How to hire a building contractor

How to hire a building contractor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step building contractor hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the building contractor you need to hire. Certain building contractor 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a building contractor to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a building contractor that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of building contractor salaries for various roles:

   Type of Building Contractor	Description	Hourly rate
   Building Contractor		$25-47
   Crew Leader	Crew leaders are restaurant workers who act as the team leader of the restaurant's crew. They are usually tenured employees with leadership skills who are respected by the team... Show more	$12-24
   Crew Foreman	A crew foreman coordinates the daily activities in a construction site to ensure that operations adhere to deadlines, budgets, and quality standards. They serve as the point of contact for supervisors, clients, and construction workers... Show more	$19-30

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Plumbing
   • Contract Terms
   • Sub Contractors
   • Windows
   • Building Repairs
   • Payroll
   • Remodel
   • HVAC
   • General Building
   • Sheetrock
   • Door Installation
   • CAD
   • Building Codes
   • Residential Buildings

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Utilize QuickBooks to manage company finances, including project invoices, material purchases, and accounts receivable.
   • Install cedar shakes and various asphalt roofs, including- 3 tab shingles, malarkey shingles, and architectural shingles.
   • Mop and pour hot asphalt or tar onto roof base when applying asphalt or tar and gravel to roof.
   • Install, update, troubleshoot and/or repair trade-specific/project relate assignments.
   • Utilize industry knowledge to anticipate and communicate changes and adjustments effecting project plans, specifications or design.
   • Automate company records in QuickBooks resulting in more accurate reflection of company income and expenses

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, building contractors' average salary in mississippi is 44% less than in illinois.
   • Seniority. Entry-level building contractors 47% less than senior-level building contractors.
   • Certifications. A building contractor 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 building contractor's salary.

   Average building contractor salary

   $72,354yearly

   $34.79 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level building contractor salary

   $52,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

4. Writing a building contractor job description

   A job description for a building contractor role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a building contractor job description:

   Building contractor job description example

   Door/Millwork Installer
   Compensation: $75,000 to $150,000 Potential Annually
   Type: Sub Contractor (Independent Contractor)

   We are the largest millwork installation company in the U.S. and have a proven track record of stability and year over year growth.
   
   The Perks

   • Unlimited growth potential
   • Consistent workflow with NO additional marketing or advertising burden
   • Pay-For-Performance
   • Access to and training on proprietary technology to help manage your installation business
   • Partnership with a financially sound and reputable corporate partner

   Key Activities

   • Install doors and hardware, etc. at residential job sites in a time-efficient and quality-centered manner
   • Effectively interact with homeowners during measure and/or install process. (Inform, resolve concerns and solve problems)
   • Prioritize/schedule and complete work activity according to business needs
   • Adhere to company standards and procedures

   Requirements

   • Must be able to pass a detailed background investigation.
   • Minimum of 5 years' experience installing doors and/or trim carpentry is preferred.
   • Vehicle, trailer, or some way to transport products to job sites.
   • Must provide own tools- IE: trim carpentry/door installation tools.
   • Access to a smart phone and/or tablet (a plus), as well as a computer with an internet connection.
   • EPA or State RRP Certified (Lead Safe Work Practices). We can assist in obtaining certification if necessary.
   • Licensed and Insured (according to local/state requirements)

   Serious Inquiries only.

   We welcome any size company from a fully registered sole proprietor to a large established installation company.

   Contractors are paid on a percentage basis, by job type.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right building contractor for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit building contractors, 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 building contractor

   Once you've selected the best building contractor 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.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new building contractor. 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 a building contractor?