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How to hire a general service technician

General service technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring general service technicians in the United States:

  • There are currently 54,685 general service technicians in the US, as well as 163,387 job openings.
  • General service technicians are in the highest demand in Phoenix, AZ, with 17 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a general service technician is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new general service technician to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a general service technician, step by step

To hire a general service technician, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a general service technician, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step general service technician hiring guide:

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

What does a general service technician do?

General service technicians are skilled employees who are responsible for performing maintenance duties for automobiles and other light vehicles. These technicians are required to interact with customers to discuss cost estimates for performing automotive maintenance services. They must conduct visual vehicle inspections and perform any necessary repairs or replacement of automotive parts. They are required to be skillful in operating machines that mount and balance the tires of vehicles. General service technicians must also check the electrical systems of vehicles and should know how to install car batteries.

Learn more about the specifics of what a general service technician does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a general service technician, 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?

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

    Type of General Service TechnicianDescriptionHourly rate
    General Service TechnicianAutomotive service technicians and mechanics, often called service technicians or service techs, inspect, maintain, and repair cars and light trucks.$10-16
    Auto TechnicianAn auto technician specializes in performing inspections, repairs, and maintenance on different automotive vehicles ranging from small cars to light trucks. Their responsibilities revolve around identifying issues using various diagnostic tools to determine which course of action to take, discussing the extent of repairs to clients, and ordering car parts from suppliers... Show more$13-28
    Automotive TechnicianAn automotive technician is responsible for maintaining the condition of automotive equipment. The duties of an automotive technician include repairing defective automotive components and inspecting and ensuring the auto's performance, stability, and safety... Show more$13-27
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Maintenance Services
    • Strong Customer Service
    • Vehicle Inspections
    • Oil Changes
    • Preventative Maintenance
    • Diagnostics
    • Work Ethic
    • Professional Work
    • ASE
    • Dependability
    • Safety Standards
    • Customer Vehicles
    • Electrical Systems
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Perform quick lube and general service repairs; prepare and sell repair estimates as well as promoting tire sales.
    • Perform maintenance on, mechanical, electrical, air, gas, ventilation, water, and hydraulic systems.
    • Communicate recommendations to customers base off diagnosis.
    • Load proprietary software packages onto various windows base systems.
    • General service technician in a fast-pace automotive lube and service center
    • Supervise work crews during construction and report production and quantity of windows install.
    More general service technician duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, general service technicians' average salary in florida is 19% less than in alaska.
    • Seniority. Entry-level general service technicians 40% less than senior-level general service technicians.
    • Certifications. A general service technician 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 general service technician's salary.

    Average general service technician salary

    $13.48hourly

    $28,048 yearly

    Entry-level general service technician salary
    $21,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 22, 2025

    Average general service technician salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$30,207$15
    2Arizona$28,663$14
    3Michigan$28,469$14
    4Illinois$28,447$14
    5Ohio$28,395$14
    6Colorado$28,231$14
    7New Mexico$28,112$14
    8Connecticut$28,094$14
    9New York$28,076$14
    10New Jersey$28,062$13
    11Pennsylvania$28,026$13
    12Indiana$28,005$13
    13Delaware$27,996$13
    14Massachusetts$27,923$13
    15Virginia$27,846$13
    16Kentucky$27,525$13
    17Oklahoma$27,371$13
    18Texas$26,927$13
    19Tennessee$26,904$13
    20North Carolina$26,734$13

    Average general service technician salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1All American Group$37,088$17.835
    2Boulder County$36,297$17.458
    3Clean Harbors$34,225$16.4598
    4Hill International$34,029$16.361
    5Freightliner Trucks$33,108$15.922
    6American Electric Power$32,600$15.672
    7WestRock$32,201$15.485
    8Quad$31,646$15.216
    9Anheuser-Busch$31,617$15.206
    10Harvard University$31,584$15.18
    11Sandia National Labs$31,568$15.18
    12Bell County$31,542$15.161
    13AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah$31,390$15.0911
    14Parker Hannifin$31,374$15.083
    15Boston Medical Center$30,640$14.735
    16Circle K$30,354$14.5918
    17Aerotek$30,172$14.5186
    18ITW$30,045$14.44270
    19City of Jacksonville$30,008$14.43
    20HealthTrust$29,893$14.3714
  4. Writing a general service technician job description

    A good general service technician 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 general service technician job description:

    General service technician job description example

    over 50 lbs

    on a regular basis

    Reaching and/or lifting overhead

    on a regular basis

    Climbing

    stairs

    Repetitive hand/finger movement

    on a regular basis

    Grasping/grabbing with hands

    on a regular basis

    Pushing and Pulling

    on a regular basis

    Expectations

    General Expectations

    Devote himself/herself to insuring satisfaction to customers.

    Determine management, production and quality requirements by asking questions and listening.

    Attend company meetings as required.

    Maintain a follow-up system that encourages follow through with assigned projects.

    Establish personal performance goals that are consistent with company standards of productivity and devise a strategy to meet those goals.

    Review and analyze actions at the end of each day, week, month, and year to determine how to better utilize time and plans more effectively.

    Understand the terminology of the business and keep abreast of technology changes in products and services.

    Know and understand the federal, state and local requirements which govern the company’s business.

    Follow lawful directions from supervisors.

    Understand and follow work rules and procedures.

    Participate in performance management.

    Interact well with others and be a positive influence on employee morale.

    Uphold the company’s non-disclosure and confidentiality policies and agreements.

    Work evening, weekend and holiday work hours as required.

    Job-Specific Expectations

    Make 100 % productivity the goal and keep as close to that as possible.

    Use factory specifications as the standard in all repair, service, and customization work.

    Provide excellent customer service for all customers whether external and internal, specifically offering dependable vehicle service.

    Receive service assignments from the service writer or service manager.

    Have the repair work finished within the allotted time. Set goals, develop skills and constantly increase efficiency skill level.

    Submit your request parts as soon as it is determined what is required for a particular job.

    Keep the service writer or service manger informed of any supplemental work that may be required or of any delays to estimated completion time as you make those determinations so the customer can receive up to date information.

    Aid service writer as needed to write work orders, conduct test rides, interact with the customer, or in any other way you are able to guarantee customer satisfaction.

    Maintain a clean, efficient work area and assist in keeping the shop neat and organized.

    Make sure the proper paperwork is completed and filed after every job completion.

    Keep your technical qualifications current by finishing any required training programs.

    Take care that the vehicle is cleaner when the job is completed than when the customer dropped it off.

    Make each job thorough and complete to reduce return repairs. If the vehicle should be returned for additional work complete it quickly, correctly and cheerfully.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find general service technicians 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 general service technician job on Zippia to find and recruit general service technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with general service technician 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 general service technician

    Once you have selected a candidate for the general service technician position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize 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.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new general service technician. 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 a general service technician?

Hiring a general service technician comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting general service technicians involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of general service technician recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $28,048 per year for a general service technician, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for general service technicians in the US typically range between $10 and $16 an hour.

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