How to hire an information technology associate

How to hire an information technology associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step information technology associate hiring guide:

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

What does an information technology associate do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an information technology associate, 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

   An information technology associate's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, information technology associates 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 information technology associates and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Information Technology Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Information Technology Associate	Computer support specialists provide help and advice to people and organizations using computer software or equipment. Some, called computer network support specialists, support information technology (IT) employees within their organization... Show more	$24-53
   Information Engineer	An information engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency of computer systems and network infrastructure, performing configuration to boost the optimal performance of the technology systems. Information engineers assist end-users in resolving network issues, identifying the source of inconsistencies, and create resolution reports for reference to avoid reoccurrence... Show more	$37-66
   Information Technology Supervisor, Information Technology	An information technology supervisor of information technology is primarily in charge of overseeing a company's IT operations, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. It is their duty to spearhead projects, set goals and objectives, coordinate staff, manage budgets and timelines, perform installations and upgrades, and develop strategies to optimize operations... Show more	$39-70

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • SOC
   • Data Analysis
   • Sarbanes-Oxley
   • Project Management
   • Customer Service
   • Develop Recommendations
   • Internal Controls
   • Unix
   • SOX
   • Oracle Sql
   • OS
   • ERP
   • Troubleshoot
   • Java

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Accomplish defect-free releases through careful planning, testing and QA efforts.
   • Upgrade and maintain network hardware including Cisco manage switches, routers, and firewalls.
   • Lead international, multi-organizational software testing teams through the SDLC, towards a production go-live.
   • Manage and coordinate offshore resources in providing control validation testing for large retail company and SOX external audit.
   • Manage workforce forecasting, scheduling, and load balancing for call activities, ensuring SLA and quality assurance metrics are meet.
   • Manage security clearance for unit, conduct security investigation, and maintain security database.

   More information technology associate duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the information technology associate job description is a good way to get more applicants. An information technology associate 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 an information technology associate in Texas may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level information technology associate. Additionally, an information technology associate with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average information technology associate salary

   $75,790yearly

   $36.44 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level information technology associate salary

   $51,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average information technology associate salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$96,897	$47
   2	Connecticut	$96,723	$47
   3	New Jersey	$92,554	$45
   4	Virginia	$81,830	$39
   5	California	$81,432	$39
   6	Washington	$79,889	$38
   7	Pennsylvania	$79,118	$38
   8	Ohio	$77,630	$37
   9	Missouri	$77,060	$37
   10	Maryland	$75,846	$36
   11	North Carolina	$75,802	$36
   12	Illinois	$75,496	$36
   13	Massachusetts	$75,253	$36
   14	Iowa	$74,498	$36
   15	Michigan	$72,709	$35
   16	District of Columbia	$70,412	$34
   17	Kansas	$69,484	$33
   18	Kentucky	$68,996	$33
   19	Minnesota	$68,081	$33
   20	Indiana	$65,849	$32

   Average information technology associate salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	SAP	$122,634	$58.96	16
   2	Arrow Electronics	$120,606	$57.98	4
   3	Mayo Clinic	$120,389	$57.88	44
   4	Levi Strauss & Co.	$119,608	$57.50
   5	NewMarket	$118,565	$57.00	3
   6	Biogen	$117,810	$56.64	1
   7	Agilent Technologies	$114,515	$55.06	7
   8	General Motors	$114,429	$55.01	21
   9	Eli Lilly and Company	$113,466	$54.55	16
   10	Sigma-Aldrich	$113,373	$54.51
   11	Capgemini	$112,897	$54.28	65
   12	Constellation Energy Partners	$112,545	$54.11	3
   13	Zoetis	$111,031	$53.38	4
   14	Koch Industries	$110,749	$53.24
   15	McCarter & English	$110,720	$53.23
   16	PepsiCo	$110,481	$53.12	6
   17	AQR Capital Management	$110,461	$53.11
   18	AIG	$110,078	$52.92	10
   19	Bridgewater Associates	$108,133	$51.99
   20	DXC Technology	$107,591	$51.73	14

4. Writing an information technology associate job description

   A good information technology associate 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 an information technology associate job description:

   Information technology associate job description example

   Provide hardware and software support on simple to moderately complex operating systems and issues. Responsible for support for the I.T. Department for all process/activities associated with the performance and support of JACK computer workstations, LAN servers, Local Area Networks, and Wide Area Network connectivity in a 24/7 environment.
   
   Strong written and verbal communication skills are required and outstanding guest service to fellow team members, guests, vendors, etc. is expected. Regular attendance is required, and on occasion, later hours or weekend time may be required with project deadlines and a neat well-groomed professional appearance is essential at all times
   Role Responsibilities :
   
   Coordinate with the help desk team to support to all JACK systems users. Responsible for monitoring service and project support to achieve maximum quality commitment to JACK Clients/Users. Develop, implement, and communicate procedures which insure minimum downtime and prompt recovery of failed computer systems, applications, and data base components which have a direct effect upon customer service to our clients and users. Monitor LAN system performance. Recommend applications and process design changes to appropriate IT management to maximize labor and system resources. Configure, install, and maintain network and product, programs, files and databases. Responsible for the Change Management practices on LAN/Server systems. Develop, document, and implement operating procedures required for PC/Network Support group to meet performance objectives/metrics. Documentation and administrative tasks, as needed, including audits, change control, SOP documentation, purchasing information, etc. Maintain open communications channels with end users and clients. Assist clients in determining computer need and provide equipment descriptions for purchase action and requests. Serve as a vendor contact for issues needing outside resolutions. Continue to train operators on PC/Network troubleshooting techniques. Other duties as assigned.
   
   Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
   
   Strong personal computing skills required. Must be able to work independently. Must be able to sit, stand or walk for long periods of time (4 hours). Must be able to maneuver throughout all areas of the property and from floor to floor either by stairways (minimum of 20 steps) or escalator. Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.; and, have the ability to push, pull, reach, bend, twist, stoop and kneel. Must have the manual dexterity to operate a computer and other necessary office equipment. Must be able to tolerate areas containing dust, loud noises and bright lights. Must be able to work varied shifts, weekends and holidays as needed. Ability to simultaneously manage several projects, and not be frustrated by changing priorities and unforeseen obstacles to achieving objectives. Ability to speak distinctly and persuasively. Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English
   
   Education & Experience Requirements:
   
   Minimum two years' experience. Also, experience providing customer support to computer system users. Ability to manage multi-faceted projects to a successful conclusion. Ability to read, writes, speak, and understand English. Ability to respond to inquiries or requests from regulatory agencies. Ability to effectively communicate policies and procedures to groups or individuals of the Company. Expert in basic Microsoft Office programs. (Excel Word, and Outlook) Ability to uphold and demonstrate the highest level of integrity in all situations and recognize standards required by a regulated business Must be 21 years of age.
   
   License Requirements:
   
   Must be able to obtain an Ohio Lottery Commission license, which includes a comprehensive background investigation.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find information technology associates 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 information technology associate job on Zippia to find and attract quality information technology associate candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit information technology associates, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview information technology associate candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   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 information technology associate

   Once you've found the information technology associate candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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 information technology associate 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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How much does it cost to hire an information technology associate?