How to hire a marine diesel mechanic

How to hire a marine diesel mechanic, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your marine diesel 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 marine diesel 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?

   Yes

   No

   A marine diesel mechanic's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, marine diesel mechanics 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 marine diesel mechanics and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Marine Diesel Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Marine Diesel Mechanic	Diesel service technicians and mechanics inspect, repair, and overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engine.	$16-28
   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
   Truck Technician	Truck technicians are skilled employees who are responsible for working and inspecting the mechanical parts of trucks such as the engine, wheels, accelerator, and brakes. These technicians must use specialized instruments and tools to diagnose problems and repair parts... Show more	$15-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Routine Maintenance
   • Hand Tools
   • Diesel Engines
   • Level Mechanics
   • Electrical Systems
   • Boats
   • Mechanical Equipment
   • Volvo
   • Engine Room
   • Hydraulic Systems
   • Oil Changes
   • General Maintenance
   • Customer Service
   • Water Pumps

   Responsibilities:

   • Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.
   • Ensure high levels of quality assurance (QA) with timely yet orderly job completion.
   • Perform complete overhauls on transmissions, steering units, repair or remove and replace in diesel trucks and marine environments.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your marine diesel mechanic job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A marine diesel mechanic salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, marine diesel mechanics' average salary in south carolina is 34% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level marine diesel mechanics earn 43% less than senior-level marine diesel mechanics.
   • Certifications. A marine diesel mechanic with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a marine diesel mechanic's salary.

   Average marine diesel mechanic salary

   $45,908yearly

   $22.07 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level marine diesel mechanic salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 13, 2026

4. Writing a marine diesel mechanic job description

   A good marine diesel mechanic 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 a marine diesel mechanic job description:

   Marine diesel mechanic job description example

   • Marine mechanics may work outdoors at docks or marinas, as well as in all weather conditions, when making repairs aboard boats.
   • They may work in cramped or awkward positions to reach a boat's engine. Must be able to daily and repeatedly stoop, kneel, bend and climb beside, onto and underneath various equipment to perform diagnosis and repairs.
   • Must be able to effectively see to perform repairs, research technical manuals, and develop written repair work order reports.
   • Must be able to routinely and physically lift/position various parts to perform repairs/service and manually handle parts up to 160 pounds, as well as use mechanical hoist for heavier parts.

   Other:

   • Will work remotely with rare trips to dispatching office. Must be able to effectively write repair activities on customer work orders.
   • Must have cognitive reasoning and problem solving skills to apply knowledge, written information and verbal instructions in repairing/servicing unusual and/or unknown technical equipment operational problems.
   • Can work independently with minimal supervision.
   • Proficient use of Caterpillar ET and SIS (Not required but preferred)

   Field Activity:

   • Must be able to daily operate an assigned service vehicle as well as be prequalified to operate under W.W.Williams Fleet Policy Standards.
   • The driver must be able to operate their assigned vehicle for extended periods in order to reach customer's locations.
   • Must be able to effectively communicate using telephones to receive instructions and to provide service information.
   • Must be able to effectively deal directly with customers at site locations in a professional manner.

   Competitive wages and benefits. EOE/AAP/M/F/Vets/Disabled, DFWP.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right marine diesel mechanic 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 marine diesel mechanic job on Zippia to find and recruit marine diesel mechanic candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with marine diesel 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.

   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 marine diesel mechanic

   Once you've decided on a perfect marine diesel mechanic 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new marine diesel mechanic. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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