How to hire a technical scientist

How to hire a technical scientist, step by step

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

What does a technical scientist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a technical scientist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

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

   Type of Technical Scientist	Description	Hourly rate
   Technical Scientist	Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.	$31-60
   Research Fellow	A 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
   Laboratory Analyst	A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation.	$14-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Molecular Biology
   • GMP
   • Data Analysis
   • Laboratory Equipment
   • FDA
   • Cell Culture
   • Method Development
   • Process Improvement
   • PCR
   • Process Validation
   • R
   • Experimental Design
   • Next-Generation Sequencing
   • Statistical Analysis

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop and manage third party claim investigations and contractor remedial oversight for various insurance companies.
   • Perform data analysis, GMP documentation and equipment maintenance.
   • Line support expertise of the manufacturing and QC processes for cell controls.
   • Participate in the methods transfer, validation, EP monograph and USP monograph using HPLC analysis of raw materials.
   • Perform HPLC purification of a monoclonal antibody used as a diagnostic reagent.
   • Develop characterization and validation protocols per remediation activities identify after commitment with the FDA.

   More technical scientist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   Average technical scientist salary

   $90,867yearly

   $43.69 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level technical scientist salary

   $66,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average technical scientist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$116,709	$56
   2	New Jersey	$98,009	$47
   3	Indiana	$90,662	$44
   4	Massachusetts	$88,621	$43
   5	Washington	$86,546	$42
   6	Maryland	$82,533	$40
   7	Pennsylvania	$82,445	$40
   8	Michigan	$81,245	$39
   9	North Carolina	$79,451	$38
   10	Illinois	$76,008	$37
   11	New York	$74,821	$36
   12	Florida	$68,114	$33
   13	Texas	$62,169	$30

   Average technical scientist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$129,731	$62.37	94
   2	Amazon	$120,575	$57.97	898
   3	Genentech	$111,691	$53.70	40
   4	Biogen	$108,663	$52.24
   5	BioMarin	$106,246	$51.08	8
   6	10x Genomics	$106,109	$51.01	1
   7	Bloomberg	$105,920	$50.92	38
   8	FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies	$104,376	$50.18	5
   9	Bayer	$104,366	$50.18	199
   10	Cytokinetics	$104,029	$50.01
   11	Medimmune	$103,287	$49.66
   12	Eli Lilly and Company	$102,749	$49.40	101
   13	AbbVie	$102,456	$49.26	90
   14	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$101,718	$48.90	151
   15	Agilent Technologies	$100,920	$48.52	15
   16	Ashland	$100,062	$48.11	2
   17	Carestream	$99,976	$48.07
   18	Boehringer Ingelheim	$99,187	$47.69	16
   19	FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA	$98,887	$47.54	106
   20	Yahoo	$98,635	$47.42

4. Writing a technical scientist job description

   A technical scientist 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 technical scientist job description:

   Technical scientist job description example

   Ashland Specialty Ingredients, GP
   
   Are you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious?Are you always solving?Then we'd like to meet you and bet you'd like to meet us.Ashland has an exciting opportunity for a Scientist II to join our Personal Care Technical Service (Ashland LLC, Specialty ingredients G.P., ISP Chemicals etc.) business at our Bridgewater NJ site. This is a very visible, significant role within the company and the technical service function. This position will report to Sr. Staff Scientist.The candidate must have a good scientific background through education and experience. The candidate will be involved with customer-driven technical service projects and key account activity support of Ashland's product line/capabilities. Candidate will work in the newly formed US applications team in Personal Care.
   
   The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:
   Formulate prototypes of various personal care products (Hair, Skin, Oral and Home Care) for customers.Troubleshoot formulation issues when necessary Work with support groups and the sales team to drive projects forward Develop new applications on existing raw materials Interface/collaborate with local customers Work within NA Customer Service team projects to meet customer needs/market trends Evaluate pre-launch technologies for application.Develop methods to demonstrate raw material benefits.Present Ashland technologies at NA customers when needed.Actively contribute to the organizational goals by taking initiative, executing on goals and focusing on performance and safety Improve the organization capacity and capabilities through building collaborative relationships, optimizing diverse talent and utilizing positive communications and influence with others
   
   In order to be qualified for this role, you must possess the following:
   Minimum of 5 years hands-on formulation experience and track record of launching new products within the skin hair and personal care market.B.S. or M.S. in an associated field of study Must possess formulation knowledge/experience in skin, and hair, (aerosol would be a plus).Creative in developing novel prototypes to explore new skin and hair care applications/benefits Basic knowledge of the chemistry, and consumer benefits of personal care raw materials.Good presentation skills.Excellent communication skills, excellent work ethic and positive attitude.Familiar with project management and works well in a team environment.Good analytical/troubleshooting skills Demonstrated responsible and ethical behavior at all times The ability to help the company drive greater value through understanding the business, making complex decisions and creating the new and different
   Perks of working at Ashland:
   Comprehensive Benefit package, Medical, Dental and Vision starting on Day 1 for you AND your family 401(k) plan with company match Referral bonus plan - get a job with us and get paid to refer your friends
   
   In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland LLC. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care and pharmaceutical. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer. At Ashland our vision is to be a leading, global specialty chemicals company whose inspired and engaged employees add value to all we touch. In fact our people, employees, customers and vendors define who we are. They are the driving force behind everything we do. Not only do we value our customers but we value our employees, and we work to offer them a dynamic and challenging environment. We hold ourselves to high standards at Ashland, and we value integrity and honesty. Ashland has a history of attracting the best people and keeping them. The reasons are simple: industry competitive salary and benefits, pay-for-performance incentive plans and a diverse work environment where employees feel challenged and valued. People come to Ashland and stay. As a growing Fortune 500 specialty chemicals company, we offer opportunities for development and advancement throughout our global organization. Our values define who we are and what we care about as a company. If you are looking for a relationship with a company instead of simply a job, this may be a great fit.
   Ashland is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. NOTE: We do not accept resumes from external staffing agencies or independent recruiters for any of our openings unless we have a signed recruiting agreement in place to fill a specific position.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right technical scientist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with technical scientists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit technical scientists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your technical scientist job on Zippia to find and recruit technical scientist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with technical scientist 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.

   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 technical scientist

   Once you've found the technical scientist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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 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 technical scientist?