How to hire a geotechnical engineer

How to hire a geotechnical engineer, step by step

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

What does a geotechnical engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your geotechnical engineer 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 a geotechnical engineer 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

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

   This list shows salaries for various types of geotechnical engineers.

   Type of Geotechnical Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Geotechnical Engineer	Civil engineers design, build, supervise, operate, and maintain construction projects and systems in the public and private sector, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment.	$26-47
   Civil Designer	A Civil Designer plans, scales, and drafts drawings and maps for roads, bridges, and other construction projects. They work with engineers and project managers in determining material, labor, and other costs of the assigned projects.	$19-38
   Civil Engineering Internship	Civil engineer interns work to improve their knowledge about construction and its relevant works. An internship provides them insight into various aspects of construction and how things run at the site... Show more	$16-38

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Geotechnical
   • Civil Engineering
   • Project Management
   • Autocad
   • GINT
   • Retaining Walls
   • Engineering Analysis
   • Technical Reports
   • Engineering Reports
   • Business Development
   • Geotechnical Analysis
   • Engineering Services
   • Geotechnical Design
   • Cost Estimates

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Incorporate ASCE, AISC, and IBC as well as other standards.
   • Design are provided considering conservative seismic design criteria per IBC 2006 and available USGS data for Afghanistan.
   • Execute FEA such as thermal, static structural, modal, harmonic response, and random vibration using ANSYS and NASTRAN.
   • Prepare hydrology & hydraulic studies, review environmental assessments GIS analysis and map preparation for various studies.
   • Perform geotechnical analysis and foundation design for plants housing heavy machinery that generate vibration, oil tanks and relate industrial structures.
   • Assist in data management and review, coordinate laboratory testing program, and write final analysis for feasibility-level geotechnical design report.

   More geotechnical engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the geotechnical engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A geotechnical engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a geotechnical engineer in Georgia may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level geotechnical engineer. Additionally, a geotechnical engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average geotechnical engineer salary

   $74,831yearly

   $35.98 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level geotechnical engineer salary

   $56,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average geotechnical engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Alaska	$99,890	$48
   2	California	$89,360	$43
   3	Oregon	$81,293	$39
   4	Washington	$80,643	$39
   5	New York	$77,802	$37
   6	Virginia	$77,473	$37
   7	New Jersey	$75,325	$36
   8	Nevada	$75,229	$36
   9	Colorado	$74,896	$36
   10	Arizona	$74,619	$36
   11	Massachusetts	$74,566	$36
   12	Maine	$74,251	$36
   13	Oklahoma	$74,001	$36
   14	Louisiana	$72,489	$35
   15	North Carolina	$71,569	$34
   16	Missouri	$70,123	$34
   17	Utah	$69,496	$33
   18	Texas	$68,981	$33
   19	Pennsylvania	$68,639	$33
   20	Illinois	$68,543	$33

   Average geotechnical engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	BP America Inc	$106,300	$51.11	1
   2	Bayer	$94,241	$45.31	4
   3	Tampa General Hospital	$89,818	$43.18
   4	Arizona Public Service	$83,015	$39.91
   5	Medical Billing	$82,353	$39.59
   6	Holtec International	$82,223	$39.53	1
   7	Newmont	$81,408	$39.14
   8	Freeport-McMoRan	$81,340	$39.11	7
   9	Timmons Group	$80,996	$38.94	26
   10	Technip USA Corporation	$80,975	$38.93
   11	AB Consultants	$80,794	$38.84
   12	Ch2M Hill	$80,486	$38.70
   13	CME Associates	$80,419	$38.66	7
   14	Barrick Gold	$80,277	$38.59	14
   15	Parsons	$80,270	$38.59	219
   16	KS Engineers	$79,960	$38.44	17
   17	Resolution Copper	$79,889	$38.41
   18	CDM Smith	$79,885	$38.41	98
   19	Kinsley Power Systems	$78,971	$37.97
   20	The Mountain	$78,967	$37.96

4. Writing a geotechnical engineer job description

   A geotechnical engineer 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 a geotechnical engineer job description:

   Geotechnical engineer job description example

   Speedie & Associates, a Universal Engineering Sciences Company (UES), has an opening in our Construction Services Department. Speedie & Associates is a dynamic, growing, Arizona-based consulting firm with offices in Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff, Arizona. UES is a nationwide leader in Geotechnical Engineering, Construction Materials Testing and Inspection, Building Code Compliance, Environmental, Occupational Health & Safety, and Building Envelope.
   
   UES is thrilled to be named the #1 fastest growing AEC firm by the Zweig Group. The Zweig Group's Hot Firm list honors the fastest-growing firms in the architecture, engineering, planning, environmental, and construction (AEC) industry. For the first time in four years, a new firm, UES, took the number one spot on the 2021 list! Firms are ranked based on three-year growth in revenue, by both percentage and dollar growth.
   
   Minimum Required ExperienceB.S. in Civil Engineering, Geology or related field, M.S. in geotechnical engineering a plusE.I.T. registration Working knowledge of the the principles of soil mechanics, foundation design, and slope stability
   
   Additional RequirementsCurrent driver's license without restrictions Acceptable 39-month driving record If driving his/her own vehicle, a certificate of current vehicle insurance evidencing minimum statutory requirements Must be able to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw conclusions Must be able to apply mathematical concepts to practical situations Must have a working knowledge of basic computer programs used in design such as Word, ExcelKnowledge of Autocad a plus Must be able to work a wide variety of hours from early mornings to late afternoons Must be able to work outside in all weather conditions Must be able to walk and/or stand for extended periods of time and work on uneven, unstable terrain Must be able to recognize and respond quickly to sounds on the jobsite Must be able to recognize and respond to situations that arise on the jobsite Must be capable of remaining upright and alert while on the job
   
   Job Responsibilities Consistently shows up for work as scheduled Initially trains under higher-level geotechnical engineers until able to perform engineering and materials testing tasks without assistance and supervision Drives to project locations Serves as onsite project representative Assists project manager(s) with client communications Assists in the analysis of engineering reports and data Authors draft reports for review by supervisor Manages/directs drilling and sampling activities including logging boring holes Assigns and tracks progress of lab testing Inputs field and lab data into computer program Prepares design calculations and cost estimates Assists in the preparation and modification of reports by others Promptly notifies supervisor, project manager(s) of problems or changes that arise on projects Answers calls from supervisor, project manager(s) as soon as can reasonably be expected and, if unable to answer immediately, returns calls at first opportunity Completes tasks and submits completed paperwork within appropriate time frame Helps mentor Level I Staff EngineersAdheres to established safety procedures Performs other tasks as necessary
   
   Communication SkillsMust be fluent in EnglishMust be able to interpret technical procedures and governmental regulations Written - Handwriting must be legible; must be able to compose correspondence and prepare detailed reports of work activities completely and accurately Must be able to effectively present information and respond to questions from co-workers and clients
   Personal SkillsAttitude - Presents a professional demeanor to supervisors, co-workers, and clients; demonstrates a predisposition for working as a part of a team; demonstrates an interest in the work, works well with others Willingness - Receives and follows through with instructions; completes assigned tasks with diligence and without complaint Efficiency - Work is typically done correctly the first time, speed should be improving Initiative - Once assigned tasks have been completed has found other tasks that need to be accomplished or has requested instructions from supervisors.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right geotechnical engineer 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 geotechnical engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit geotechnical engineers 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.

   To find geotechnical engineer candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting geotechnical engineers 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 geotechnical engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect geotechnical engineer 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.

   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 geotechnical engineer 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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