How to hire an electrical engineer

How to hire an electrical engineer, step by step

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

What does an electrical engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your electrical engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an electrical engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an electrical engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an electrical engineer that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of electrical engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Electrical Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Electrical Engineer	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).	$28-52
   System Design Engineer	A system design engineer is a professional who participates in system design engineering and resolves manufacturing and service problems. System design engineers are required to collaborate with the system design team to research emerging technologies and develop new capabilities... Show more	$37-71
   Hardware Engineer	Hardware engineers or computer hardware engineers are responsible for developing, designing, and examining computer hardware. They help speed up new computer technology by creating enhancements in computer hardware... Show more	$37-68

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Autocad
   • Electrical Systems
   • UL
   • Electrical Design
   • CAD
   • C++
   • Control Systems
   • RF
   • Analog
   • Electrical Equipment
   • Engineering Design
   • Project Management
   • PLC
   • Transformers

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve rugged secure extension of HMI modules with USB host and device auto switching capability.
   • Achieve low cost solution for professional tier radio with rug full color display and USB accessory interface.
   • Accomplish intelligent remote terminal unit (RTU) automatic control with graphical liquid crystal display (LCD).
   • Develop LabVIEW code to automate test procedures and to communicate with units for verification of functionality and accuracy.
   • Coordinate with senior electrical engineers and achieve hands-on experience on coal fire plant power generation and power transformers, circuit breakers.
   • Provide engineering design CADD and REVIT support for the Ellerbe Becket electrical department.

   More electrical engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   Average electrical engineer salary

   $81,026yearly

   $38.95 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level electrical engineer salary

   $59,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average electrical engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$112,361	$54
   2	California	$105,421	$51
   3	Massachusetts	$90,542	$44
   4	District of Columbia	$89,424	$43
   5	Texas	$85,234	$41
   6	Colorado	$83,185	$40
   7	Maryland	$82,872	$40
   8	New York	$79,096	$38
   9	Iowa	$78,784	$38
   10	Minnesota	$78,606	$38
   11	Utah	$77,778	$37
   12	Arizona	$76,951	$37
   13	Missouri	$76,012	$37
   14	Georgia	$75,969	$37
   15	North Carolina	$75,229	$36
   16	Illinois	$74,830	$36
   17	Florida	$74,807	$36
   18	Michigan	$74,367	$36
   19	Pennsylvania	$74,321	$36
   20	Kansas	$71,333	$34

   Average electrical engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$134,982	$64.90	381
   2	Meta	$127,730	$61.41	169
   3	Google	$120,968	$58.16	102
   4	BP America Inc	$120,923	$58.14
   5	Microsoft	$118,830	$57.13	128
   6	Enbridge	$118,443	$56.94	12
   7	Zoox	$117,408	$56.45	11
   8	Western Digital	$114,866	$55.22	9
   9	Applied Materials	$114,640	$55.12	52
   10	Cheniere Energy	$114,201	$54.90
   11	Brocade Services Corporation	$112,005	$53.85
   12	Cisco	$111,311	$53.51	76
   13	Fitbit	$111,069	$53.40
   14	WEC Energy Group	$109,730	$52.75	1
   15	Scientific Atlanta	$107,334	$51.60
   16	ConocoPhillips	$107,236	$51.56
   17	Marathon Petroleum	$106,473	$51.19	75
   18	Intuitive Surgical	$106,223	$51.07	7
   19	Novo Nordisk	$105,148	$50.55
   20	Infinera	$104,935	$50.45

4. Writing an electrical engineer job description

   An electrical engineer 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. To help get you started, here's an example of an electrical engineer job description:

   Electrical engineer job description example

   Job Family : Engineering
   
   Job Type : Regular
   
   Posted : May 24, 2022
   
   
   Back to Search Results
   
   Job Description
   
   Apply Now >
   
   Save JobJob Saved
   
   Parker Hannifin is offering a $3,000Sign on Bonus for all Full-Time positions! Applies to new, full-time Parker team members. Develops Analytical Gas generation equipment and filtration systems that are used in laboratories, food processing, Oil and Gas industry and manufacturing facilities. As a member of new product development team, uses latest technology and solutions to exceed customer expectations.
   
   • Member of new product development team working on innovative new product designs. • Participates in New Product Blueprinting (NPB) and Voice of the Customer (VoC) interviews. • Creates designs, selects components based on design needs, reliability, regulatory requirements, cost. • Develops prototypes based on provided specifications. • Documents and presents testing results and project progress to the management team. • Fine tunes prototype designs until they are ready for production. • Develops product specifications; works with manufacturing engineer on developing assembly methods, • Works with regulatory engineer on achieving required regulatory compliance. • Analyzes existing products, identifies areas for improvement, updates the product design and relevant documentation. • Maintains current level of professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing technical publications, and/or participating in professional associations. • Effectively communicates status, actions, recommendations, and other technical information with clarity and precision. • Actively supports other departments: manufacturing, supply chain, quality control, tech support, marketing, sales, service, etc.
   
   • Bachelors Degree in Electrical, Software or Systems Engineering • 2-3+ years of New Product Development experience. • Prior experience working with electro-mechanical systems (PCBs, wiring harnesses, VFD, motors, pumps, sensors, touch screens, UI/UX etc) is highly desired. We Value • Strong knowledge of PLC and experience in Machine or Equipment Control. • Excellent computer literacy and ability to develop software. • Knowledge of IoT and applications • Excellent creativity and problem-solving skills. • Mechanical aptitude and hands-on experience with tools building prototypes • Practical experience with the key technologies used for developing embedded or mobile devices • C++ programming and exposure to Qt/QML. • Application of basic engineering techniques to optimize design of products, parts, systems • Clear and concise communications • Ability to quickly analyze, incorporate and apply new information and concepts • Individuals who are self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision • Knowledge of manufacturing processes, materials, and quality control protocols. • Ability to work with general objectives regarding projects and team goals.
   
   Apply Now >
   
   Save JobJob Saved

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find electrical engineers 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 engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit electrical engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit electrical engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   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 electrical engineer

   Once you've selected the best electrical engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new electrical engineer. 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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How much does it cost to hire an electrical engineer?