How to hire a crew trainer

How to hire a crew trainer, step by step

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

What does a crew trainer do?

Post a crew trainer job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The crew trainer 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 crew trainer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, crew trainers 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 crew trainer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Crew Trainer	Description	Hourly rate
   Crew Trainer	Food and beverage serving and related workers perform a variety of customer service, food preparation, and cleaning duties in restaurants, cafeterias, and other eating and drinking establishments.	$20-30
   Food Service/Cashier	Foodservice/cashiers are often employed at food restaurants and played various roles. Their duties include recording orders from customers and making sure their payments are collected... Show more	$10-16
   Food Prep	The primary duty of a food prep is to accomplish various food handling and preparation tasks according to the direction of supervisors, chefs, or cooks. One can work in different establishments or industry where there is food involved... Show more	$9-16

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Drive-Thru
   • Role Model
   • Safety Standards
   • Customer Orders
   • Customer Service
   • Customer Complaints
   • POS
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Leadership
   • Food Preparation
   • Drink Orders
   • Computer System
   • Front Line
   • Service Issues

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage food preparation, maintain cleanliness and punctuality while effectively support customers in daily transactions with suggestive selling methods.
   • Utilize customer service skills while displaying creativity with culinary art to ensure a positive atmosphere for all guests and co-workers.
   • Provide genuine customer service to all guests, daily use of computerize POS terminal, adhere to training guidelines of company.
   • Communicate clearly and positively with coworkers and management, master point-of-service (POS) computer system for automate order taking.
   • Maintain waste and HACCP logs.
   • Clean open vat stoves and pressure cook stoves.

   More crew trainer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, crew trainers' average salary in alabama is 28% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level crew trainers earn 33% less than senior-level crew trainers.
   • Certifications. A crew trainer 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 crew trainer's salary.

   Average crew trainer salary

   $53,128yearly

   $25.54 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level crew trainer salary

   $43,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 28, 2025

   Average crew trainer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$59,559	$29
   2	Washington	$56,996	$27
   3	Oregon	$55,072	$26
   4	Minnesota	$52,307	$25
   5	Ohio	$49,950	$24
   6	Texas	$49,791	$24
   7	Utah	$49,660	$24
   8	Indiana	$49,299	$24
   9	Colorado	$49,141	$24
   10	Virginia	$48,544	$23
   11	Iowa	$47,876	$23
   12	Oklahoma	$46,419	$22
   13	Kansas	$46,304	$22
   14	Tennessee	$46,144	$22
   15	Louisiana	$45,945	$22
   16	Florida	$44,323	$21
   17	South Carolina	$43,967	$21
   18	North Carolina	$43,003	$21

   Average crew trainer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Union Pacific	$55,109	$26.49
   2	R. J. Corman Railroad Group	$54,684	$26.29	20
   3	Integration Innovation	$54,045	$25.98
   4	Loup Logistics	$53,568	$25.75	6
   5	American Airlines	$53,340	$25.64	1
   6	KBR	$52,812	$25.39	5
   7	Desert Haven Enterprises, Inc.	$52,491	$25.24	2
   8	System Pavers	$52,358	$25.17
   9	SkyWest Airlines	$49,808	$23.95
   10	Spirit Airlines	$49,774	$23.93	1
   11	McDonald's	$26,022	$12.51	11,884

4. Writing a crew trainer job description

   A crew trainer 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 trainer job description:

   Crew trainer job description example

   When someone works on Train Crew, they are working at the heart of our railroad. Train Crew employees are accountable for serving our customers by providing the safe, timely, and on-plan movement of freight trains! In this beginning position, a person will start as a Switch-person or Brake-person, working as on-the-ground traffic control. No previous railroad experience is needed; we provide all the essential training! These jobs lead directly to becoming a Conductor and/or a Locomotive Engineer, where employees have the rare opportunity to work on board a moving locomotive. A newly hired Train Crew trainee can expect to earn about $52,000 in their first year. Advancement to a Conductor or Locomotive Engineer has earning potential up to $88,000 a year or more. We are powered by our people, will you join our team?
   
   Ensure safe, timely train operation and movement between various shop locations, service tracks and switching areas Inspect the conditions and operations of equipment and machines, analyzing and troubleshooting problems to find solutions, and making adjustments as needed Perform various tasks to include: removing, replacing and carrying couplers/knuckles; aligning drawbars, coupling equipment and cars; operating locomotive equipment through a remote control device; applying and releasing hand brakes; riding rail cars; climbing onto equipment and sharing information clearly with co-workers and train dispatchers via radio Check, observe, interpret and relay signals and placards to collect and communicate information Prepare written documentation and materials as needed Develop and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, contractors and/or customers and efficiently handle controversy Ensure compliance with all railroad rules and regulations for safety, operations and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Work efficiently and productively under stressful working conditions Perform other duties as assigned
   
   Basic keyboarding skills Proficient verbal and written communication skills to deliver information to coworker(s) and supervisor(s) Valid driver's license or the ability to obtain one prior to your first day of employment Experience reading and understanding instructions (examples may include: operating and safety rules, bulletins, special instructions, and federal regulatory documents) Candidates for this position must pass a pre-employment test in English before being allowed to interview. The number of candidates who pass the test and will be granted an interview is based upon hiring needs. If you have taken this test and failed within the last six months, you will not be eligible to apply for this position. Click here to see a sample of the Train Crew Test Battery. Candidates must qualify on a Physical Ability Test (PAT) prior to employment. Click here for a description of the Physical Abilities Test
   
   Experience working with, on, and around moving heavy equipment (Consider professional, personal, and volunteer experience) Completed a railroad conductor training course or program Experience working outdoors in variable weather conditions (consider professional, personal, and volunteer experience)
   
   When someone works on Train Crew, they are working at the heart of our railroad. Train Crew employees are accountable for serving our customers by providing the safe, timely, and on-plan movement of freight trains! In this beginning position, a person will start as a Switch-person or Brake-person, working as on-the-ground traffic control. No previous railroad experience is needed; we provide all the essential training! These jobs lead directly to becoming a Conductor and/or a Locomotive Engineer, where employees have the rare opportunity to work on board a moving locomotive. A newly hired Train Crew trainee can expect to earn about $52,000 in their first year. Advancement to a Conductor or Locomotive Engineer has earning potential up to $88,000 a year or more. We are powered by our people, will you join our team?
   
   On a post-offer basis, Union Pacific and or its subsidiaries will conduct an investigation into newly hired or transferred employees regarding their past employment, state and federal criminal history, military history, driving history, education, professional license or certification verification if job-related, Social Security number, prior drug history, and other job-related information. Individuals must pass a background investigation for employment. Please click here to review Union Pacific's policy regarding background investigations.
   Employment with Union Pacific is contingent upon the successful completion of a health examination for newly hired or transferred employees which may include a drug screen, a color vision exam, and a fitness-for-duty assessment to ensure that candidates can safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. In addition, the company conducts for-cause, post-accident, and random drug and alcohol testing of its employees.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right crew trainer 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 crew trainers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit crew trainers 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 crew trainer job on Zippia to find and recruit crew trainer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting crew trainers 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.

   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 crew trainer

   Once you've decided on a perfect crew trainer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a crew trainer?