications scientist 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 senior applications scientist?

Before you start to hire senior applications scientists, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire senior applications scientists pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

Senior applications scientists earn a median yearly salary is $105,538 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find senior applications scientists for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $33 and $76.

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