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How to hire a marine electrician

Marine electrician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring marine electricians in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a marine electrician is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per marine electrician on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 200,213 marine electricians in the US and 26,034 job openings.
  • San Diego, CA, has the highest demand for marine electricians, with 18 job openings.
  • Pascagoula, MS has the highest concentration of marine electricians.

How to hire a marine electrician, step by step

To hire a marine electrician, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a marine electrician:

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

What does a marine electrician do?

A marine electrician specializes in installing and maintaining electrical wiring and equipment in water vessels such as ships and yachts. Among their responsibilities include understanding diagrams and blueprints, upgrading systems, responding to complaints and concerns, inspecting systems, troubleshooting problems, handling fixtures and outlets, and replacing electrical components. They must also conduct regular maintenance checks, performing repairs as needed. Furthermore, as a marine technician, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff, coordinating for a safe and efficient workflow.

Learn more about the specifics of what a marine electrician does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The marine electrician 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?

    Hiring the perfect marine electrician 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.

    This list presents marine electrician salaries for various positions.

    Type of Marine ElectricianDescriptionHourly rate
    Marine ElectricianElectricians install, maintain, and repair electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems in homes, businesses, and factories.$19-38
    ApprenticeAn apprentice is responsible for learning specialized tasks on their chosen field through actual job training under the supervision of tenured staff. An apprentice's duties include performing administrative tasks as needed, creating observation reports of daily operations, providing possible recommendations on improving productivity, and adhering to the business' safety standards and regulatory procedures... Show more$12-24
    Low Voltage TechnicianA low voltage technician is responsible for monitoring and installing low-voltage cables and systems for electronic equipment and communication devices. Low voltage technicians analyze blueprints and schematics to connect the cables safely and accurately... Show more$14-24
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Electrical Equipment
    • Switches
    • Electrical Systems
    • Motor Controllers
    • Shipyard
    • Hand Tools
    • Ladders
    • Transformers
    • Hook-Up
    • Switchboards
    • Test Equipment
    • Coast Guard
    • Distribution Panels
    • Circuit Breakers
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Remove, analyze, identify issue install properly working pressure transducers, effectively accomplishing priorities to go underway.
    • Experience in wiring power distribution boxes, DC motors, motor controllers, fan control switches, and power generation stations.
    • work with voltages ranging from 480 - 24 volts ac and dc.
    • Mount and install power distribution panels, ABT's, MBT's, and transformers.
    • Provide wire installations for switchboards, power panels, lighting, transformers and connection boxes.
    • Work also involve maintenance and repair of generators, switchboards, distribution panels, lighting and alarm circuits.
    More marine electrician duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your marine electrician job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A marine electrician salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a marine electrician in South Carolina may be lower than in Vermont, and an entry-level marine electrician usually earns less than a senior-level marine electrician. Additionally, a marine electrician with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average marine electrician salary

    $58,568yearly

    $28.16 hourly rate

    Entry-level marine electrician salary
    $41,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 23, 2026

    Average marine electrician salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Washington$72,135$35
    2Massachusetts$69,231$33
    3New Hampshire$64,204$31
    4Hawaii$62,380$30
    5Maine$60,999$29
    6California$60,101$29
    7Colorado$56,434$27
    8Virginia$50,683$24
    9Louisiana$46,657$22
    10Texas$45,619$22
    11Florida$44,206$21
    12Alabama$42,138$20

    Average marine electrician salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1The Hiller Companies$58,985$28.3616
    2BAE Systems$57,737$27.7619
    3Centerline Logistics$57,283$27.541
    4Bollinger Shipyards$57,039$27.424
    5Grp Inc$56,955$27.38
    6Huntington Ingalls Industries$56,955$27.3847
    7Serco$56,955$27.38
    8Main Industries$56,938$27.372
    9Randstad North America, Inc.$56,922$27.371
    10B & D Contracting$56,868$27.342
    11Tradesmen International$56,144$26.99419
    12Epsilon Systems$55,647$26.756
    13Serco$55,644$26.7567
    14Glotech, Inc.$55,242$26.561
    15Aerotek$55,235$26.56203
    16System One$54,868$26.382
    17HKA Enterprises$54,733$26.317
    18Express Employment Indy South$50,403$24.236
    19MarineMax$46,973$22.583
  4. Writing a marine electrician job description

