How to hire an electrical engineering assistant

How to hire an electrical engineering assistant, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your electrical engineering assistant 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 engineering assistant 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 engineering assistant 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 engineering assistant that fits the bill.

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

   Type of Electrical Engineering Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Electrical Engineering Assistant	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).	$29-47
   Instrumentation & Control Engineer	An instrumentation and control engineer is responsible for installing and designing technical components for engineering systems that would support production and manufacturing processes. Instrumentation and control engineers inspect control systems, modify features and infrastructure, configure controllers, and run multiple quality checks to ensure stability and optimal performance... Show more	$33-58
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Control Systems
   • Lab Equipment
   • PLC
   • Data Acquisition
   • Data Collection
   • Python
   • RF
   • Electrical Systems
   • Electrical Equipment
   • Electrical Circuits
   • Electronic Equipment
   • PCB
   • Circuit Boards
   • Electronic Circuits

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Coordinate with senior electrical engineers and achieve hands-on experience on coal fire plant power generation and power transformers, circuit breakers.
   • Create PCB footprints for those components where it are not provide.
   • Install and troubleshoot electrical wiring of overhead hoists, cranes, and building systems.
   • Micro-Fabricate a DC substitution calorimeter for RF power measurement.
   • Specialize in vehicle level testing for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
   • Perform modeling and characterization for Photonic and RF semiconductor devices to assist the lead investigator develop simulation models.

   More electrical engineering assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your electrical engineering assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An electrical engineering assistant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, electrical engineering assistants' average salary in utah is 36% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level electrical engineering assistants earn 37% less than senior-level electrical engineering assistants.
   • Certifications. An electrical engineering assistant 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 an electrical engineering assistant's salary.

   Average electrical engineering assistant salary

   $78,576yearly

   $37.78 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level electrical engineering assistant salary

   $62,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average electrical engineering assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$93,550	$45
   2	Washington	$90,643	$44
   3	Massachusetts	$89,725	$43
   4	Louisiana	$88,483	$43
   5	Maryland	$87,611	$42
   6	Texas	$84,535	$41
   7	Illinois	$80,020	$38
   8	Minnesota	$77,606	$37
   9	Georgia	$75,849	$36
   10	Kansas	$75,545	$36
   11	New York	$68,461	$33
   12	Utah	$62,000	$30

   Average electrical engineering assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Parsons	$97,248	$46.75	120
   2	Massachusetts General Hospital	$86,712	$41.69
   3	The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory	$83,251	$40.02	19
   4	Gulfstream Aerospace	$82,316	$39.58	25
   5	University of Rhode Island	$80,398	$38.65
   6	The City University of New York	$79,411	$38.18	5
   7	Starkey Hearing Technologies	$78,656	$37.82
   8	General Dynamics	$78,349	$37.67	180
   9	CACI International	$78,040	$37.52	63
   10	Entergy	$77,766	$37.39	11
   11	Oregon Institute of Technology	$77,574	$37.30
   12	Space Dynamics Laboratory	$77,122	$37.08	5
   13	Southern Illinois University Edwardsville	$76,408	$36.73
   14	City of Burbank	$76,265	$36.67	2
   15	Seattle Pacific University	$74,074	$35.61
   16	Johns Hopkins University	$71,423	$34.34	2
   17	Wichita State University	$67,685	$32.54
   18	Colorado School of Mines	$58,748	$28.24	2

4. Writing an electrical engineering assistant job description

   A job description for an electrical engineering assistant 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 an electrical engineering assistant job description:

   Electrical engineering assistant job description example

   **Electrical Engineering Lab Assistant Co-op (SCADA & Analytical Services)**
   
   **Job Summary of Roles and Responsibilities**
   
   POWER Engineers is currently seeking a talented electrical engineering student for a spring through summer co-op experience. The successful applicant will assist in implementing supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems for POWER Engineers' NexStation IEC 61850 Digital Substation laboratory. The NexStation Digital Substation laboratory conducts research on the implementation of the IEC 61850 substation communications standard. The lab functions as a test environment where clients can explore next-generation digital substation technology. Activities will include one or more of the following:
   
   + Data Acquisition: Prepare points lists of all data to be transferred between control workstations and controlled apparatus, collect data from devices for analysis, assign and program data addressing and routing information, and develop Human Machine Interface (HMI) screens. Applicable Software: AcSELerator RTAC, Visual Basic, OSIPI, Python scripting, etc.
   
   + Networking and Communications: Design and configure network and communication paths for protective relays, meters, Human Machine Interface (HMIs), and other SCADA system equipment. Applicable network and communication protocols: IEC 61850, GOOSE Messaging, MMS, Sampled Value, DNP, Modbus, SEL Communication Protocol.
   
   + Logic and Control Systems: Implement logic and control schemes for remote and local operation of power system equipment; develop programs on various platforms for the implementation of these schemes. Applicable Logic and Control Platforms: SEL Quickset, ABB PCM600, GE Enervista, Siemens Digsi 4/5, Orion NCD, Cooper/Cybectec SMP, GE SGConfig, and ConfigPro.
   
   + Installation and Wiring: Run signal, control, network and power cables between workstations and power system devices. Use hand tools to cut, strip, crimp, and terminate multiple types of cables. Mount power system devices in racks. Maintain wiring and network architecture diagrams. Implement wire tracking and labeling schemes.
   
   **Required Education/Experience**
   
   + Pursuit of a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from an accredited university
   
   + Successful completion of sophomore-level courses in AC and DC electrical circuit analysis and electrostatics
   
   + Candidates must be legally authorized to work permanently in the U.S. without the need for work sponsorship
   
   **Desired Education/Experience**
   
   + Candidate is interested in consulting engineering and the electric utility industry.
   
   + Preference is given to applicants with any of the following: within 2 years of graduation, GPA above 3.3/4.0, electrical circuit analysis courses and/or networking and programming courses.
   
   + Prior internship or related engineering or electrical technician experience is a plus.
   
   + A desire to obtain EIT registration and a professional engineering license are qualifications that will be strongly considered for this position.
   
   At POWER Engineers, Inc. you can have a rewarding career on every level. In addition to challenging and meaningful work, you'll have the chance to make a positive impact on the environment, participate in a range of diverse and unique initiatives, and find the support, coaching, and training it takes to advance your career. We encourage new ideas and fresh approaches and most importantly, we strive to be our client's first choice. These traits - and deep technical skills - account for our success.
   
   Have fun, do good, build success. As an employee-owned company, we strive to make POWER Engineers an appealing place to work, where we perform projects that we find challenging and in which we excel. We provide competitive compensation, a full benefits package, professional development, and an appealing work environment. POWER Engineers is a unique and fun engineering firm, which may be contradictory to some, but it works well for us.
   
   **EEO, including Disability/Vets**
   
   \#LI-DH1 **\#hj**

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting electrical engineering assistants 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.

   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 electrical engineering assistant

   Once you've found the electrical engineering assistant 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   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.)

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