How to hire an apprentice

How to hire an apprentice, step by step

Here's a step-by-step apprentice hiring guide:

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

What does an apprentice do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The apprentice 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

   An apprentice's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, apprentices 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.

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

   Type of Apprentice	Description	Hourly rate
   Apprentice	Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems in homes, businesses, and factories.	$12-24
   Lead Electrician	A Lead Electrician is the one who does the maintenance, inspection, and repair, and installation of needed equipment and other electric-related things. They are the one who supervises and monitors the job of the Electrician, plans and takes action to every happening and problem that they can encounter... Show more	$18-40
   Helper	Helpers are employed by families or homeowners to provide overall assistance in the house. They are usually assigned to do household chores such as cleaning the house, doing the laundry, cooking meals, and tending the garden... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PET
   • Customer Service
   • Basic Math
   • Apprenticeship
   • Safety Procedures
   • CPR
   • HVAC
   • Safety Rules
   • Windows
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • PPE
   • Electrical Systems
   • CNC
   • Construction Sites

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Perform services include but not limit to plumbing, roofing, siding, painting, tiling, and electrical work.
   • Replace asphalt shingles, and other cold application roofs, and built-up roofs and apply caulking materials and membrane waterproofing.
   • Experience with EPDM & TPO single-ply membrane, fully adhere and mechanically fasten.
   • Assist journeyman with bending pipe (EMT, PVC & rigid), pulling and installing wire, and terminating panels
   • Locate and repair leaks in asphalt, asbestos, and slate shingles, tile and built-up roofs and single-ply membranes.
   • Install and repair electrical equipment such as circuit breakers, conduit systems, fixtures, wall sockets, plugs and switches.

   More apprentice duties

3. Make a budget

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

   Average apprentice salary

   $37,107yearly

   $17.84 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level apprentice salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average apprentice salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$48,191	$23
   2	Minnesota	$46,981	$23
   3	California	$43,829	$21
   4	District of Columbia	$43,622	$21
   5	Oregon	$43,570	$21
   6	New Jersey	$43,454	$21
   7	Missouri	$43,447	$21
   8	Washington	$42,812	$21
   9	Iowa	$42,417	$20
   10	Indiana	$41,918	$20
   11	New York	$41,771	$20
   12	Illinois	$41,111	$20
   13	Nevada	$39,417	$19
   14	Michigan	$38,876	$19
   15	Colorado	$38,874	$19
   16	Georgia	$37,435	$18
   17	Ohio	$37,176	$18
   18	Kansas	$37,045	$18
   19	Texas	$36,928	$18
   20	Utah	$36,439	$18

   Average apprentice salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Mid-South Management	$63,212	$30.39
   2	BNSF Railway	$57,823	$27.80	27
   3	Mollie Stone's Markets	$55,369	$26.62
   4	GATX	$54,587	$26.24
   5	National Grid plc	$54,432	$26.17	5
   6	Emory University	$51,415	$24.72
   7	Vallarta Supermarkets	$50,828	$24.44
   8	Anheuser-Busch	$48,935	$23.53	1
   9	The Magazi Inc	$48,760	$23.44
   10	Farmers Insurance	$48,035	$23.09	11
   11	The Dynamic Group	$47,263	$22.72
   12	SF-Marin Food Bank	$47,096	$22.64
   13	XPO Logistics	$46,964	$22.58
   14	Market of Choice	$46,774	$22.49	1
   15	Salesforce	$46,244	$22.23
   16	ARA	$45,565	$21.91
   17	BASF	$45,318	$21.79
   18	Gustave A. Larson	$45,270	$21.76	6
   19	UGI	$45,056	$21.66	8
   20	Medical University of South Carolina	$44,940	$21.61

4. Writing an apprentice job description

   An apprentice 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 an apprentice job description:

   Apprentice job description example

   Apprentice-Aerospace NDTNO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! Team provides all on job training.
   Apprentice-Aerospace NDT
   General Summary
   The Apprentice Nondestructive Testing technician will assist the Technician or Sr Technician performing inspections utilizing various NDT techniques seeking corrosion, defects, or detrimental conditions in accordance with specific written criteria. The Apprentice may calibrate instruments or perform other duties under the supervision of a certified Technician / Sr Technician.
   Essential Job Functions
   Maintains a safe, secure and healthy environment by adhering to Company/Customer safety standards and practices and to legal regulations, alerting others regarding potential hazards or concern Performs all duties as assigned and adheres to TEAM's Core Values.Assists the Technician or Sr. Technician on NDT inspections.Studies to gain NDT certifications while assisting and learning hands on experience in various NDT methods.Performs any duties assigned by the Technician or SR Technician on the worksite.
   
   Job Qualifications
   High school diploma or equivalent required An understanding of basic math Ability to work in Microsoft WordAbility to work with computers / computerized equipment Ability to read, understand, and communicate in EnglishTravel requirement; 0-75%Ability to handle chemicals in a safe manner Ability to follow instructions
   Work Conditions
   Position is based out of a branch or site location.Field duties require indoor and outdoor work in a plant atmosphere Interaction with other crew employees, as well as supervisors and client personnel Working in plant and/or shop areas around production machinery with extreme noise levels Must be able to wear safety equipment as required by the safety department for personal protection May be at more than one job site in a day and must be able to tolerate climate changes May be required to travel out of town on a periodic basis
   Physical and Mental Requirements
   Ability to lift and carry 75 pounds Must be able to walk and climb except when performing non-field duties Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits employee to communicate effectively Sufficient vision or other powers of observation, with or without reasonable accommodations, which permits employee to investigations Sufficient manual dexterity with or without reasonable accommodation, which permit the employee to perform routine office duties Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodations to perform office duties and travel when necessary to off-site locations Sufficient personal mobility to maneuver within a refinery or plant environment to include the ability to gain access to elevated platforms via ladders and stairwells Ability to maintain focus and multitask effectively Excellent communication skills
   
   TEAM provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
   This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find apprentices 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 apprentice job on Zippia to find and attract quality apprentice candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting apprentices 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 apprentice

   Once you have selected a candidate for the apprentice 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.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new apprentice. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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 an apprentice?