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How to hire an automotive electrician

Automotive electrician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring automotive electricians in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire an automotive electrician 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 automotive electrician to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire an automotive electrician, step by step

To hire an automotive electrician, 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 an automotive electrician:

Here's a step-by-step automotive electrician hiring guide:

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

    First, determine the employments status of the automotive electrician you need to hire. Certain automotive electrician 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?

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

    Type of Automotive ElectricianDescriptionHourly rate
    Automotive ElectricianElectricians install, maintain, and repair electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems in homes, businesses, and factories.$11-21
    Car Electronics InstallerA Car Electronics Installer installs, diagnoses, or repairs a motor vehicle's navigation, security, communications, and sound equipment. Their primary duties include installing accessories and equipment like navigation equipment, security systems, communication equipment, and stereos... Show more$11-40
    ElectricianAn electrician is a skilled tradesman in charge of wirings and systems which provide electric power to a facility. They are trained to design, install, maintain, and troubleshoot electrical wiring systems... Show more$15-35
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Hand Tools
    • Electrical Equipment
    • Electrical Systems
    • Switches
    • Electrical Circuits
    • Troubleshoot
    • Ac
    • Dc
    • Ac Dc
    • Water Pumps
    Responsibilities:
    • Remove, analyze, identify issue install properly working pressure transducers, effectively accomplishing priorities to go underway.
    • Understand DC electricity and demonstrate diagnostic repair strategies for automotive electrical components and systems that effectively repair electrical components.
    • Diagnose and troubleshoot running and driving problems with vehicles of nearly all makes and models.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your automotive electrician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An automotive electrician salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, automotive electricians' average salary in florida is 50% less than in massachusetts.
    • Seniority. Entry-level automotive electricians earn 49% less than senior-level automotive electricians.
    • Certifications. An automotive electrician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an automotive electrician's salary.

    Average automotive electrician salary

    $15.69hourly

    $32,625 yearly

    Entry-level automotive electrician salary
    $23,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 17, 2025
  4. Writing an automotive electrician job description

    An automotive electrician 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 an automotive electrician job description:

    Automotive electrician job description example

    DCC Propane, LLC, a division of DCC plc, has served communities for over 75 years providing propane for residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial uses, and water conditioning services since 1962. We are continuing to grow and are currently represented by a team of over 900 dedicated and passionate professionals who live and work in 22 states operating under a number of strong regional brands. The business has succeeded in maintaining a strong family-feel with an unwavering commitment to world-class safety standards and customer service with competitive compensation and benefits.


    Why Work for Us?

    Rocket Supply is part of the DCC Propane family. We strongly believe in taking care of our employees so that they can take care of our customers. Our people are what set DCC Propane apart and are essential to our future growth, whether it is by welcoming a new brand into the DCC family or a new employee into our team, we are driven to ensure that our team members have everything they need to be successful. atone way we do that, both at work and at home, is by offering a best-in-class benefit plan to our employees. This includes Medical, Vision, and Dentals plans for you and your family, as well as supplemental insurance programs, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, and Paid Time Off plus holidays.

    The primary purpose of this position is to install, repair, and troubleshoot electrical equipment for vehicles used in the delivery, monitoring, and service of propane and related services. The candidate should be able to w ork from work orders, engineering drawings, and verbal instructions to ensure the effective, safe, and timely installation and repair of equipment.

    Duties and Responsibilities

    • Install, repair, and maintain DC voltage electrical systems within trucks and other propane related equipment.
    • Observe safety procedures and meet all relevant electrical codes.
    • Troubleshoot and resolve problems involving fixtures, materials, equipment, and part specifications. Identify and recommend changes to part specifications to improve operational capability.
    • Perform housekeeping and preventative maintenance as required.
    • Operate all assigned vehicles in accordance with company policies and procedures, and comply with all federal, state and local codes and regulations.
    • Demonstrate responsibility for the care, condition, safe handling, and security of all company and customer equipment and property at all times.
    • Ensure all required paperwork is in order, complete, accurate, legible, and submitted to supervisor as required.
    • Maintain professionalism, integrity, security, and confidentiality of information and records as required by the position.
    • Attend all safety meetings and training as required.
    • Regular and punctual attendance at the worksite is required.

    Qualifications: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

    • Experience and training in the automotive field with an excellent understanding of automotive DC voltage electrical and mechanical systems. Ability to perform work on trucks (i.e., build, install, test-fit and install components).
    • Demonstrate the aptitude to learn and acquire mechanical and industrial skills.
    • Ability to operate under pressure and demonstrate flexibility. Willingness to modify plans and behavior as required in a fluid environment.
    • Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends and/or holidays.
    • Ability to work overtime as necessary.
    • Ability to adapt to a changing schedule as directed.
    • Ability to positively represent the Company both to internal and external customers.
    • Ability to demonstrate respect and cooperation at all times with fellow employees and customers.
    • Must be committed to working safely at all times.

    Experience/Education:

    • High school diploma / GED or equivalent experience is required.
    • Certified electrician preferred
    • 3-4 years of automotive or industrial DC voltage electrician experience.
    • Heavy-duty truck experience preferred
    • Must have strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
    • Ability to read & understand blueprint / engineering drawings.
    • Must possess general mechanical abilities.
    • Must be able to work in a team atmosphere.

    Travel:

    Local Travel only.

    Physical Requirements:

    The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


    • The employee must frequently position and/or move up to 60-75 pounds.
    • While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to:
      • Sit, stand, walk, bend, crouch, squat, and twist.
      • Move, carry, push and pull various equipment weighing over 175 pounds with assistance of various types of material handling equipment and/or additional personnel on occasion.
      • Communicate with and exchange information verbally and in writing.
      • Operate a motorized vehicle during the work shift.
      • Move about in an office environment.
      • Work using repetitive motion.
    • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
    • Work requires physical efforts associated with using the computer and phones to access information.

    EOE Statement:

    All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find automotive electricians 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 automotive electrician job on Zippia to find and attract quality automotive electrician candidates.
    • Use niche websites such as constructionjobs.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting automotive electricians 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.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 automotive electrician

    Once you've selected the best automotive electrician 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 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.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new automotive electrician. 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 automotive electrician?

Before you start to hire automotive electricians, 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 automotive electricians pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

The median annual salary for automotive electricians is $32,625 in the US. However, the cost of automotive electrician hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring an automotive electrician for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $11 and $21 an hour.

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