How to hire an emergency worker

How to hire an emergency worker, step by step

Here's a step-by-step emergency worker hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an emergency worker, 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

   An emergency worker's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, emergency workers 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of emergency workers.

   Type of Emergency Worker	Description	Hourly rate
   Emergency Worker	Line installers and repairers, also known as line workers, install or repair electrical power systems and telecommunications cables, including fiber optics.	$7-30
   Class A Lineman	Class A linemen install insulators, switchgear, and transformers in poles, business, and residential infrastructures. They are responsible for the maintenance, construction, and repair of the electrical overhead distribution system... Show more	$24-48
   Groundman	A ground man is primarily responsible for performing support tasks for power line construction, repair, or maintenance. Their responsibilities include preparing sites by digging holes, setting up poles, and even notifying clients for any power or service interruption... Show more	$21-43

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Social Work
   • Crisis Intervention
   • Law Enforcement
   • Substance Abuse

   Responsibilities:

   • Design and conduct plant inspections following OSHA, DOH, DEC, JCAHO (similar to ISO) and EPA regulations.
   • Recognize risk factors quickly, collaborate with interdisciplinary team, nurture positive relationships with patients through consistency and modeling healthy boundaries.
   • Restock ambulances after every call.
   • Set up new claim folders and distribute to adjusters/assistants.Prepare quarterly claim loss reports for account review meetings.Draft and/or edit PowerPoint presentations.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your emergency worker job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An emergency worker can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, emergency workers' average salary in north carolina is 53% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level emergency workers 76% less than senior-level emergency workers.
   • Certifications. An emergency worker with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an emergency worker's salary.

   Average emergency worker salary

   $14.97hourly

   $31,133 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level emergency worker salary

   $15,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

4. Writing an emergency worker job description

   A good emergency worker 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 emergency worker job description:

   Emergency worker job description example

   El Camino Health is committed to hiring, retaining and growing the best and brightest professionals who will carry our mission and vision forward. We are proud of our reputation in the community: One built on compassion, innovation, collaboration and delivering high-quality care. Come join the team that makes this happen.
   FTE
   0
   
   Scheduled Bi-Weekly Hours
   0
   
   Work Shift
   Night: 8 hours
   
   Job Description
   Primarily focused on the provision of safety, and connecting to needed services for mental health care (outpatient), the Behavioral Health Worker provides services to support inpatients, outpatients and/or other individuals or families referred for care at El Camino Hospital. Works under supervision of charge RN during assignment to the inpatient department, and under the supervision of outpatient clinical and business leadership during assignment to the outpatient department.
   
   Emergency Dept
   To provide professional interface with clinicians, physicians and others making referrals to Behavioral Health programs, as well as with patients and their families. Under the supervision of licensed staff is responsible for a coordinated entry and discharge experience for patients and referring agents. Provides services to support patients in the treatment environment, primarily focused on the provision of safety. Works under supervision of charge RN during assignment to department.
   
   QUALIFICATIONS:
   Associates Degree in Psychology or related field required; Bachelor's degree preferred.
   One (1) year experience in a behavioral health or inpatient psych setting is required.
   
   License/Certification/Registration Requirements
   Basic Lifesaving Certification - American Heart Association
   
   The Physical Requirements and Working Conditions of this job are available. El Camino Health will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with a disability if that will allow them to perform the essential functions of a job unless doing so creates an undue hardship for the hospital, or causes a direct threat to these individuals or others in the workplace which cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation.
   
   Medium Work - Requires standing the majority of the shift with the ability to lift up to 35 lbs. frequently. Work involves sitting, kneeling, climbing and squatting. - (Physical Requirements-United States of America)
   
   An Equal Opportunity Employer:El Camino Health seeks and values a diverse workforce. The organization is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of qualifications and competencies. El Camino Health prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, ancestry, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, marital status, age, medical condition or any other status protected by law. In addition to state and federal law, El Camino Health also follows all applicable fair and equitable employment policies from the County of Santa Clara.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right emergency worker 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 emergency worker job on Zippia to find and recruit emergency worker candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit emergency workers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 emergency worker

   Once you've selected the best emergency worker 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new emergency worker. 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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