How to hire an electrical designer

How to hire an electrical designer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step electrical designer hiring guide:

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

What does an electrical designer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an electrical designer, 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

   Hiring the perfect electrical designer 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 electrical designers.

   Type of Electrical Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Electrical Designer	Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment. Electronics engineers design and develop electronic equipment, such as broadcast and communications systems—from portable music players to global positioning systems (GPSs).	$22-42
   Radio Frequency Engineer	A radio frequency engineer, also known as RF engineer, specializes in designing and developing communication systems using radio waves. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around creating networks and systems and testing equipment... Show more	$32-55
   Field Engineer	A field engineer's role will vary on the industry or line of work involved. However, the primary responsibility will mostly revolve around handling equipment and machinery, ensuring that they function effectively and safely... Show more	$24-47

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Revit
   • Electrical Design
   • Autocad Electrical
   • UL
   • Electrical Systems
   • Electrical Schematics
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Engineering Design
   • Aided Design
   • Electrical Equipment
   • Design Drawings
   • Navisworks
   • Electrical Drawings
   • NFPA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage database for PDF drawings and other electronic files.
   • Design control systems to NFPA, UL, and CE specifications to comply with country-specific standards.
   • Work conduct using PDMS, NavisWorks and AutoCAD.
   • Used INTOOLS to input instrument tags into index, customize reports & import data from PDMS into INTOOLS.
   • Integrate electrical & electronic designs into custom automation equipment using 2D & 3D design software (AutoCAD & SolidWorks).
   • Convert various units to DCS for ExxonMobil.

   More electrical designer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your electrical designer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An electrical designer 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 an electrical designer in West Virginia may be lower than in California, and an entry-level electrical designer usually earns less than a senior-level electrical designer. Additionally, an electrical designer 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 electrical designer salary

   $64,930yearly

   $31.22 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level electrical designer salary

   $47,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 18, 2026

   Average electrical designer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$89,133	$43
   2	Massachusetts	$77,678	$37
   3	Maryland	$75,529	$36
   4	New Mexico	$74,821	$36
   5	Texas	$71,828	$35
   6	Virginia	$71,756	$35
   7	Washington	$71,170	$34
   8	New Jersey	$70,648	$34
   9	Illinois	$69,952	$34
   10	Pennsylvania	$68,466	$33
   11	Michigan	$68,361	$33
   12	North Carolina	$66,981	$32
   13	New York	$66,523	$32
   14	Oklahoma	$66,491	$32
   15	Missouri	$64,007	$31
   16	Oregon	$62,787	$30
   17	Florida	$62,452	$30
   18	Georgia	$62,268	$30
   19	South Carolina	$61,894	$30
   20	Kansas	$60,148	$29

   Average electrical designer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Amd	$103,000	$49.52	67
   2	Lam Research	$99,202	$47.69	5
   3	Energy Northwest	$96,200	$46.25
   4	Tesla	$93,678	$45.04	16
   5	Amazon	$87,927	$42.27	541
   6	Southern	$87,179	$41.91	5
   7	General Electric	$86,897	$41.78	57
   8	Siemens	$86,033	$41.36	21
   9	Westinghouse Appliances Australia	$85,320	$41.02	31
   10	Air Products	$84,800	$40.77	3
   11	Brookhaven National Laboratory	$84,375	$40.56
   12	Kiewit	$82,878	$39.85	319
   13	Taylor Corporation	$82,349	$39.59	2
   14	Air Liquide	$81,399	$39.13	2
   15	EMCOR Group	$80,831	$38.86	100
   16	Plug Power	$80,276	$38.59	1
   17	Jacobs Engineering Group	$79,702	$38.32
   18	McWane	$78,766	$37.87	13
   19	Sandia National Labs	$78,246	$37.62
   20	Xcel Energy	$77,891	$37.45	23

4. Writing an electrical designer job description

   An electrical designer 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 an electrical designer job description:

   Electrical designer job description example

   Valdes is a 200-person, multidisciplinary, engineering, architecture, and project management company with an expert focus on technical excellence. Every client project is assigned a dedicated team of professionals who provide personalized services and solutions. The Valdes success model consists of streamlined work processes, attention to detail, technical expertise, and an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction, safety and quality.
   
   Valdes is guided by our purpose statement: We are talented people who thrive and achieve extraordinary results for our customers.
   Our core values reflect who we are, how we perform and what we aspire to:
   Integrity Critical Thinking Excellence Teamwork Passion
   
   Valdes proudly executes all work in the United States to maintain the utmost quality for our clients. We are a certified Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) and hold the following certifications:
   National Minority Supplier Development Council - MBE Certification
   Illinois Department of Central Management Services - BEP Certification
   City of Chicago - MBE Certification
   California Public Utilities Commission, The Supplier Clearinghouse - MBE Certification
   
   Responsibilities Electrical Design with the capabilities and the initiative to perform the following tasks with supervisory/mentor assistance as required Design computations; prepare estimates, bill of materials, construction drawings, and other engineering documents Participate in client meetings to determine job requirements, discuss progress of job related problems, and find solutions to those problems Assist the discipline engineer or senior or principal designer in the development of the design portion of the work Review design drawings to ensure correct engineering and client approval Must have the ability to ensure project is within scope, budget, and schedule
   QualificationsHigh School Diploma, Associates Degree, Bachelor's degree preferred2+ years of technical training in design or drafting in electrical engineering Strong attention to detail is required Basic experience with AutoCAD or MicrostationSolid Microsoft Office skills Strong verbal and written communication skills Basic ability to articulate complex ideas to co-workers and management Creative thinking in providing new solutions to design problems Eligibility to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future
   
   Valdes Architecture & Engineering Company is looking for bright and talented people that want to take their career to the next level. We offer many rewarding career paths to challenge and engage our employees at all phases of their careers. Our office provides a team environment, and excellent working conditions, which allow individuals to maximize their potential. Valdes Engineering offers an outstanding benefits package including Medical, Dental, 401K plan, Company paid Long Term and Short Term Disability Insurance, Company paid Life and AD&D Insurance, Pet Insurance, a discounted gym membership and tuition reimbursement.
   EEO/AAE

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find electrical designers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting electrical designers 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 electrical designer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the electrical designer 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 good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new electrical designer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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.)

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