How to hire a hydraulic specialist

How to hire a hydraulic specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step hydraulic specialist hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a hydraulic specialist, 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a hydraulic specialist 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 a hydraulic specialist that fits the bill.

   This list presents hydraulic specialist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Hydraulic Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Hydraulic Specialist	Diesel service technicians and mechanics inspect, repair, and overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engine.	$25-54
   Light Wheel Mechanic	A light wheel mechanic is responsible for maintaining the optimal performance and efficiency of light-wheeled vehicles used for industrial operations, especially in a military setting. Light wheel mechanics inspect the condition of the vehicle's engine, perform preventive maintenance, replace defective components, assemble upgrade systems based on schematics and blueprints, and create resolution reports for reference... Show more	$12-32
   Diesel Mechanic	A diesel mechanic is a skilled technician responsible for the checking, maintenance, and repair of diesel engines. Diesel mechanics duties also include regular inspections of vehicles upon customer's request to ensure the smooth performance of the machine, communicate on any system issue that might cause malfunctions, and provide any replacement to renovate a damaged part of the engine... Show more	$17-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cranes
   • Hydraulic Equipment
   • Control Valves
   • Support Equipment
   • Test Equipment
   • Technical Manuals
   • Trouble Shoot
   • CAD
   • Hydraulic Components
   • Pneumatic Components
   • Hydraulic Cylinders
   • Landing Gear
   • CNC
   • Aircraft Components

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and maintain clients' lawns through mowing, weed eating, and trimming bushes.
   • Determine interchangeability and suitability and initiate appropriate file actions that identifies the impact on provisioning and technical publications.
   • Ensure that all AGSE assets are maintained to an exceptionally high standard.
   • Maintain plastic extrusion equipment.Other maintenance duties as required

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, hydraulic specialists' average salary in south carolina is 35% less than in nevada.
   • Seniority. Entry-level hydraulic specialists 53% less than senior-level hydraulic specialists.
   • Certifications. A hydraulic specialist 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 hydraulic specialist's salary.

   Average hydraulic specialist salary

   $78,179yearly

   $37.59 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level hydraulic specialist salary

   $53,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 26, 2025

4. Writing a hydraulic specialist job description

   A hydraulic specialist 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 hydraulic specialist job description:

   Hydraulic specialist job description example

   SunSource, headquartered in Addison, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago), is one of North America’s leading fluid power distribution companies, providing products, services and information in hydraulics, pneumatics, filtration, automation systems, and related industrial components, serving both the industrial, OEM, MRO, and mobile equipment markets. Along with high quality products, we provide a commitment to customer service and technically sound, cost-effective solutions, which include system design and application engineering, technical training, engineered fabrication, repair service, contract maintenance, and on-site integrated services management. SunSource has over 50 locations across the United States and Canada with major operations in a number of states including Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Texas. We are currently seeking an experienced Hydraulic Specialist/Engineer based in Detroit, MI.

   What We Are Looking For

   • An individual who can design unique hydraulic systems for industrial and mobile equipment
   • Someone who has the fundamental hydraulic knowledge to engineer or design power unit applications
   • Someone who is hands on and is willing to help our customers through challenging times through innovation and hard work
   • An individual who can help gather data on applications to confirm the design and implement proactive solutions to reduce warranty, maintenance and nuisance issues to improve the end product for the customer
   • SunSource is looking for someone who wants a career in the fluid power industry
   • Minimum 2 year technical degree, preferably in fluid power; B.S. in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering preferred

   Additional Requirements to Help You Succeed

   • Must have the ability to develop creative cost-effective solutions to meet customer’s needs
   • Experience in AutoCAD & Solidworks
   • Previous experience working for a distributor
   • Travel is required to support Account Managers and customers throughout MI, OH, IL, IN
   • Must have a valid driver’s license
   • Fluid Power Certification

   Benefits: SunSource values our associate’s contributions and in return you will be rewarded with an industry-competitive compensation plan, excellent company benefits and a rewarding work atmosphere. If you are interested in making a positive change in your career then we want to hear from you.

   Would you rather see what we have to offer? Check out SunSource Core Competency video

   WE ARE AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER M/F/V/D. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. WE PARTICIIPATE IN E-VERIFY PROGRAM
   www.sun-source.com

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find hydraulic specialists 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 hydraulic specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level hydraulic specialists 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 hydraulic specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit hydraulic specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit hydraulic specialists, 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 hydraulic specialist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the hydraulic specialist 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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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