How to hire a staff biologist

How to hire a staff biologist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step staff biologist hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the staff biologist you need to hire. Certain staff biologist 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?

   Yes

   No

   A staff biologist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, staff biologists 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 staff biologist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Staff Biologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Staff Biologist		$21-44
   Computational Biologist	A computational biologist is an expert in computational management, high-performance computing, data algorithm, and biological and statistical processes. You study to understand biological systems using computational theoretical principles... Show more	$18-47
   Molecular Biologist	A molecular biologist is a specialist who explores and studies the complex functions of cells on a molecular level as well as the biological laws governing the operations of each cellular component. To conduct research and academic activities, molecular biologists use equipment such as microscopes, lab centrifuges, and computers with software that allows the analysis of obtained data... Show more	$25-50

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • FDA
   • Wetland
   • Species ACT
   • Molecular Biology
   • GLP
   • Water ACT
   • GPS
   • Harvest
   • Nepa
   • GMP
   • Cell Culture
   • Technical Reports
   • Environmental Compliance
   • Assay Development

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage detailed GLP laboratory manual daily.
   • Navigate to remote project sites using GPS, topo maps, aerial photographs, and GIS layers.
   • Conduct multi-layer GIS analysis for projects.
   • Collect survey measurements using survey grade GPS and laser survey equipment.
   • Full service management to private landowners and their fisheries, water-foul and whitetail deer breeder programs.
   • Develop a working knowledge of ArcPad 8.0, ArcMap GIS 9.3 and operation of Trimble Yuma PDAs.

   More staff biologist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, staff biologists' average salary in south carolina is 42% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level staff biologists 52% less than senior-level staff biologists.
   • Certifications. A staff biologist 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 staff biologist's salary.

   Average staff biologist salary

   $65,292yearly

   $31.39 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level staff biologist salary

   $45,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average staff biologist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$74,387	$36
   2	Washington	$73,388	$35
   3	Oregon	$73,080	$35
   4	Massachusetts	$72,726	$35
   5	California	$71,502	$34
   6	Idaho	$66,651	$32
   7	Minnesota	$62,808	$30
   8	Michigan	$62,005	$30
   9	Colorado	$59,807	$29
   10	Texas	$56,805	$27
   11	Alabama	$56,606	$27
   12	New Mexico	$54,086	$26
   13	Louisiana	$52,866	$25

   Average staff biologist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Merck	$80,991	$38.94	3
   2	Burns & McDonnell	$76,395	$36.73	52
   3	M.I.T. International, Inc.	$69,966	$33.64	2
   4	Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.c. Or Aza	$69,482	$33.40	7
   5	TRC Companies	$66,526	$31.98
   6	SWCA Environmental Consultants	$64,643	$31.08	4
   7	Texas A&M Foundation	$61,497	$29.57	1
   8	NOVAworks	$60,662	$29.16
   9	Henry Ford Health System	$59,593	$28.65

4. Writing a staff biologist job description

   A good staff biologist 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 staff biologist job description:

   Staff biologist job description example

   Grounded in safety, quality, and ethics, our experts lead their fields and guide our work with rigor, a creative spirit, and vision for growth. We draw from more than 20 technical specialties around the globe and are committed to fostering an inclusive community of diverse talents, backgrounds, and expertise. We're a place to apply your passion and collaborate with top environmental talents on work that's critical to our clients and the communities they support. Join a team that has the environment down to a science.
   **Your Opportunity**
   
   You will support program research, planning and development, permitting, compliance monitoring, surveys, inspections/enforcement, and technical support services in relation to biological resources. You will also assist project teams and senior level staff with writing reports, work as part of a team to develop plans and implement steps to move projects toward closure in the most cost-effective manner.
   
   **Your Key Responsibilities**
   
   + Provide desktop support (e.g. database searches and literature review), to the project team during the development, management, and coordination of the natural environment component of projects and programs for renewable energy, oil and gas, and other development projects
   
   + Assist with field work such as breeding bird surveys, vegetation community assessments, wetland delineation and classification, special-status species surveys, and construction monitoring, including the preparation of parts or all associated reporting
   
   + Assist with the Planning, preparation, and review of technical reports (e.g. biological resources technical reports, jurisdictional delineation reports, monitoring reports, etc.) or portions of larger environmental assessments
   
   + Maintain an up to date knowledge of existing and emerging regulatory requirements, wildlife and vegetation assessment methodologies and best practices
   
   + Travel may be required within and outside of southern California
   
   + Develop a working understanding of Stantec's other consulting practice areas and actively support cross-selling other services to existing clients.
   
   + Maintain a 90-95% direct project utilization goal.
   
   **Qualifications**
   
   **Your Capabilities and Credentials**
   
   + Proficient in technical writing.
   
   + Possess skills in communications and technical information exchange with clients, engineers and scientists, government regulators and agencies, and academia.
   
   + This role requires effective in person, tele/video conference, and written communication with team members. The Project Level professional is commonly expected to assist with planning and documenting such communications.
   
   + Builds and maintains productive professional and personal networking relationships.
   
   + Drives collaborative efforts within the Business Center and beyond to deliver consistent, high quality and appropriately scoped technical work.
   
   + Must have a good driving record and valid Driver's License.
   
   + At least 1-3 years of biological monitoring, survey, and reporting, or Natural resource permitting experience.
   
   + Highly proficient with MS Office suite (e.g., Microsoft Word, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Project, Adobe Acrobat, Excel).
   
   + Knowledge and familiarity with field implementation, data gathering and collection using GPS and GIS tools.
   
   + Prior to employment with Stantec, this position will require the successful passing of a physical exam and drug screen.
   
   + OSHA HAXWOPER 40 certification not required but is a plus.
   
   **Education and Experience**
   
   Bachelor's degree in Biology, or related field. Minimum 1-3 years related experience, or an equivalent combination of education (e.g., advanced degree) and experience.
   
   Typical office environment working with computers and remaining sedentary for long periods of time. Ability to effectively work from home office independently through potential COVID-19 work restrictions. Field work may include exposure to the elements including inclement weather. Ability to lift and move items and equipment up to 50 lbs.
   
   _This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice._
   
   Stantec is a place where the best and brightest come to build on each other's talents, do exciting work, and make an impact on the world around us. Join us and redefine your personal best.
   
   **Primary Location** : United States-California-Thousand Oaks
   
   **Other Locations** : United States-California-Paramount, United States-California-Bakersfield, United States-California-Santa Maria, United States-California-San Diego, United States-California-Pasadena, United States-California-Los Angeles, United States-California-Santa Barbara, United States-California-Irvine, United States-California-San Bernardino
   
   **Job** : Biologist
   
   **Organization** : BC-1858 Environmental Services-US Pacific
   
   **Employee Status** : Regular
   
   **Job Level** : Entry Level
   
   **Travel** : Yes, 75 % of the Time
   
   **Schedule** : Full-time
   
   **Job Posting** : Aug 31, 2022, 1:58:46 PM
   
   
   Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with local, state and federal laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. EEO including Disability/Protected Veterans

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit staff biologists, 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 staff biologist

   Once you've decided on a perfect staff biologist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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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