How to hire an environmental maintenance worker

How to hire an environmental maintenance worker, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the environmental maintenance worker you need to hire. Certain environmental maintenance worker 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 environmental maintenance worker 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of environmental maintenance workers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Environmental Maintenance Worker	Description	Hourly rate
   Environmental Maintenance Worker	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.	$12-27
   Handyman	A handyman can perform various repair and maintenance tasks involving electricity, carpentry, plumbing, and even appliance installation. Most handymen work independently, but they can also choose to be part of a company... Show more	$15-29
   Maintenance Technician	Maintenance technicians are technicians who specialize in the preservation of office facilities. They have in-depth knowledge of how various office equipment or fixtures work so that they can immediately identify how to repair them in case of breakdowns... Show more	$14-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patient Rooms
   • Ladders
   • Industrial Cleaning
   • Hazardous Waste
   • Polish Floors
   • Hand Tools
   • Safety Procedures
   • Light Fixtures
   • Clean Linen
   • Dust Furniture
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Infection Control
   • Asbestos
   • Waste Materials

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Wash walls and equipment, use ladders when require in work assignments.
   • Clean windows, glass partitions and mirror using soapy water or other cleaners sponges and squeegees
   • Maintain professional attitude and ability to communicate effectively with patients, visitors, contractors, and co-workers.
   • Lead the EAB biosurveillance project in Oakdale using the Cerceris fumipennis wasp.
   • Disinfect equipment and supplies, using germicides or steam-operate sterilizers.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, environmental maintenance workers' average salary in south dakota is 45% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level environmental maintenance workers earn 57% less than senior-level environmental maintenance workers.
   • Certifications. An environmental maintenance worker 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 environmental maintenance worker's salary.

   Average environmental maintenance worker salary

   $38,871yearly

   $18.69 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level environmental maintenance worker salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing an environmental maintenance worker job description

   An environmental maintenance worker 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. To help get you started, here's an example of an environmental maintenance worker job description:

   Environmental maintenance worker job description example

   JOB SUMMARY: Under general supervision, evaluates programs for compliance with environmental laws, rules, and regulations. Recommends monitoring and enforcement/corrective actions.
   
   JOB SPECIFIC DUTIES: Under limited supervision conducts full regulatory compliance inspections of all GDOT facilities district wide and oversees the maintenance activities to ensure compliance with applicable state, federal and local laws and regulations as related to erosion control and facility compliance. Performs technical site assessments for environmental impacts and/or potential environmental impacts, and regulatory applicability. Provides technical support and guidance to maintenance personnel concerning environmental issues and assists with the preparations of maintenance projects. Serves as compliance officer and liaison between regulatory agencies and GDOT facilities and maintenance activities.
   MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
   
   The selected candidate must meet the advertised minimum qualifications to include State Entry Qualifications as well as Agency Specific Minimum Qualifications.
   
   STATE ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   * Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, physics, geology or other natural or physical science or engineering field from an accredited college or university AND Two years of professional experience in environmental protection
   * OR One year of experience at the lower level Environmental Compliance Spec 1 (RCP020) or position equivalent.
   
   AGENCY MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   * Experience writing reports and correspondences, such as Preconstruction Notifications (PCN), Notice of Intent (NOI), Contracts, Erosion Control Plans and site assessments
   * Demonstrated experience in communicating state, federal, and agency policies, procedures, and other information regarding environmental issues to maintenance personnel
   * Demonstrated experience reading and understanding technical regulations, specifications, i.e, erosion control specifications, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits, Underground Storage Tank (UST) regulations and solid and hazardous waste regulations
   * Demonstrated experience applying engineering principles in inspecting work sites, reading plans to identify problems with erosion, Underground Storage Tank Containment, etc. and determining appropriate solution and corrective action
   * Demonstrated ability to manage tasks under limited supervision, be self-motivated, focused on the mission of the Department, challenged by new goals, and confident of one's ability
   * Committed to providing quality customer service
   * Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with internal/external clients in order to provide information and meet expectations
   * Demonstrated ability to influence others in finding mutually acceptable solutions to a variety of situations
   * Displays high standards of ethical conduct
   * Knowledgeable of the MS4 Program and regulations
   
   AGENCY PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   * Possesses a Bachelor's degree in agricultural, chemical, civil, environmental or civil sanitary, or mechanical engineering at an accredited four year college or university
   * Demonstrated experience utilizing basic computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases
   * Possesses considerable knowledge of highway maintenance activities
   * Demonstrated ability to plan and monitor production, goals, quality of work, standards and inspection of project activity
   * Demonstrated ability to analyze and assess impacts and opportunities of potential effect of laws, regulations, policies and projects related to the environment
   * Demonstrated ability to insure operations conform to recognized policies and procedures
   
   IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL GDOT JOBS
   
   The interview is just one part of the overall selection process and is not the only criteria used to make the final selection. In addition to the interview, the final selection is based on the applicant's work history and performance (documented in HR and/or Office files), PeopleSoft/employee status (i.e. rehire code), employee performance reviews, personnel file review (HR & Office Files), criminal background check, employment reference checks (including references and commendations from Managers and other relevant documentation) and, for supervisory positions, demonstrated leadership skills based on past and current work history will be considered.
   
   Good Employment Standing:
   
   In accordance with the Interview and Selection Process (ISP), an applicant must have no active disciplinary actions to be in good employment standing. Actions that may disqualify an applicant include letters of reprimand (active for 12 months after issuance date); suspension without pay or disciplinary demotion (active for 12 months from the effective date); Performance Improvement Plans (PIP) and Leave Restriction Plans (active until 12 months after the date of conclusion). In addition, an employee must have an overall ePerformance rating score of three (3) or higher on their most current evaluation. Please note that Memorandums of Concern are not considered disqualifying factors. Human Resources may remove any employee from consideration for selection who is pending a disciplinary action; however, if the action is resolved in the employee's favor, he or she will be allowed to compete.
   
   THIS IS AN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
   
   THIS IS AN UNCLASSIFIED POSITION.
   
   THE SELECTED APPLICANT FOR THE POSITION WILL BE SUBJECT TO A REFERENCE CHECK AND CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK, WHERE APPLICABLE
   
   PLEASE INCLUDE ALL RELEVANT JOB INFORMATION ON THE APPLICATION FOR CONSIDERATION. ALL APPLICATIONS WILL BE PRESCREENED.
   
   UPON PROMOTION, THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL RECEIVE 10% or THE GDOT JOB SPECIFIC MINIMUM SALARY, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.
   
   GDOT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
   
   Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, physics, geology or other natural or physical science or engineering field from an accredited college or university AND Two years of professional experience in environmental protection OR One year of experience at the lower level Environmental Compliance Spec 1 (RCP020) or position equivalent.
   
   Additional Information
   
   * Number of Openings: 1
   * Advertised Salary: $45,000.00
   * Shift: Day Job
   * Posting End Date: Aug 16, 2022

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with environmental maintenance worker 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 environmental maintenance worker

   Once you've selected the best environmental maintenance 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new environmental maintenance worker 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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