How to hire a building mechanic

How to hire a building mechanic, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The building mechanic 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

   Hiring the perfect building mechanic 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 building mechanic salaries for various positions.

   Type of Building Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Building Mechanic	General maintenance and repair workers fix and maintain machines, mechanical equipment, and buildings. They paint, repair flooring, and work on plumbing, electrical, and air-conditioning and heating systems.	$15-29
   Handyman	A handyman can perform various repair and maintenance tasks involving electricity, carpentry, plumbing, and even appliance installation. Most handymen work independently, but they can also choose to be part of a company... Show more	$15-29
   Maintenance Coordinator	A maintenance coordinator is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and safeness of the organization's facilities, as well as conducting repairs on defective equipment and machinery. Maintenance coordinators inspect and diagnose inconsistencies with equipment, replacing faulty components immediately to prevent delays in the operation and avoid potential workplace hazards... Show more	$15-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Plumbing
   • HVAC
   • Ladders
   • Hand Tools
   • Electrical Systems
   • Mechanical Equipment
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Fire Protection
   • Troubleshoot
   • Ventilation
   • OSHA
   • Mechanical Systems
   • Control Systems
   • Electrical Repairs

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Involve in all phases of building maintenance, repairs and upgrades including electrical, HVAC and mechanical.
   • Calibrate control systems for air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and ventilation systems, and solid state electronic motor control.
   • Maintain OSHA and safety requirements.
   • Utilize hand and power mowers.
   • Schedule and perform maintenance of building air exhaust / ventilation units.
   • Perform a variety of tasks including but not limit to: electrical work, plumbing, general maintenance, etc.

   More building mechanic duties

3. Make a budget

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

   Average building mechanic salary

   $45,386yearly

   $21.82 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level building mechanic salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average building mechanic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$57,826	$28
   2	Rhode Island	$54,930	$26
   3	New York	$54,657	$26
   4	Connecticut	$52,052	$25
   5	Massachusetts	$51,858	$25
   6	Minnesota	$48,718	$23
   7	Nevada	$45,978	$22
   8	Illinois	$43,127	$21
   9	Ohio	$42,282	$20
   10	Colorado	$42,077	$20
   11	Maryland	$40,748	$20
   12	Missouri	$40,423	$19
   13	Tennessee	$40,105	$19
   14	Texas	$38,663	$19
   15	Nebraska	$38,171	$18
   16	Florida	$32,750	$16

   Average building mechanic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Parkland Hospital	$57,105	$27.45	1
   2	University of California-Berkeley	$51,175	$24.60
   3	Shoreline Foundation	$50,699	$24.37
   4	Minnesota State Fair	$49,961	$24.02	6
   5	University of Colorado Boulder	$49,602	$23.85
   6	Ameren	$49,478	$23.79	2
   7	Yoh	$49,056	$23.58
   8	Ingles Markets	$48,642	$23.39
   9	ATS Ohio Inc	$47,497	$22.84
   10	Honeywell	$47,484	$22.83	1
   11	Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs	$47,443	$22.81
   12	University of Nebraska System	$47,366	$22.77
   13	IMC Inc	$47,359	$22.77
   14	Meyer Tool	$47,359	$22.77
   15	Midwestern University	$47,175	$22.68	2
   16	Yale New Haven Health	$46,653	$22.43	2
   17	Urban League of Rochester	$46,314	$22.27
   18	Michigan Technological University	$45,957	$22.09
   19	University of Rochester	$45,435	$21.84	11
   20	University of Nebraska at Omaha	$45,170	$21.72	3

4. Writing a building mechanic job description

   A good building mechanic 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 building mechanic job description:

   Building mechanic job description example

   • Under the supervision of officials responsible for the coordination and accomplishment of facility, plant, and utility maintenance and operation work, perform the duties particular to, and normally required in, the trade of building mechanic, following recognized procedures and techniques for such work.
   
   • To maintain the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and equipment in good repair and working order.
   • Install, repair, and maintain complete low and high pressure piping and all types of valves.
   • Diagnose and remedy mechanical and piping problems on heating and air conditioning equipment
   • Maintain and repair pressure and temperature regulators and pumps.
   • Maintain and repair air handling
   • Maintain tools, equipment and equipment room in a clean and orderly condition.
   • Perform hand soldering, brazing, or welding operations on a wide range of metals and alloys;
   • Repair and calibrate pneumatic controls;
   • Repair and maintain heating and air conditioning equipment;
   • Repair, replace and maintain ventilation systems;
   • Troubleshoot and make minor repairs to electrical components of HVAC systems.
   • As required, estimate materials needed and record time and materials expended on each work order.
   • Will have minor oversight duties when General Laborer or Student Worker is assigned to assist in the work of the Building Mechanic.
   • As required, be in an on call status and respond to emergencies on campus after hours.
   
   Marginal Duties:
   
   Perform other related duties as assigned.
   
   Education and Experience Required:
   
   • Possess thorough knowledge of codes pertaining to maintenance and installation of HVAC systems
   • A current State of Rhode Island Refrigeration or Pipefitter Journeyman License and/or City of Providence Stationary Operator License is preferred.
   • Good oral and written communications skills.
   • Understand the mechanical symbols and interpretations of building and mechanical prints.
   • Minimum of five (5) years' experience in HVAC and related fields required.
   • Must be able to work off a punch list for residence halls and apartments.
   • Must have and maintain a valid driver's license.
   
   Physical Demands
   
   The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   
   • Must be able to individually lift a minimum of 50 lbs., and be able to, with assistance, move and transport material and equipment weighing in excess of 200 lbs.
   • Must be able to work in confined spaces, requiring bending or stooping for long periods as well as standing for long periods of time. Must be able to work from ladders or elevated platforms and be able to work in extreme weather conditions.
   • Work covers the full spectrum of buildings and activities. He/she will be required to work in conditioned and unconditioned buildings and spaces, within the central power plant, as well as outdoors in all but the most inclement weather.
   • Shift for the Building Mechanic is 7:00 am to 3:30 pm
   
   EEO Statement
   
   Providence College does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, national and ethnic origin, sex, gender, except where gender is a bona fide occupational qualification, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, veteran status, or genetic information. The College will develop, and from time to time update, an affirmative action program and will insist on a good-faith effort on the part of its employees to comply with the program. The College will request and expect its agents and those with whom it conducts its af

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right building mechanic 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 mechanic job on Zippia to find and recruit building mechanic candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with building mechanic 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.

   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 building mechanic

   Once you have selected a candidate for the building mechanic 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new building mechanic 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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