How to hire a Mechanical Technician

How to hire a mechanical technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step mechanical technician hiring guide:

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

What does a Mechanical Technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a mechanical technician, 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

   A mechanical technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, mechanical technicians 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.

   This list presents mechanical technician salaries for various positions.

   Type Of Mechanical Technician	Description	Hourly Rate
   Mechanical Technician	Mechanical engineering technicians help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture mechanical devices, including tools, engines, and machines. They may make sketches and rough layouts, record and analyze data, make calculations and estimates, and report their findings.	$18-32
   Industrial Mechanic	An industrial mechanic maintains and repairs equipment and any other industrial types of machinery in a factory. Industrial mechanics manage the operation of machinery like production machinery, packaging equipment, and conveying systems... Show More	$18-34
   Instrument Technician Apprentice	An instrument technician apprentice is responsible for performing installation and repairs on various electrical equipment and instruments such as control panels and motors, all while under the supervision and directives of a senior or master technician. Typically, their tasks revolve around conducting regular maintenance checks, coordinating with other technicians, organizing supplies, operating electrical tools, and understanding various electronic principles... Show More	$12-27

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Preventive Maintenance
   • Hand Tools
   • Electro-mechanical
   • Mechanical Equipment
   • PLC
   • Mechanical Systems
   • Electrical Troubleshooting
   • Production Equipment
   • Industrial Maintenance
   • OSHA
   • Ladders
   • Calipers
   • Customer Service
   • Technical Support

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Dispatch work accordingly, manage and assist team members with more complex repairs and diagnosis.
   • Operate heavy equipment including cranes, heavy loaders, bulldozers, backhoes, and tractors.
   • Service motor relate equipment such as AC/DC drives, motor starters, power distribution equipment, and cranes and hoists.
   • Wire DC breaker/AC breaker panels.
   • Repair and wiring of DC electrical motors.
   • Test ac induction, brushless, brush, stepper motors.

   More Mechanical Technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the mechanical technician job description is a good way to get more applicants. A mechanical technician 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 mechanical technician in North Carolina may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level mechanical technician. Additionally, a mechanical technician with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average mechanical technician salary

   $51,367yearly

   $24.70 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level mechanical technician salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated March 16, 2025

   Average mechanical technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	California	$63,868	$31
   2	Mississippi	$58,640	$28
   3	Arizona	$58,358	$28
   4	Nevada	$57,376	$28
   5	Colorado	$55,467	$27
   6	Pennsylvania	$54,384	$26
   7	Virginia	$53,618	$26
   8	Indiana	$53,461	$26
   9	Texas	$52,973	$25
   10	Maryland	$52,963	$25
   11	Illinois	$52,820	$25
   12	Minnesota	$52,779	$25
   13	Kansas	$51,879	$25
   14	New York	$50,905	$24
   15	South Carolina	$48,760	$23
   16	New Hampshire	$47,598	$23
   17	Florida	$46,921	$23
   18	Ohio	$45,755	$22
   19	Georgia	$44,921	$22
   20	Tennessee	$44,867	$22

   Average mechanical technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	Meta	$96,886	$46.58	51
   2	Amazon	$74,013	$35.58	365
   3	Eli Lilly and Company	$70,052	$33.68	17
   4	Nabors Industries	$70,043	$33.67	7
   5	OUC	$68,939	$33.14
   6	Jefferson Lab	$68,331	$32.85	11
   7	Argonne National Laboratory	$68,243	$32.81	2
   8	Brookhaven National Laboratory	$68,037	$32.71
   9	Battelle	$67,885	$32.64	9
   10	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$67,838	$32.61	9
   11	Cummins	$67,369	$32.39	112
   12	Reckitt Benckiser	$67,368	$32.39	13
   13	Plug Power	$67,320	$32.37	2
   14	Bloom Energy	$67,278	$32.35	7
   15	Merck	$67,136	$32.28	24
   16	General Motors	$65,866	$31.67	28
   17	General Electric	$65,759	$31.61	119
   18	Andersen	$64,894	$31.20
   19	Tutor Perini	$64,845	$31.18	16
   20	Pactiv	$62,903	$30.24	59

4. Writing a Mechanical Technician Job Description

   A mechanical technician 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a mechanical technician job description:

   Mechanical Technician job description example

   1st Shift - M-Th: 6:00AM - 3:00PM - Friday: 6:00AM-10:00AM

   2nd Shift - M-Th - 3:00pm to 12:00am Friday - 12Noon - 4:00 PM

   3rd Shift - Sunday-Thursday - 10:00pm - 6:00AM

   At this time, we are primarily hiring for 2nd shift.

   Job Description:

   Siemens Large Drives is New Kensington, PA, is looking for an Assembly Technician. In this role and under close supervision, you will complete mechanical and electrical assemblies and sub-assemblies using hand tools, and electronic and pneumatic tooling. Reports directly to the Production Supervisor.

   The Electro-Mechanical Technician Level I (Assembly Technician) will be responsible to wire and assemble drives, sub-assemblies, and various components in accordance with engineering drawings, wiring schematics, and bills of material utilizing hand and power tools in a team environment.

   Key Responsibilities:

   Through component assembly - fit, align, drill, cut, and/or grind materials (i.e., metal, plastic).

   Lift and position products to precise location using overhead crane and other material handling devices (i.e., power jack, fork truck). Move/position product as required.

   Maintain safe, clean, and orderly work area by utilizing 5S practices and follow prescribed safety regulations.

   Adhere to all safety policies and utilize all PPE.

   Review and follow all ISO workmanship procedures

   Work with Quality Assurance to meet internal and external customer expectations.

   Identify discrepancies and questionable conditions related to task and communicate to appropriate personnel.

   Actively participates in Lean continual improvement initiatives.

   Assist less experienced associates.

   Work overtime as required.

   May be required to perform other duties as requested, advised, or assigned.

   Required Knowledge/Skills, Education, and Experience

   High school diploma or equivalent required.

   Proficient use of basic hand and power tools required.

   Ability to perform responsibilities from engineering drawings, wiring schematics and bills of materials.

   Ability to climb to different heights and work at heights above waist level.

   Occasional heavy lifting up to 50 pounds may be required.

   Good written and oral communication skills required.

   Basic math and problem-solving skills required.

   Strong mechanical aptitude.

   Preferred Knowledge/Skills, Education, and Experience

   Experience in a production environment

   Minimum of one-year mechanical, electrical or related experience preferred.

   Basic digital literacy preferred.

   Associate degree in electrical or electronics preferred

   You should be proficient in:

   • Blueprint Reading
   • Electrical Schematics
   • Lean Manufacturing Principles
   • Mechanical Assembly Skills

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with mechanical technician 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 mechanical technician

   Once you've selected the best mechanical technician 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.

   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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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 mechanical technician?