How to hire an information technology generalist

How to hire an information technology generalist, step by step

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

What does an information technology generalist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The information technology generalist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect information technology generalist also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of information technology generalists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Information Technology Generalist	Description	Hourly rate
   Information Technology Generalist	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	$19-47
   Information Systems Technician	An information systems technician is responsible for maintaining the efficiency of various network systems' performance. Information systems technicians provide network troubleshooting, upgrading systems for optimization, maintaining the security of databases, managing the interaction of networks, and inspecting and troubleshooting system inconsistencies... Show more	$13-35
   Information Systems Analyst	An information systems analyst specializes in conducting cost-efficient research and analysis to determine how information technology can improve a company's business process and growth. One of their primary responsibilities is to collaborate with information systems experts to develop upgrades and all-new systems, respond to inquiries and concerns, provide corrective measures, and meet the IT needs of employees all over the company... Show more	$27-57

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Printers
   • Troubleshoot
   • Computer System
   • Technical Support
   • Windows Server
   • SCCM
   • LAN
   • Mac
   • Linux
   • WAN
   • TCP/IP
   • DNS
   • Switches
   • User Support

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead enterprise-wide virtualization effort, overseeing and completing vendor/hardware qualifications, architecture/design, installation, configuration, migration and documentation.
   • Provide first-level networking support for routers, switches, WAPs, and firewalls.
   • Utilize various types of equipment to test, troubleshoot, and identify network problems.
   • Champion the selection and ultimate use of Java and object-orient design and programming on a web-base financial inventory management system.
   • Create a comprehensive QA project plan that track the work of all QA resources globally.
   • Lead enterprise-wide virtualization effort, overseeing and completing vendor/hardware qualifications, architecture/design, installation, configuration, migration and documentation.

   More information technology generalist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   Average information technology generalist salary

   $63,551yearly

   $30.55 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level information technology generalist salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average information technology generalist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Virginia	$81,619	$39
   2	Ohio	$79,240	$38
   3	Michigan	$78,684	$38
   4	Maryland	$78,074	$38
   5	Massachusetts	$73,812	$35
   6	Nevada	$73,459	$35
   7	New York	$72,440	$35
   8	South Carolina	$70,757	$34
   9	Oregon	$69,321	$33
   10	Connecticut	$68,935	$33
   11	Pennsylvania	$67,902	$33
   12	California	$66,710	$32
   13	Louisiana	$65,496	$31
   14	Arizona	$64,665	$31
   15	Georgia	$63,669	$31
   16	New Mexico	$63,386	$30
   17	Florida	$58,610	$28
   18	Colorado	$57,432	$28
   19	Kentucky	$56,784	$27
   20	Texas	$55,671	$27

   Average information technology generalist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Data	$111,233	$53.48	10
   2	Salient CRGT	$104,366	$50.18
   3	M3 Technology	$89,959	$43.25
   4	ICF	$89,094	$42.83	6
   5	TEKsystems	$84,674	$40.71	183
   6	Florida International University	$83,735	$40.26
   7	Transwest	$75,597	$36.34	1
   8	Horizon Software	$74,526	$35.83
   9	247 Customer.com	$72,776	$34.99
   10	Reser's Fine Foods	$72,015	$34.62
   11	California Institute of Technology	$70,409	$33.85	2
   12	Counterpart International	$68,753	$33.05	1
   13	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	$67,281	$32.35	6
   14	Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania	$64,920	$31.21
   15	La Sierra University	$64,790	$31.15
   16	CDC Foundation	$64,648	$31.08
   17	Garmin	$59,829	$28.76
   18	Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi	$57,422	$27.61	4
   19	Pennsylvania State Treasurer	$57,028	$27.42	1
   20	FFF Enterprises	$56,865	$27.34

4. Writing an information technology generalist job description

   A job description for an information technology generalist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an information technology generalist job description:

   Information technology generalist job description example

   We are looking for a Entry Level IT Generalist to support a project for our client that is a nonprofit in Los Angeles, CA.
   Who we’re looking for
   
   We are seeking an individual with at least one year of relevant experience in application and database administration, design, implementation, and support. Successful candidates will have relevant working experience in and knowledge of:
   Microsoft Active Directory Business collaboration and productivity platforms such as Office 365 and G Suite Networked computer installation and troubleshooting Enterprise security and anti-virus scanning applications POS, Ticketing, Fundraising, and Donor Engagement Systems, preferably Tessitura Website and CMS Business analytics/intelligence and reporting tools End-user support and training Policies and procedures development
   
   Key responsibilities include the following:
   Support design, development, implementation, and administration of applications, including new application installation, current application maintenance including upgrades, system performance monitoring, tuning, and necessary follow-up Ensure timely and accurate delivery of services and user support; consult with the team, management, and customers as needed. Participate in solution evaluation, testing, deployment, and end-user training while working with internal and external stakeholders at all levels. Coordinate and document application administration activities following established procedures – review/fulfill user requests, device setup, account management, hardware/software inventory tracking, application copy/backup/restore, bug fixes, and upgrades. Monitor and maintain vendor contracts, services, and subscriptions to ensure an optimal level of service and integration. Participate in regulatory compliance requirements: PCI DSS, CCPA. Participate in cybersecurity, operational continuity, and disaster recovery activities required by the business. Assist with budget planning by providing technology acquisition, operation, and maintenance costs. Stay current with broader industry and technology trends and update job knowledge by participating in educational/developmental opportunities
   
   ABOUT US:
   
   Kinect provides career advice and advancement to tech professionals while providing best in class support to our clients. Kinect specializes in roles in software and applications, IT infrastructure and operations. We provide contract and project resources to a broad range of organizations on a national basis. Contact us to see how Kinect can help you further your career goals.
   
   Kinect provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal requirements, Kinect complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company conducts business

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right information technology generalist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit information technology generalists, 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.

   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 generalist 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 generalist

   Once you've selected the best information technology generalist 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new information technology generalist 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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