How to hire an engineering trainee

How to hire an engineering trainee, step by step

Here's a step-by-step engineering trainee hiring guide:

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

What does an engineering trainee do?

Post an engineering trainee job for free, promote it for a fee

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your engineering trainee 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 engineering trainee 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 engineering trainee 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 engineering trainee that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of engineering trainees.

   Type of Engineering Trainee	Description	Hourly rate
   Engineering Trainee	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).	$20-39
   Electrical Engineer Internship	The electrical engineer internship offers tasks to undergraduate engineering students related to electrical systems analysis and branch circuiting, site investigations, lighting calculations, and design drawings by complementing theoretical knowledge with practical duties on the job to gain experience and increase marketability. Through the internship, the undergraduate engineering students may develop professional aptitude, strengthen their character, and may increase their confidence in their work as it prepares them for what to expect in their field.	$21-43
   Radio Frequency Engineer	A radio frequency engineer, also known as RF engineer, specializes in designing and developing communication systems using radio waves. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around creating networks and systems and testing equipment... Show more	$32-55

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Fire Protection
   • Technical Support
   • R
   • Boilers
   • Geotechnical
   • Python
   • MATLAB
   • C++
   • Database
   • Auto CAD
   • HVAC
   • Preventive Maintenance
   • CNC
   • Windows

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Demonstrate professionalism and the ability to manage projects independently, performing facility layouts within AutoCAD to forecast customer costs.
   • Maintain the documentation to the projects as per ISO standards.
   • Generate PLC inputs and outputs lists as per client process statement.
   • Develop control logic, AutoCAD drawings, PLC programming and HMI screens.
   • Test polymer and metals parts used in the automobiles to ensure compliance with ISO standards.
   • Conduct cost estimates for mechanical and plumbing work using standard estimating manuals.

   More engineering trainee duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, engineering trainees' average salary in louisiana is 49% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level engineering trainees earn 48% less than senior-level engineering trainees.
   • Certifications. An engineering trainee 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 engineering trainee's salary.

   Average engineering trainee salary

   $60,235yearly

   $28.96 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level engineering trainee salary

   $43,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 22, 2025

   Average engineering trainee salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$79,103	$38
   2	California	$77,253	$37
   3	Michigan	$76,342	$37
   4	Illinois	$69,191	$33
   5	Texas	$65,105	$31
   6	Oklahoma	$62,257	$30
   7	Pennsylvania	$61,883	$30
   8	Minnesota	$61,695	$30
   9	New York	$60,742	$29
   10	Ohio	$60,247	$29
   11	Arizona	$60,191	$29
   12	Idaho	$57,847	$28
   13	Colorado	$57,811	$28
   14	Indiana	$55,906	$27
   15	Iowa	$52,453	$25
   16	Florida	$51,007	$25
   17	Oregon	$49,695	$24
   18	Louisiana	$40,592	$20

   Average engineering trainee salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Crown Holdings	$68,987	$33.17	2
   2	InDepth Engineering Solutions	$66,684	$32.06
   3	National Railroad Passenger Corporation	$66,609	$32.02	1
   4	Testengeer	$66,581	$32.01
   5	RBC Bearings	$66,076	$31.77	9
   6	Smiths Group	$64,912	$31.21
   7	City of Modesto	$64,155	$30.84
   8	Oklahoma Natural Gas	$63,631	$30.59
   9	Anheuser-Busch	$62,536	$30.07	6
   10	ONEOK	$62,169	$29.89	11
   11	The Mountain	$61,571	$29.60
   12	San Bernardino County	$61,194	$29.42
   13	Bridgestone	$61,135	$29.39	3
   14	Lincoln Electric	$60,766	$29.21	12
   15	Craneveyor	$60,375	$29.03
   16	Sage Hospitality	$60,286	$28.98	2
   17	Pennsylvania State Treasurer	$60,199	$28.94	7
   18	Nunhems U.S.	$60,198	$28.94	18
   19	JLL	$60,011	$28.85	10
   20	ENSCO	$59,945	$28.82	2

4. Writing an engineering trainee job description

   An engineering trainee 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 engineering trainee job description:

   Engineering trainee job description example

   Clemens Food Group is the industry leader in customer solutions. Originally founded in 1895, the Company has a long rich heritage, deeply rooted in the values. Clemens Food Group is a vertically coordinated company that includes hog farming, food production, and transportation. To this day, it remains steadfastly dedicated to continuing previous generations' commitment by operating as good stewards of the community and the environment, offering quality innovative products and services, and working with our business partners, customers, employees, and family members with the highest degree of integrity and ethics.
   
   At Clemens Food Group, we want you to constructively challenge and have your ideas heard. We are looking for diverse individuals who push the limits and think outside the box!
   
   Clemens Food Group realizes that our team members are the key to our success. Come be a part of our team and see your ideas in action!
   Build your career. Challenge the process. Collaborate & Engage.
   
   Build your career with Clemens Food Group and be a part of an exciting, collaborative, team environment. At Clemens Food Group, we want you to constructively challenge and have your ideas heard. We are looking for diverse individuals who push the limits and think outside the box! Clemens Food Group realizes that our team members are the key to our success. Come be a part of our team and see your ideas in action!
   
   We are seeking a Leadership Development Trainee rotating within the Operations department starting Summer of 2023!
   
   Responsibilities
   
   Clemens Leadership Development Trainees are the future of our business, and through our specialized program we commit to sharing resources with you to find your strengths and see you grow!
   
   Our leadership development program provides a 12 month emersion into our business to connect you with resources for a lasting career. Through rotational learning you can discover the area of our business where you'll thrive, sharpen specific skills and build relationships to launch your leadership potential.
   
   At Clemens we believe your development is as unique as you are. We offer multiple leadership development tracks to allow our trainees opportunity to demonstrate their skill sets and expand their knowledge through rotational learning between like areas of our business. Base tracks will focus on the following areas: Food Safety, Finance, Human Resources, Operations, Sales/Marketing, and Supply Chain.
   
   As a participant in our development program you will become familiar with our business acumen and culture while exploring specific areas of our business and demonstrating your skills. As a successful graduate of the program you will have made meaningful connections and built experiences to apply in future leadership roles at Clemens.
   
   * Actively participate in a 12-month development program to experience and understand the Clemens business
   * Utilize key learning experiences to understand Clemens business model and leadership competencies
   * Build cross-functional relationships throughout the business
   * Lead and administer special projects to share innovation and support company initiatives
   * Demonstrate ability to work collaboratively, completing cross-functional projects
   * Demonstrate job specific skills through added responsibility
   * Complete bi-annual reviews and coaching sessions with a mentor to discuss career path and training opportunities
   
   Qualifications
   
   Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university or Associates degree with equivalent experience (Level1). Graduate degree or Bachelor's degree with equivalent experience (Level2). Strong verbal and written communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills. Positive and optimistic outlook that inspires confidence and trust Curiosity and willingness to participate in new experiences and areas of the business Excellent judgement and decision-making skills Ability to work in a highly organized fashion and in a fast-paced environment. Ability to work independently and with individuals from multiple disciplines and with varying levels of experience. Ability to function at a high level within a team environment. Excellent computer skills including a good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Strong written and verbal communication skills

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with engineering trainee 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 engineering trainee

   Once you've selected the best engineering trainee 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 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.

   To prepare for the new engineering trainee 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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