How to hire a corrosion engineer

How to hire a corrosion engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step corrosion engineer hiring guide:

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

What does a corrosion engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The corrosion engineer 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

   A corrosion engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, corrosion engineers 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 corrosion engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Corrosion Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Corrosion Engineer	Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to create a wide range of products, from computer chips and aircraft wings to golf clubs and biomedical devices. They study the properties and structures of metals, ceramics, plastics, composites, nanomaterials (extremely small substances), and other substances to create new materials that meet certain mechanical, electrical, and chemical requirements.	$33-66
   Research And Development Engineer	Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies... Show more	$35-64
   Mechanical Engineer	Mechanical Engineers oversee the development of various mechanical devices in different industries. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around crafting, improving, or designing technologies by utilizing extensive expertise in the subject; they identify and detect errors, provide in-depth analysis, and resolve issues... Show more	$27-46

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Nace
   • API
   • Cathodic Protection
   • Corrosion Control
   • Technical Support
   • Failure Analysis
   • Technical Reports
   • Pipeline Integrity
   • Destructive Testing
   • ASTM
   • NDT
   • Materials Selection
   • SCC
   • Corrosion Protection

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Accomplish QA of inspector worksheets during shipboard inspection, and generate certification report for government approval.
   • Schedule field crews for CIS and DCVG surveys.
   • Assess CIS, DCVG, ACVG and PCM results to develop remediation plans.
   • Support SCC failures, welding and hydrostatic pressure testing of pipes.
   • Investigate mechanical and corrosion behavior of aircraft grade aluminum alloys, steels, composites.
   • Participate in a new material development/sealants and coatings to protect and prevent copper, aluminum and steel from corrosion.

   More corrosion engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   Average corrosion engineer salary

   $99,156yearly

   $47.67 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level corrosion engineer salary

   $70,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average corrosion engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$119,828	$58
   2	Texas	$119,354	$57
   3	California	$111,597	$54
   4	Oregon	$109,608	$53
   5	Georgia	$105,317	$51
   6	Colorado	$105,305	$51
   7	New Jersey	$103,513	$50
   8	North Dakota	$101,279	$49
   9	Maryland	$98,168	$47
   10	Utah	$93,850	$45
   11	Delaware	$92,684	$45
   12	North Carolina	$87,056	$42
   13	Illinois	$85,425	$41
   14	Oklahoma	$83,573	$40
   15	Ohio	$83,055	$40

   Average corrosion engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Hess	$127,064	$61.09
   2	BP America Inc	$125,918	$60.54
   3	Energy Transfer	$120,206	$57.79	5
   4	ConocoPhillips	$117,076	$56.29
   5	2H Offshore	$112,855	$54.26
   6	Mears Transportation Group	$111,653	$53.68
   7	Electro Tech Corporation	$108,141	$51.99
   8	Aegion	$107,684	$51.77
   9	Coast To Coast	$107,649	$51.75
   10	*n/a*	$107,432	$51.65	1
   11	Keystone Engineering	$106,096	$51.01
   12	Lloyd's Register	$103,451	$49.74
   13	Dominion Energy	$99,883	$48.02	17
   14	OCI Partners LP	$97,667	$46.96
   15	Carollo Engineers	$95,463	$45.90	2
   16	Matcor Automotive	$95,203	$45.77
   17	Burns & McDonnell	$94,681	$45.52	21
   18	The State of Oregon	$94,468	$45.42
   19	Corrpro Companies	$93,724	$45.06	2
   20	The Chemours Company	$91,514	$44.00

4. Writing a corrosion engineer job description

   A job description for a corrosion engineer 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 corrosion engineer job description:

   Corrosion engineer job description example

   Corrpro Companies is looking for a NACE CP Certified Corrosion Engineer to be based in the Pacific Northwest part of the United States.
   
   Corrpro, a subsidiary of Aegion Corporation, is a corrosion engineering, cathodic protection, and corrosion monitoring business for the protection and preservation of infrastructure. Corrpro provides professional corrosion consulting and cathodic protection engineering services to major oil companies, government agencies, municipal water, sewer and gas utilities, universities, and public transportation agencies.
   Responsibilities
   
   * Plan and perform more complex engineering design duties for cathodic protection system projects
   * Review preliminary data, discuss objectives and expectations, and suggest appropriate engineering methods and procedures
   * Prepare engineering designs, specifications, and reports
   * Plan and schedule activities for efficient utilization of resources
   * Establish crews and assign work based on complexity of tasks and individual capacities
   * Provide technical supervision and technical assistance to other divisions within the company
   * Coordinate engineering aspects of installation process
   * Supervise and/or perform tests required to determine condition of soil, water, underground or submerged structures
   * Direct the preparation of field drawings; determine design modifications required by unanticipated structural features, etc.
   * Supervise and participate in post installation survey
   * Coordinate interference testing and bonding required with client and affected companies
   * Ensure proper application of methods and procedures, modify as appropriate
   * Perform economic evaluations of alternative methods of cathodic protection and corrosion control
   * Assist in cost estimation and detailed proposal development
   
   Qualifications
   
   * MUST LIVE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST - IDEALLY NEAR SEATTLE, WA
   * Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical, Chemical or Materials Engineering or related field required
   * NACE CP Technician Certification
   * 3 years related Cathodic Protection survey and design experience
   * Project management and problem solving skills preferred
   * Strong team and internal customer service skills required
   * Must be able to travel regionally, as needed
   
   Compensation & Benefits - Our company offers a Competitive Salary with Career Growth Opportunities and a Full Benefits Package including Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance, 401k, Quarterly Bonus Potential, 14 days Paid Time Off and 10 paid Holidays per year, Tuition Assistance, and much more.
   
   Aegion is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal opportunity is a sound and just concept to which Aegion is firmly bound. Aegion will not engage in discrimination against, or harassment of, any person employed or seeking employment with Aegion on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, non-disqualifying disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.
   
   VEVRAA compliant - priority referral Protected Veterans requested.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find corrosion engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any corrosion engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level corrosion engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your corrosion engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit corrosion engineer 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 corrosion engineers, 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 corrosion engineer

   Once you've found the corrosion engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new corrosion engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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 corrosion engineer?