How to hire a field technician engineer

How to hire a field technician engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step field technician engineer hiring guide:

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

What does a field technician engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a field technician engineer, 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

   A field technician engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, field technician engineers 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of field technician engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Field Technician Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Field Technician Engineer	Environmental science and protection technicians monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution and contamination, including those affecting public health. In addition, they work to ensure that environmental violations are prevented.	$15-36
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62
   Desktop Engineer	A desktop engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency and performance of computer systems across the organization to deliver high-performance on business operations and client specifications. Desktop engineers resolve computer desktop issues, including navigation and security complications that create delays in the operational process... Show more	$37-65

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Preventive Maintenance
   • Technical Support
   • RF
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Test Equipment
   • Switches
   • HVAC
   • Desktop
   • Asphalt
   • PC
   • Field Testing
   • Printers
   • VPN
   • Electrical Troubleshooting

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Train other LAN administrators which intern enable them to grow and achieve their goals.
   • Accomplish expert with Nortel TDM/CDMA/EVDO wireless telephony networking systems.
   • Complete LTE and TCP/IP training.
   • Complete site surveys to troubleshoot and design corrective RF and RF/fiber optic installations for existing systems with inadequate coverage.
   • Repair of PC's, laptops, LaserJet and dot matrix printers that return to the depot (warranty repair).
   • Perform solo surveys using GPS equipment.

   More field technician engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your field technician engineer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A field technician engineer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, field technician engineers' average salary in tennessee is 37% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level field technician engineers 57% less than senior-level field technician engineers.
   • Certifications. A field technician engineer 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 a field technician engineer's salary.

   Average field technician engineer salary

   $50,370yearly

   $24.22 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level field technician engineer salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average field technician engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$65,935	$32
   2	Virginia	$62,696	$30
   3	Massachusetts	$61,855	$30
   4	Nevada	$60,904	$29
   5	Texas	$57,265	$28
   6	Maryland	$56,422	$27
   7	Minnesota	$55,815	$27
   8	Michigan	$52,705	$25
   9	New York	$52,569	$25
   10	Wisconsin	$51,892	$25
   11	Pennsylvania	$51,091	$25
   12	Ohio	$50,489	$24
   13	Missouri	$49,583	$24
   14	West Virginia	$48,718	$23
   15	Montana	$48,715	$23
   16	Iowa	$47,980	$23
   17	Colorado	$46,798	$23
   18	Florida	$45,681	$22
   19	New Mexico	$45,625	$22
   20	Georgia	$44,065	$21

   Average field technician engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Medtronic	$88,096	$42.35	136
   2	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$80,075	$38.50	6
   3	ABB	$77,153	$37.09	71
   4	Intertek	$63,467	$30.51	19
   5	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	$59,607	$28.66	3
   6	Hyster-Yale	$58,474	$28.11
   7	Woodard & Curran	$58,305	$28.03
   8	VIVA USA	$58,234	$28.00
   9	Trilogy Health Services	$55,575	$26.72
   10	Q.E.D. Systems	$52,208	$25.10	4
   11	RGA Environmental, A Terracon Company	$51,979	$24.99	39
   12	Woolpert	$51,666	$24.84	1
   13	EN Engineering	$48,259	$23.20	1
   14	PROCONEX	$47,923	$23.04	7
   15	May Mobility	$47,884	$23.02
   16	WarnerMedia	$47,841	$23.00
   17	CIA Inc	$47,823	$22.99	1
   18	PDS Tech	$47,758	$22.96	13
   19	Raven Industries	$47,714	$22.94
   20	JT3	$47,633	$22.90	9

4. Writing a field technician engineer job description

   A good field technician engineer 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 a field technician engineer job description:

   Field technician engineer job description example

   EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) is a premier global provider of satellite communication solutions. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., and conducting business around the globe, EchoStar is a pioneer in communications technologies through its Hughes Network Systems and EchoStar Satellite Services business segments. For more information, visit echostar.com. Follow @EchoStar on Twitter.
   
   Hughes has an exciting opportunity for an Engineer - Technical Field Services. This position relies heavily on the ability to set and maintain standards for several organizations and all field activities.
   
   This position is located in Gaithersburg, Maryland with afterhours support required. The afterhours shift rotates weekly. There will be travel requirements for onsite activities, depending on the needs of projects and training.
   Responsibilities:
   Creating field standards and documentation Supporting the installation and maintenance efforts Testing new tools and products for field introduction Reporting field failures and driving call completions Leading in project proof of concepts, configuration testing, and field launches
   Basic Requirements:
   Bachelors degree or combination of education and experience4+ years' experience in a technical hardware or troubleshooting position2+ years' experience in following and/or creating statement of works, configuration procedures, or field service bulletins
   Preferred Qualifications:
   Experience in networking/internet and basic IP configuration Experience in Cisco Switch support, configuration, and port addressing Experience in Fortigate or Firewall support, configuration, and port addressing Experience with Wireline, 4G, and/or VSAT modem testing, configuration, and measurements Experience with Digital Media devices, display configurations, and display port uses Understanding and creation of project or failure tracking Extensive knowledge and ability to use Microsoft Office (specifically Word and Excel) Experience working with both local and remote teams Excellent verbal and written communication skills
   Will be eligible for discretionary bonus, with funding based on company performance.
   #LI-AR1
   
   EchoStar is committed to offering a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. Our programs are designed to provide you with the ability to customize your benefits to best meet the needs of you and your family. Our philosophy for these programs is to support and encourage healthy living and wellness. Our benefits package covers it all-from healthcare savings plans to education assistance and more!
   Financial: 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match; employee stock purchase plan; profit-sharing; company-paid life insurance, AD&D and disability Work-Life Balance: Paid Time Off (PTO), company-paid holidays, health and wellness events, exercise and sports facilities (locations may vary) Employee Incentives: Tuition reimbursement, employee referral program, year round employee events and community programs, discounts on Dish Network and HughesNetHealth: Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Health Savings Account (HSA) with opportunities to earn employer contributions; Health Care, Dependent Care and Transportation Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
   
   EchoStar and its Affiliated Companies are committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. U.S. Persons or those able to obtain and maintain U.S. government security clearances may be required for certain positions. EEO is the law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find field technician engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any field technician engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level field technician engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your field technician engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit field technician engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit field technician engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   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 field technician engineer

   Once you've selected the best field technician engineer 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new field technician engineer. 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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