How to hire a Medical Scientist

How to hire a medical scientist, step by step

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

What does a Medical Scientist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The medical scientist 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?

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   Hiring the perfect medical scientist also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents medical scientist salaries for various positions.

   Type Of Medical Scientist	Description	Hourly Rate
   Medical Scientist	Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.	$28-63
   Research Laboratory Manager	Research laboratory managers are management professionals who are responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of laboratories by implementing safety lab procedures. These managers are required to coordinate the repair and maintenance of lab equipment while training lab technicians and assistants on the correct use of equipment... Show More	$21-43
   Laboratory Researcher	Laboratory researchers are professionals who manage a research laboratory while performing cellular and biochemical experiments with the primary researcher. These researchers must work with hazardous chemicals and should show expertise in handling lab equipment such as glassware and field equipment... Show More	$8-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Clinical Trials
   • Regulatory Submissions
   • Advisory Boards
   • Risk Management
   • External Stakeholders
   • Medical Writing
   • Clinical Data
   • Patient Care
   • Safety Issues
   • FDA
   • BMS
   • Safety Data
   • External Experts
   • Sops

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage clinical monitors in successful completion of large international hypertension study.
   • Conduct technology comparison study to assess applicability of a wide range of chromatography products to support specific HTS assays.
   • Analyze parallel synthesis libraries using high-throughput LC/MS methods with UV/ELS detection including mass determination, purity evaluation, and quantification.

   More Medical Scientist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your medical scientist job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A medical scientist salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a medical scientist in Iowa may be lower than in California, and an entry-level medical scientist usually earns less than a senior-level medical scientist. Additionally, a medical scientist with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average medical scientist salary

   $88,852yearly

   $42.72 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level medical scientist salary

   $59,000 yearly salary

   Updated March 14, 2025

   Average medical scientist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	California	$121,505	$58
   2	New Jersey	$108,012	$52
   3	Indiana	$95,005	$46
   4	Massachusetts	$94,882	$46
   5	Tennessee	$86,144	$41
   6	Minnesota	$84,908	$41
   7	New York	$78,285	$38
   8	Pennsylvania	$77,890	$37
   9	Michigan	$76,708	$37
   10	Washington	$76,021	$37
   11	District of Columbia	$70,205	$34
   12	Ohio	$69,866	$34
   13	North Carolina	$67,524	$32
   14	Illinois	$66,659	$32
   15	New Mexico	$64,992	$31
   16	Florida	$58,979	$28
   17	Georgia	$58,917	$28
   18	Alabama	$57,193	$28
   19	Utah	$56,944	$27
   20	Iowa	$56,476	$27

   Average medical scientist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	Varian Medical Systems	$125,764	$60.46
   2	Genentech	$119,557	$57.48	60
   3	Amgen	$105,233	$50.59	98
   4	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$104,988	$50.48	77
   5	Novartis	$104,056	$50.03	15
   6	Southern California Medical Center	$103,786	$49.90
   7	Sanofi Genzyme	$102,955	$49.50	6
   8	Novo Nordisk	$102,236	$49.15	14
   9	Vertex Pharmaceuticals	$101,677	$48.88	55
   10	Cytokinetics	$101,671	$48.88	3
   11	U.S. Pharmacopeia	$101,338	$48.72	3
   12	University At Buffalo Neurosurgery	$101,119	$48.61
   13	Brookhaven National Laboratory	$101,003	$48.56
   14	AstraZeneca	$100,157	$48.15	49
   15	Merck	$99,902	$48.03	315
   16	Allergan plc	$99,552	$47.86
   17	Medimmune	$99,304	$47.74
   18	Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc	$99,013	$47.60	4
   19	Boehringer Ingelheim	$98,565	$47.39	22
   20	Battelle	$97,383	$46.82	12

4. Writing a Medical Scientist Job Description

   A good medical 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 medical scientist job description:

   Medical Scientist job description example

   Working under general supervision, the Research Assistant 2 will plan and carry out research projects in accordance with general plans to support proteomic and metabolomic research in the Department of Pharmacology. The research assistant will prepare samples for mass spectrometry analysis, operate mass spectrometers, and perform simple data analysis. The research assistant will also perform daily calibration of laboratory equipment. This position will work with human and animal specimens but not work with animals.
   ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
   
   Plan and carry out assay protocols for a range of pharmaceutical molecules and metabolites. (30%) Conduct a series of experiments to supply scientific information as part of a larger project. Prepare samples for mass spectrometry analysis, which involves extraction, isolation, and chemical derivatization of biomolecules from various specimens such as human and animal plasma and tissues. (20%) Conduct liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of biological samples. May assist in developing improved techniques, projection methods or procedures. (13%) Collect and analyze mass spectrometry data. (10%) Compile and record data obtained from work performed. (10%) Perform daily calibration of laboratory instruments, including LC-MS and GC-MS systems, and ensure instruments are kept in working order. (6%) Oversee chemical/biological inventory in compliance with Environmental Health and Safety. (6%)
   NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
   
   Train new staff, direct the work of students in the laboratory. (2.5%) Perform other duties as assigned. (2.5%)
   CONTACTS
   
   Department: Daily contact with supervisor to discuss research and maintain workflow.
   
   University: Occasional contact with other departments to share information.
   
   External: Occasional contact with instrument, chemical, or laboratory supply vendors to exchange information.
   
   Students: Occasional contact with student employees to exchange information.
   
   SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
   
   This position has no direct supervision of staff employees. Train new staff, direct the work of students.
   
   QUALIFICATIONS
   
   Education/Experience: Bachelor of Science degree, preferably in chemistry, biochemistry, or related field and 1 to 3 years of experience, or Associate's degree in an approved biotechnology program and 2 to 4 years of experience required.
   
   REQUIRED SKILLS
   
   Has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures in the field of chemistry. Ability to rely on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job. Must be able and willing to learn new techniques, procedures, and computational tools. Strong organization skills and good habit of maintaining a clean lab working environment; demonstrate attention to detail and accuracy, time management skills, and proven ability to successfully follow-through on assigned projects. Ability to perform routine laboratory tasks using standard laboratory equipment such as balances, Speed vac concentrators, microcentrifuges, micro pipettes, and pH meters. Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors and customers face to face. Ability to meet consistent attendance.
   WORKING CONDITIONS
   
   General laboratory environment. May have exposure to organic solvents and biohazards. May be required to use personal protective equipment, including standard lab coat, gloves and safety glasses when appropriate.
   
   Diversity Statement
   
   In employment, as in education, Case Western Reserve University is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Women, veterans, members of underrepresented minority groups, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
   
   .
   
   Reasonable Accommodations
   
   Case Western Reserve University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Equity at to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicant will be made on a case-by-case basis.
   
   .
   
   COVID Vaccination
   
   Case Western Reserve University has implemented a COVID Vaccination policy requiring evidence of COVID-19 vaccination for all students, faculty and staff with an on-campus presence. Religious and medical exemptions may be provided in accordance with applicable federal and state laws. For more information go to: Applicants may contact the Office of Equity at / for information regarding religious or medical exemptions as an accommodation.

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right medical 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 medical scientists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit medical 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 medical scientist job on Zippia to find and recruit medical scientist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit medical scientists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 medical scientist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the medical scientist 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.

   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 medical 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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