How to hire an electrical technician

How to hire an electrical technician, step by step

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

What does an electrical technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your electrical technician 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 technician 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

   An electrical technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, electrical technicians 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 electrical technician salaries for various roles:

   Type of Electrical Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Electrical Technician	Electrical and electronics engineering technicians help engineers design and develop computers, communications equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment, and other electrical and electronic equipment. They often work in product evaluation and testing, using measuring and diagnostic devices to adjust, test, and repair equipment... Show more	$17-38
   Maintenance Electrician	A maintenance electrician is responsible for monitoring the electrical systems of a building, inspecting the wiring and cables for any malfunctions, and perform preventive maintenance as needed to ensure its safety and efficiency. Maintenance electricians upgrade electrical network systems for optimal performance and replacing faulty wiring, as well as installing new equipment in the building as the management advises... Show more	$22-39
   Industrial Electrician	An Industrial Electrician installs, maintains, and repairs electrical systems in industrial facilities. They are usually part of a construction team to put in and check new equipment and systems.	$22-39

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • PLC
   • Electrical Equipment
   • Electrical Systems
   • Electrical Schematics
   • Control Systems
   • Test Equipment
   • Electrical Components
   • Transformers
   • Ac Dc
   • Ladders
   • Electrical Troubleshooting
   • Switches
   • Preventive Maintenance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Test printed circuit boards to comply with military, ISO, and customer specifications.
   • Inspect, test and troubleshoot a variety of PLC and microprocessor control high voltage transformer systems.
   • Work in accordance with OSHA safety regulation, NEC, ANSI, ISO9001 compliance and with company safety policies.
   • Work with proximity sensors, ac & dc motors, VFDs, and controls on a daily basis here.
   • Install EMT risers in new buildings for communications.
   • Work on equipment using CNET, DNET, and Ethernet.

   More electrical technician duties

3. Make a budget

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

   $55,215yearly

   $26.55 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level electrical technician salary

   $37,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 16, 2026

   Average electrical technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$66,865	$32
   2	Maryland	$63,739	$31
   3	New York	$63,739	$31
   4	Texas	$55,988	$27
   5	Colorado	$55,647	$27
   6	Illinois	$55,384	$27
   7	Ohio	$54,092	$26
   8	North Carolina	$51,683	$25
   9	Nebraska	$49,614	$24
   10	Wisconsin	$49,509	$24
   11	Florida	$49,363	$24
   12	Arizona	$48,271	$23
   13	Minnesota	$47,777	$23
   14	South Carolina	$47,773	$23
   15	Georgia	$47,749	$23
   16	Kentucky	$46,279	$22
   17	Alabama	$43,993	$21
   18	South Dakota	$43,789	$21
   19	Iowa	$41,777	$20
   20	Utah	$41,001	$20

   Average electrical technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Texas Instruments	$92,038	$44.25	6
   2	Intel	$88,740	$42.66
   3	Eastman	$81,077	$38.98
   4	Calpine	$80,005	$38.46	9
   5	Sun Chemical	$79,926	$38.43	15
   6	Westinghouse Appliances Australia	$77,881	$37.44	40
   7	Jacobs Engineering Group	$75,956	$36.52
   8	Plug Power	$75,625	$36.36	2
   9	Amazon	$73,660	$35.41	291
   10	Noblis	$73,449	$35.31
   11	Anheuser-Busch	$72,168	$34.70	64
   12	LSI	$71,102	$34.18	4
   13	Revlon	$68,435	$32.90	1
   14	Novelis	$67,655	$32.53	37
   15	Mastech Digital	$67,505	$32.45	12
   16	Crown Holdings	$67,130	$32.27	18
   17	ITW	$66,719	$32.08	253
   18	Philips Lighting North America	$66,716	$32.08
   19	SMUD	$65,829	$31.65
   20	Air Products	$65,786	$31.63	9

4. Writing an electrical technician job description

   An electrical technician 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 technician job description:

   Electrical technician job description example

   Electrical Technician FULL-TIME
   $25/hr The Electronic Technician performs all maintenance work as assigned by the Maintenance Planner or the Maintenance Lead according to the specifications as outlined in applicable Visual Work Instruction and precision and proactive maintenance techniques. The Technician performs each assignment using the appropriate replacement parts and coordinates scheduling the work with the Maintenance Team Leader and production leadership as needed. The Technician performs work to maximize process reliability and minimize negative impacts on production schedules. Level 1 - Intermediate technician requiring abilities to safely perform basic maintenance activities and general machine operations as directed or assigned. May be required to train operators in areas of expertise or in general equipment care and operation of equipment. Level 2 - Experienced technician with abilities to independently perform, document, and train others in areas of expertise on maintenance activities as assigned. Can apply learned skills and utilize tools to improve equipment reliability. Level 3 - Advanced technician requiring abilities to perform complex maintenance activities, which includes problem solving, critical thinking, and demonstration of abilities to improve processes and equipment reliability. Understands materials and maintenance activities well enough to train others, to develop and facilitate training to peers or lower level mechanics, and to improve processes. Process improvement may include developing people, developing maintenance activities, developing work instructions, drawings, diagrams, or more complex parts. Electives - Electives are specialty areas that a partner may develop advanced skills. Electives may be requested or required based on the skills and interests of the mechanic in areas that fulfill company needs or requirements. Partners proficient in certain electives may be asked to train others in those areas, and will be assigned work requiring the elective skill set. Most positions require general proficiency at level 1 for elective areas. Night Shift 7pm-7am receives a $1.50 shift differential REM-04 WS-04 WS-LC
   Schedule
   Shift start: 7:00PM
   Shift length:
   
   Benefits
   Health, dental, vision insurance Paid time off 401(k) plan
   Qualifications
   Must pass drug screen (cannabis excluded) Must pass background check Can lift 50 lbs Must be at least 18+ years old Passing required level testing is required in order to interview for this position.
   
   About Schreiber Foods
   Schreiber Foods has grown from a single production facility in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to a $5+ billion global enterprise and one of the largest dairy companies in the world. We make cream cheese, natural cheese, process cheese and yogurt and sell them to leading retailers, restaurants, distributors and food manufacturers around the world. We're looking for individuals to help us achieve our vision to be the best customer-brand dairy company in the world. If you describe yourself as an honest, trustworthy, caring, energetic, results-oriented, customer-focused, disciplined, forward-looking individual who fosters a sense of ownership, inspires others and wants to continuously improve and learn, you may be a great fit for Schreiber.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right electrical technician for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with electrical technician candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 technician

   Once you've found the electrical technician 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 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new electrical technician. 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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How much does it cost to hire an electrical technician?