How to hire an electrician/mechanic

How to hire an electrician/mechanic, step by step

Here's a step-by-step electrician/mechanic hiring guide:

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

What does an electrician/mechanic do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an electrician/mechanic, 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 electrician/mechanic 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 presents electrician/mechanic salaries for various positions.

   Type of Electrician/Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Electrician/Mechanic	Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems in homes, businesses, and factories.	$20-39
   Apprentice	An apprentice is responsible for learning specialized tasks on their chosen field through actual job training under the supervision of tenured staff. An apprentice's duties include performing administrative tasks as needed, creating observation reports of daily operations, providing possible recommendations on improving productivity, and adhering to the business' safety standards and regulatory procedures... Show more	$12-24
   Commercial And Industrial Electrician	A commercial electrician is different from an industrial electrician since both perform in different environments and have distinct training. Commercial electricians are responsible for ensuring that the electrical components and wiring of the structure are working safely and efficiently... Show more	$14-33

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • PLC
   • Electrical Systems
   • Preventive Maintenance
   • Electrical Conduit
   • Electrical Equipment
   • Control Systems
   • Mechanical Equipment
   • Switches
   • Control Panels
   • Plumbing
   • Motor Control
   • Mechanical Repairs
   • Industrial Maintenance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Perform HVAC maintenance on all units including chillers, scrubbers and split systems.
   • Know how to troubleshoot whether it can be a mechanical issue, an electrical issue or a PLC issue.
   • Utilize Allen Bradley PLC logic to monitor, troubleshoot, diagnose and repair the causes of equipment malfunctions and breakdowns.
   • Power: install meters, disconnect switches, and power panels; knowledge of transformers, generators, and motors.
   • Install and wire motion detector switches and electronic switches, timer switches at door entrances of offices and class rooms.
   • Install maintain and troubleshoot HVAC equipment for facility not cover by service contracts and monitor service to equipment provide by contract.

   More electrician/mechanic duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your electrician/mechanic job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An electrician/mechanic 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 electrician/mechanic in Texas may be lower than in Vermont, and an entry-level electrician/mechanic usually earns less than a senior-level electrician/mechanic. Additionally, an electrician/mechanic 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 electrician/mechanic salary

   $60,355yearly

   $29.02 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level electrician/mechanic salary

   $43,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average electrician/mechanic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$74,032	$36
   2	New Jersey	$70,977	$34
   3	New York	$68,647	$33
   4	Pennsylvania	$62,467	$30
   5	Illinois	$60,248	$29
   6	Ohio	$59,317	$29
   7	Virginia	$56,838	$27
   8	Missouri	$55,623	$27
   9	North Carolina	$52,705	$25
   10	Iowa	$52,030	$25
   11	Texas	$46,867	$23
   12	Alabama	$42,007	$20
   13	Florida	$41,488	$20

   Average electrician/mechanic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Revlon	$76,242	$36.65
   2	Airbus	$71,062	$34.16	12
   3	CONSOL Energy	$68,021	$32.70	1
   4	ABX Air	$66,822	$32.13	2
   5	Rayonier Advanced Materials	$65,431	$31.46	2
   6	Columbia University in the City of New York	$65,166	$31.33	5
   7	International Paper	$64,880	$31.19	45
   8	LiDestri Food and Drink	$61,751	$29.69
   9	EMCOR Group	$61,576	$29.60	136
   10	Onslow Memorial Hospital	$61,247	$29.45	1
   11	Bon Secours Community Hospital	$60,291	$28.99
   12	Erwin	$59,787	$28.74	2
   13	Marvin and	$59,470	$28.59	2
   14	RIVA Group	$57,929	$27.85	1
   15	Holcim	$57,325	$27.56
   16	Randstad North America, Inc.	$57,207	$27.50
   17	Mittera	$57,060	$27.43	4
   18	Foresight Energy	$56,971	$27.39	8
   19	CMI	$56,875	$27.34	1
   20	Iwg High Performance Conductors, Inc.	$56,875	$27.34

4. Writing an electrician/mechanic job description

   A good electrician/mechanic job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an electrician/mechanic job description:

   Electrician/mechanic job description example

   Are you looking for that one career which will impact you and the world around you? Look no further! ABX Innovative Packaging Solutions is a leading manufacturer of flexible packaging providing critical applications in healthcare, personal care, and food products. Our growing company is seeking an Industrial Electrician/Mechanic to join our team in Macedon, New York.
   At ABX, we offer: A flexible career plan, schedule, and compensation structure that fits your lifestyle and goals Excellent training programs and growth opportunities A collaborative, innovative, and inclusive culture Fun and challenging work that makes a difference Competitive salary and benefits package Our ideal candidate will possess a solid work ethic, a desire to learn and grow with the company. We're looking for team players just like you, who are ready to make a difference and are motivated to succeed. We invite you to explore your possibilities with ABX, where the future is flexible. Apply today! Responsibilities Safely perform electrical and mechanical repair work, trouble shooting, routine, and preventive maintenance on assigned production lines and support equipment Determine the cause of electrical and/or mechanical breakdowns on assigned manufacturing equipment and return equipment to proper operating order in minimum time. Able to diagnose and repair more advanced electrical issues Completely assemble or disassemble assigned production lines or support equipment as required for repairs or installations Make all necessary electrical and/or mechanical adjustments to assigned production lines or support equipment to insure proper operation Regularly inspect production lines and support equipment and oil, grease, clean, repair, or modify same in performing preventive maintenance routines Order spare parts, replacement parts and other materials required through group leader, stockroom, or supervisor Effectively and safely use a wide variety of electrical test equipment, common hand tools and all shop machines (including welders). Perform all tasks within established safety and maintenance procedures. Enter in all work through CMMS system and complete all assignments as directed by supervisor Communicate with supervisor and production leads about on-going issues and ability to provide resolution with proper documentation and root cause analysis. Complete all required safety work orders and report back to supervisor upon completion. Follow all safety guidelines set forth by department, plant and ABX. Qualifications • 3-5 years industrial electrical maintenance or relative experience.
   • Must have good theoretical and applied understanding of electrical theory (including PLC's and ladder logic), mechanical theory and the manufacturing process.
   • Able to lead, coach, guide and teach trouble-shooting and basic electrical knowledge to lesser skilled maintenance co-workers.
   • Able to read blue prints, schematics, specifications and building plans.
   • Able to lift a maximum of 50 pounds.
   • Able to work effectively with co-workers in a team environment.
   • Requires attention to detail. Follows “Codes of Safe Work Practices” for all work performed.
   • Capable of, and commit to follow the plant and departmental safety procedures, food safety guidelines and ISO procedure.
   • Good communication and organizational skills.
   • Good mathematical skills.
   • Continuous learning will be expected.
   • Able to work overtime & holidays as required.
   • Must provide personal hand tools.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting electrician/mechanics 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 electrician/mechanic

   Once you've selected the best electrician/mechanic 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.

   To prepare for the new electrician/mechanic first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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