    A good marine electrician 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 electrician job description:

    Marine electrician job description example

    Required Travel: 11 - 25%

    Employment Type: Full Time/Hourly/Non-Exempt

    Hours Per Week: 40

    Security Clearance: Confidential

    Level of Experience: Mid

    Who We Are

    When a U.S. Navy ship needs repairs, they call us. Join our team as we keep the most powerful Navy the world has known afloat and ready to serve! We are seeking a Marine Electrician who will be working with marine electrical equipment that supports Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems onboard US Navy aircraft carriers and surface ships.

    What You Will Do

    Installs, operates, maintains, repairs and modifies equipment. Performs a variety of maintenance and technical support on products such as equipment, integrated systems and subsystems, and software at customer and/or field locations. Analyzes and evaluates products and related performance. Troubleshoots and diagnoses malfunctions to eliminate problem in minimum time. Install, upgrades and removes products ensuring coordinative engineering field change. Maintains effective customer communications and relations. May provide onsite training of customer support personnel. Applies understanding of production and processes to assignments. Performs a variety of complicated tasks. May assist in the development and use technical documents including controlled work packages, formal work processes and procedures, test documents, reports and task or trip reports. Performs duties outside of specialty in order to complete installation or work assignment.

    What You Must Have

    * Knowledge of troubleshooting, evaluating, diagnosing, and repairing ships' HVAC electrical systems including fans, motors, control circuits, electric heaters, and thermostatic controls.

    * Candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a Confidential security clearance, a CAC or RAPIDGate badge, and be a US Citizen.

    * Candidate must be able to travel domestically and internationally.

    * HS education or Trade School + 4 years of related experience. Prefer technical/professional certifications.

    * Must provide own hand tools as designated per trades specialty.

    Bonus Points For...

    * Gaylord Industries Grease Interceptor Hood wash down and fire safety systems experience a plus.
    * US Navy experience highly desirable.

    Physical Requirements

    Must be able to lift, carry and transport heavy equipment and boxes. The exact weight requirements will be determined by the specific job, but no less than 30 lbs. Able to work on and climb ladders, work in extreme temperature environments, aboard ships, in shipyards, under industrial conditions and in confined spaces. Able to perform other duties as required which may involve high heat, humidity, noise and dirty conditions, working aloft or over the sides of vessels. May ride ships at sea for extended periods. May require wearing a respirator. Travel may be required within and outside of the continental United States. *MV *SG *TL *EP *TE

    HII's Mission Technologies division develops integrated solutions that enable today's connected, all-domain force. Capabilities include C5ISR systems and operations; the application of AI and machine learning to battlefield decisions; defensive and offensive cyberspace strategies and EW; unmanned, autonomous systems; LVC solutions; platform modernization; and critical nuclear operations. Together, HII's domain expertise and advanced technologies support mission partners anywhere around the globe. For more information, visit tsd.huntingtoningalls.com.

    HII is a global engineering and defense technologies provider. With a 135-year history of trusted partnerships in advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities ranging from the most powerful and survivable naval ships ever built, to unmanned systems, ISR and AI/ML analytics. HII leads the industry in mission-driven solutions that support and enable a networked, all-domain force. Headquartered in Virginia, HII's skilled workforce is 44,000 strong.

    Huntington Ingalls Industries is an Equal Opportunity/Vets and Disabled Employer. U.S. Citizenship may be required for certain positions.
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right marine electrician 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.
    To find marine electrician candidates, you can consider the following options:
    • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
    • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as constructionjobs.
    • Post your job on free job posting websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit marine electricians, 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. 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 electrician

    Once you've decided on a perfect marine electrician 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 electrician. 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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How much does it cost to hire a marine electrician?

Before you start to hire marine electricians, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire marine electricians pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

The median annual salary for marine electricians is $58,568 in the US. However, the cost of marine electrician hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a marine electrician for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $19 and $38 an hour.

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