How to hire a crane mechanic

How to hire a crane mechanic, step by step

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

Post a crane mechanic job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The crane 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 crane 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 shows salaries for various types of crane mechanics.

   Type of Crane Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Crane Mechanic	Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians inspect, maintain, and repair vehicles and machinery used in construction, farming, rail transportation, and other industries.	$13-33
   Heavy Equipment Technician	A heavy equipment technician overhauls, repairs, and services equipment. The heavy equipment technicians work from the specifications of the manufacturers... Show more	$14-28
   Forklift Technician	Primarily, a forklift technician services and monitors forklifts and any other heavy industrial vehicles. Forklift technicians maintain tools, communicate with the salespeople, handle inventory, and utilize computer-based diagnostics on any equipment... Show more	$14-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cranes
   • Certifications
   • Hand Tools
   • Boom Truck
   • Routine Maintenance
   • OSHA
   • Hoists
   • Diesel Engines
   • Fall Protection
   • Equipment Repair
   • Electrical Components
   • Construction Equipment
   • Hydraulic Systems
   • Electrical Systems

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Obtain license for booms, slab scissors, rough terrain forklifts, and warehouse forklifts.
   • Perform work in compliance with SHEA, ANSI, OSHA, and other applicable codes and regulations.
   • Interact with customers to ensure that annual/ quarterly inspections are complete on time in compliance with OSHA regulations.
   • Unschedule emergency repairs and breakdowns of cranes and relate equipment to facilitate minimal production delay.
   • Supervise mechanics in the diagnosis and repair of technical difficulties, installation and in mechanical failures of military equipment.
   • Conduct and solve several complicate troubleshooting problems involving a potential uncontrol dropped crane boom.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your crane mechanic job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A crane mechanic salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, crane mechanics' average salary in south dakota is 49% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level crane mechanics earn 59% less than senior-level crane mechanics.
   • Certifications. A crane mechanic 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 a crane mechanic's salary.

   Average crane mechanic salary

   $45,278yearly

   $21.77 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level crane mechanic salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 1, 2026

4. Writing a crane mechanic job description

   A job description for a crane mechanic 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 crane mechanic job description:

   Crane mechanic job description example

   • Works under limited supervision and selects from written instructions and established procedures to accomplish assigned tasks.
   • Performs repairs, inspection, diagnosis, and repair of electrical, hydraulic, suspension, brake, and air systems on vehicles and equipment.
   • Utilizes vehicle computer electronics systems to interpret failure modes to initiate or assign repairs.
   • Must have the ability to read and understand electrical and hydraulic schematics.
   • Estimates time and material costs on vehicle repairs and requisitions new parts.
   • Performs all work within Standard Repair Times (SRTs).
   • Conducts safety checks on vehicles.
   • Completes required paperwork utilizing fleet maintenance software program associated with repairing vehicles, documenting parts usage, and accounting for repair times.
   • Good communication skills relative to supervisor & other related departments.
   • Assists senior Mechanics in the completion of project work.
   • Reviews, completes or assigns repairs identified on Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports.
   • Maintains a clean, safe work area in compliance with Corporate / OSHA Standards, and performs all work in accordance with established safety procedures.
   • Welding and fabricating experience is a plus.
   • Ability to lift 50 pounds, plus the physical ability to work in awkward positions such as kneeling, lying down, and overhead.
   • Must have the ability to climb and work from a ladder.
   • Ability to operate various shop tools (saws, drills, fork lifts, etc.)

   Requirements

   • Truck License
   • Shop experience (min. 2 years)
   • Experience towards or complete certifications
   • Strong understanding of truck engines, including diagnostics and repair
   • Clean accident record (with exceptions)
   • Work in a fast-paced, creative atmosphere to develop new ideas

   All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.
   
   GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right crane mechanic for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with crane mechanics they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit crane mechanics who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting crane mechanics 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 crane mechanic

   Once you have selected a candidate for the crane 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 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.

   To prepare for the new crane 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a crane mechanic?