How to hire a journeyman/mechanic

How to hire a journeyman/mechanic, step by step

Here's a step-by-step journeyman/mechanic hiring guide:

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

What does a journeyman/mechanic do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your journeyman/mechanic 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 journeyman/mechanic 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?

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   Hiring the perfect journeyman/mechanic 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.

   Here's a comparison of journeyman/mechanic salaries for various roles:

   Type of Journeyman/Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Journeyman/Mechanic	Diesel service technicians and mechanics inspect, repair, and overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engine.	$18-34
   Diesel Technician	Diesel technicians specialize in repairing and handling the maintenance of vehicles powered by diesel. They are primarily responsible for inspecting cars, conducting tests, and identifying its problems to determine what course of action to take... Show more	$15-31
   Shop Technician	Shop Technicians are skilled workers assigned to a retail store. Their main activities depend on the nature of the business their company is in... Show more	$12-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • HVAC
   • Mechanical Troubleshooting
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Hand Tools
   • Mechanical Equipment
   • Plumbing
   • Ladders
   • CDL
   • Safety Regulations
   • OSHA
   • Water Pumps
   • Cranes
   • Brake Systems
   • Routine Maintenance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Maintain and manage shop for parts, supplies and priority in jobs and cleanliness.
   • Used mig, arc, stick, welding.
   • Head of International-TSC OSHA safety.
   • Build and repair ladders, catwalks, and stairways.
   • maintain safety meetings and all PPE safty equipment per osha standerds and company policies.
   • Respond to dispatch calls for various departments including, plumbing, electric, and carpentry.

   More journeyman/mechanic duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the journeyman/mechanic job description is a good way to get more applicants. A journeyman/mechanic 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 journeyman/mechanic in New Mexico may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level journeyman/mechanic. Additionally, a journeyman/mechanic with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average journeyman/mechanic salary

   $52,442yearly

   $25.21 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level journeyman/mechanic salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average journeyman/mechanic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$61,684	$30
   2	District of Columbia	$61,666	$30
   3	California	$61,527	$30
   4	Oregon	$60,445	$29
   5	Alaska	$60,021	$29
   6	Colorado	$55,324	$27
   7	Washington	$55,139	$27
   8	Vermont	$53,790	$26
   9	New Jersey	$52,550	$25
   10	Illinois	$51,399	$25
   11	Kansas	$49,905	$24
   12	Maryland	$49,714	$24
   13	Utah	$49,115	$24
   14	Texas	$46,543	$22
   15	Michigan	$45,589	$22
   16	Ohio	$45,358	$22
   17	Montana	$45,184	$22
   18	South Carolina	$45,110	$22
   19	Florida	$43,251	$21

   Average journeyman/mechanic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	General Motors	$82,687	$39.75	12
   2	Pacifi	$72,392	$34.80	17
   3	Portland General Electric	$70,526	$33.91	3
   4	Huntington Hospital	$68,227	$32.80	1
   5	Wanzek Construction	$65,031	$31.26	1
   6	Owens Corning	$64,966	$31.23	6
   7	FirstEnergy	$64,350	$30.94	3
   8	Volvo Trucks	$64,008	$30.77	5
   9	Mondelēz International	$63,832	$30.69	6
   10	Johnson Controls	$63,280	$30.42	139
   11	Carrier	$61,715	$29.67	1
   12	UPS	$61,457	$29.55	148
   13	WestRock	$60,771	$29.22	15
   14	California Solutions	$60,315	$29.00
   15	Mayor Ethan Berkowitz	$60,051	$28.87	4
   16	McCarthy Holdings, Inc.	$59,849	$28.77	14
   17	EMCOR Group	$59,575	$28.64	66
   18	Johns Manville	$57,324	$27.56	7
   19	Sonoco	$57,267	$27.53	4
   20	Magna International	$55,870	$26.86	3

4. Writing a journeyman/mechanic job description

   A journeyman/mechanic 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 journeyman/mechanic job description:

   Journeyman/mechanic job description example

   Journeyman Mechanic
   Pay: $45.32/hr - this is starting pay
   Shift: day shift
   
   You will like working for us as we have amazing people and a highly collaborative culture. Global success hasn't changed our tight-knit feel - we've simply grown into a larger, more diverse family. We have thousands of jobs around the globe and encourage all associates to chase their dreams without having to find them in another company - it truly is a special place. ,
   
   The Sumner, WA paper mill has an opening for a Journey Mechanic. This position reports to the Maintenance Supervisor. As a millwright, you will be responsible for repair and maintenance of mill equipment. Safety, quality, productivity and strong work ethic are important to the Sonoco culture. This is a union mill.Job Duties and Responsibilities:
   8hr workday/40hr work week normal. May be required to work after hours and weekends as needed.Perform preventative and predictive maintenance.Maintain good housekeeping in shop and work area.Be precision minded when performing rebuilds or conducting alignment operations.Report abnormal and unsafe conditions.Fill out work orders properly and on time.Support mill operations as needed.
   
   Desired Experience and Qualifications:
   Certified millwright be national standards (preferably in WA State) Lift 50 pounds Arrive to work on time with a strong attendance record High school diploma or GEDPrevious experience as a millwright.Experience driving forklift, Scissor lift, and/or articulation lift.Knowledge of OSHA/WISHA safety regulations such as Lockout/Tagout, confined space entry, and the proper use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).Knowledge and experience in welding - all types
   
   We care about the health and wellness of you and your family. That is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package that makes it easier to manage your health and provide financial security for you and your family.
   
   Apply today and help us get stronger!
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find journeyman/mechanics 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 journeyman/mechanic job on Zippia to find and recruit journeyman/mechanic candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with journeyman/mechanic 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 journeyman/mechanic

   Once you've selected the best journeyman/mechanic 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 journeyman/mechanic 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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