How to hire a crew foreman

How to hire a crew foreman, step by step

Here's a step-by-step crew foreman hiring guide:

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

What does a crew foreman do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a crew foreman, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A crew foreman's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, crew foremen 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of crew foremen.

   Type of Crew Foreman	Description	Hourly rate
   Crew Foreman		$19-30
   Equipment Operator	Equipment operators are employees who are assigned to work on specific company equipment. They are skilled workers trained to handle all aspects of the particular equipment, from basic operating to repairing... Show more	$11-19
   Field Supervisor	Field supervisors are referred to as the generals for various industries such as engineering, construction, and energy. These supervisors oversee and manage field staff's performance... Show more	$14-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Customer Service
   • Hand Tools
   • Work Ethic
   • OSHA
   • Good Communication
   • Equipment Operation
   • Bucket Truck
   • Construction Projects
   • Backhoe
   • Traffic Control
   • Safety Equipment
   • Mowing
   • Dump Truck

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage construction of sheet metal installation and HVAC systems of commercial facilities including construction of storefronts and mechanical rooms.
   • Vacuum, shampoo and spot clean carpets and furniture; wash windows.
   • Install all types of roofing, siding, fascia, windows, drywall ,
   • Earn CDL license and operate machinery to assist in building the barns and sheds.
   • Work on lighting retrofit projects replacing lamps and wiring ballasts to improve energy efficiency.
   • Operate excavator, bulldozer, backhoe, and wheel loader, on a pipe crew.

   More crew foreman duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your crew foreman job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A crew foreman salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a crew foreman in North Carolina may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level crew foreman usually earns less than a senior-level crew foreman. Additionally, a crew foreman with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average crew foreman salary

   $51,929yearly

   $24.97 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level crew foreman salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average crew foreman salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$71,363	$34
   2	North Dakota	$60,847	$29
   3	Washington	$60,076	$29
   4	Pennsylvania	$58,034	$28
   5	California	$55,614	$27
   6	Colorado	$55,187	$27
   7	Montana	$54,007	$26
   8	Wisconsin	$53,810	$26
   9	Kansas	$49,835	$24
   10	Iowa	$48,695	$23
   11	Nebraska	$48,522	$23
   12	Georgia	$46,543	$22
   13	Florida	$44,831	$22
   14	Ohio	$44,131	$21
   15	Idaho	$43,743	$21
   16	Texas	$43,004	$21
   17	North Carolina	$40,355	$19
   18	South Carolina	$40,162	$19

   Average crew foreman salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	General Dynamics Mission Systems	$57,175	$27.49
   2	Sunworks	$56,584	$27.20
   3	Sumter Utilities	$54,509	$26.21	34
   4	Phillips and Jordan	$54,205	$26.06	30
   5	MasTec	$54,167	$26.04	93
   6	Morton Buildings	$53,904	$25.92	6
   7	General Dynamics	$53,835	$25.88	3
   8	SWI	$53,752	$25.84	2
   9	Wick Buildings	$53,747	$25.84	2
   10	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$52,877	$25.42	39
   11	Maine Drilling & Blasting	$52,774	$25.37
   12	NPL Construction Co.	$52,566	$25.27
   13	Ervin Cable Construction	$52,472	$25.23	11
   14	Apex Companies	$52,067	$25.03	12
   15	CertaPro Painters of Northwest Florida	$51,938	$24.97	42
   16	Building Systems Design	$51,929	$24.97
   17	Nes Holdings	$51,866	$24.94
   18	Primoris Services	$51,784	$24.90	35
   19	Cable.Com	$51,464	$24.74	33
   20	White Mountain Cable Construction	$51,455	$24.74

4. Writing a crew foreman job description

   A crew foreman 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. Below, you can find an example of a crew foreman job description:

   Crew foreman job description example

   **Overview**
   
   **Sumter Utilities, Inc. (a Quanta Services company)** seeks entire **Street Light** Crews (Foreman/A Lineman/B Lineman/C Lineman/Operator/Groundman).
   
   Successful candidates will possess existing experience working together as a construction crew Preference may also be given to candidates who are able to bring along additional qualified candidates to form entire work crews.
   
   **SAFETY IS A CORE VALUE FOR OUR COMPANY** so substantial weight will be given in the selection process to candidates demonstrating their shared commitment to safe operations.
   
   We offer competitive wages, paid vacation and holidays, a full benefit package including Health, Dental, Vision, Optional Critical Care Insurance, LifeLock Identity Protection and both Company Paid & Supplemental Life Insurance as well. Benefits are available the 1st day of the next month following hire date. We also offer a 401k Retirement Savings Plan with a substantial company match.
   
   After 6 months of employment, employees are eligible to apply for entry into SUI's DOL Certified 4-Year Apprenticeship Program. (Must have a HS Diploma or equivalent and CDL.)
   
   **Possession of a valid Class A CDL is HIGHLY PREFERRED. Those hired without a CDL may be required to obtain within 90 days of employment.**
   
   **Sumter Utilities Inc. is an Equal Opportunity - Drug & Alcohol Free Workplace Employer**
   
   **NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as requested to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.**
   
   **_We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class._**
   
   **Responsibilities**
   
   ***** Generic job description for all positions. All applicants can apply under this job posting. *****
   
   Provide direct supervision & technical guidance to Linemen, Apprentices and Groundmen performing maintenance & construction on all electrical distribution and associated equipment projects.
   
   • Responsible for coordinating essential personnel on-site for the project to include crew mobilization.
   
   • Communicate, demonstrate and enforce safety requirements and best practices.
   
   • Possess comfort level with using new technologies (mobile devices/apps) and/or show willingness to learn. Such tools are bringing Jobsite access to improved information and efficiencies.
   
   • Manage supplies, materials and equipment.
   
   • Assist with planning, directing and budget activities concerned with the construction of a pole line and other electrical material and equipment used for distribution line construction projects.
   
   • Read and interpret site plans, construction drawings, and scopes of work.
   
   • Communicate directly with General Foremen, Superintendents, Construction Managers, Project Managers, Line Crews and other project personnel as required.
   
   • Understand and follow detailed construction schedules.
   
   • Possess High School Diploma or Equivalency.
   
   • Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, blueprints and scopes of work
   
   • Able to coordinate & collaborate effectively with multiple levels within company...from fellow field professionals to back office support functions.
   
   • Willing to travel and work away from home.
   
   • Experience with digger derricks, bucket trucks, trenchers, and groundwork with utility crews is required.
   
   • Ability to work at heights up to and above 60 feet preferred.
   
   • Must be able to communicate effectively, demonstrate & encourage teamwork skills and able to understand, comprehend, and follow directions in the workplace.
   
   • Must have a quality work ethic and be committed to optimal Customer Service.
   
   • Be willing/able to work additional hours, when required.
   
   • Be willing/able to travel long distances on short notice, when required.
   
   • Have total commitment to safety and compliance.
   
   **Qualifications**
   
   The employee is required to sit; frequently climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, bend, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or maneuver up to 40 pounds and occasionally lift and/or maneuver up to 75 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Work is primarily performed outdoors so physical exposure to often extreme weather conditions, animals and insects and other outdoor hazards is unavoidable and required.
   
   **Job Locations** _US-GA-Dublin / Macon_
   
   
   **\# of Openings** _100_
   
   **Category** _Lineman Level Energized_
   
   **Type** _Full-Time_

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find crew foremen 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 crew foremen they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level crew foremen 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 crew foreman job on Zippia to find and attract quality crew foreman candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit crew foremen, 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.

   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 crew foreman

   Once you've found the crew foreman 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 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new crew foreman. 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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