How to hire an engine maintenance mechanic

How to hire an engine maintenance mechanic, step by step

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

What does an engine maintenance mechanic do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the engine maintenance mechanic you need to hire. Certain engine maintenance mechanic roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   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 engine maintenance 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 shows salaries for various types of engine maintenance mechanics.

   Type of Engine Maintenance Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Engine Maintenance Mechanic	General maintenance and repair workers fix and maintain machines, mechanical equipment, and buildings. They paint, repair flooring, and work on plumbing, electrical, and air-conditioning and heating systems.	$17-34
   Mechanic	Mechanics are professionals responsible for assembling, maintaining, and repairing vehicles and types of machinery. They are knowledgeable of various tools and equipment, machinery, electrical systems, and other components... Show more	$16-30
   Maintenance Coordinator	A maintenance coordinator is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and safeness of the organization's facilities, as well as conducting repairs on defective equipment and machinery. Maintenance coordinators inspect and diagnose inconsistencies with equipment, replacing faulty components immediately to prevent delays in the operation and avoid potential workplace hazards... Show more	$15-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Preventive Maintenance
   • Mechanical Maintenance
   • Plumbing
   • Plant Equipment
   • Hand Tools
   • Electrical Equipment
   • HVAC
   • AC
   • Mechanical Equipment
   • Production Equipment
   • Switches
   • Technical Support
   • Electrical Systems
   • Equipment Repair

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage spreadsheets to track mowing, watering, and tree planting schedules.
   • Oversee the inspection, repair and testing of cranes and hoists.
   • Experience on photo eyes, limit switches and proximity switches.
   • Improve plant safety performance through implementation of GMP and APTs requiring maintenance.
   • Replace light switches and electrical sockets and change light bulbs inside the units and the parking garage.
   • Engage in troubleshooting of HVAC chillers, chill water circuits, centrifugal compressors, pumps, and cooling towers.

   More engine maintenance mechanic duties

3. Make a budget

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

   $52,145yearly

   $25.07 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level engine maintenance mechanic salary

   $37,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 24, 2025

   Average engine maintenance mechanic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$75,012	$36
   2	New Jersey	$61,832	$30
   3	Pennsylvania	$60,404	$29
   4	Hawaii	$60,174	$29
   5	Massachusetts	$59,328	$29
   6	California	$57,520	$28
   7	New York	$49,526	$24
   8	Michigan	$49,457	$24
   9	Texas	$49,138	$24
   10	Ohio	$48,410	$23
   11	Kentucky	$47,758	$23
   12	Missouri	$46,923	$23
   13	Tennessee	$45,988	$22
   14	Illinois	$45,807	$22
   15	Virginia	$45,795	$22
   16	Oklahoma	$45,400	$22
   17	South Carolina	$44,421	$21
   18	Georgia	$43,404	$21
   19	Arizona	$43,131	$21
   20	Indiana	$42,527	$20

   Average engine maintenance mechanic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	HEI Hotels & Resorts	$73,585	$35.38	10
   2	Hyatt Hotels	$72,301	$34.76	39
   3	pSemi	$68,894	$33.12
   4	UPS	$66,243	$31.85	114
   5	Pactiv	$65,287	$31.39	69
   6	MCMC	$64,616	$31.07
   7	ArcelorMittal	$61,023	$29.34	8
   8	Volvo Trucks	$60,907	$29.28	6
   9	Jacobs Engineering Group	$60,423	$29.05
   10	Albemarle	$59,974	$28.83	2
   11	Praxair	$59,100	$28.41
   12	Eastman	$58,775	$28.26	1
   13	BASF	$58,731	$28.24	10
   14	Invitro	$56,460	$27.14
   15	TECO Energy	$55,491	$26.68
   16	Energy Inc.	$55,020	$26.45
   17	Building and Land Technology	$54,926	$26.41
   18	DuPont	$54,863	$26.38	15
   19	Garlock Printing & Converting	$53,742	$25.84
   20	American Airlines	$53,543	$25.74	3

4. Writing an engine maintenance mechanic job description

   A good engine maintenance 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 engine maintenance mechanic job description:

   Engine maintenance mechanic job description example

   Are you inspired by “what's next”? So are we.
   
   When you join the Albemarle team, you contribute to a better tomorrow. You will play a role in powering many of the world's largest and most critical industries, from energy and communications to transportation and electronics. We are putting innovation to work to improve people's lives and we want YOU to be a part of it.
   
   Job Description
   
   Albemarle Corporation is seeking a Maintenance Mechanical Engineer to support our Catalyst Business in Bayport, TX.
   
   Job Responsibilities include:
   Evaluate issues and equipment impacting OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness).Identify equipment reliability opportunities and measures of improvement.Develop solutions to mechanical integrity problems by performing root cause analysis.Compare equipment specifications to process applications and requirements.Explore alternative solutions through outside resources and third-party contractors.Develop and maintain professional relationship with fellow employees. Provide maintenance support and insight on large scale engineering projects.Develops preventative maintenance plans based on equipment history (vibration, lubrication, and failures).Explore alternative options (vendors, materials, designs) to reduce direct maintenance costs.Evaluate equipment downtime and maintenance costs to prioritize improvement efforts.Confer with technicians, engineers, production personnel, and managers to resolve maintenance problems.Ensure critical pieces of equipment are adequately spared.Direct third-party efforts related to plant infrastructure repairs.Initiate the Management of Change process flow for changes to the Operating Facility.Uphold site safety standards.
   Essentials Qualifications:
   BS in Mechanical Engineering (BSME).Minimum 5-15 years of plant maintenance experience.Ability to drive safety culture throughout the organization.Ability to control repair material and labor costs within a budget and manage spare parts inventory.Capable of maintaining/improving mechanical service factor.Capable of troubleshooting mechanical & process issues.Willingness to recommend and initiate innovative costs saving solutions.General understanding of Albemarle Engineering Standards and Specifications.Strong written and verbal communications skills.Excellent interpersonal skills.Ability to work in confined spaces, high places, and wear required PPE when necessary.
   
   Desired Qualifications:
   Computer skills, particularly Microsoft Office, SAP, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, PI, and NWA.Strong motivational skills.Ability to influence and manage change.Application of corrective action techniques.Knowledge of quality control procedures.Experience in Root Cause Analysis methods.Familiarity with API and ASME code.
   
   Choose to unlock your full POTENTIAL. Apply today.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting engine maintenance 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 engine maintenance mechanic

   Once you've decided on a perfect engine maintenance mechanic candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new engine maintenance mechanic. 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 engine maintenance mechanic?