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How to hire a mobile equipment mechanic

Mobile equipment mechanic hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring mobile equipment mechanics in the United States:

  • There are currently 44,408 mobile equipment mechanics in the US, as well as 105,687 job openings.
  • Mobile equipment mechanics are in the highest demand in Redwood City, CA, with 5 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a mobile equipment mechanic is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new mobile equipment mechanic to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a mobile equipment mechanic, step by step

To hire a mobile equipment mechanic, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a mobile equipment mechanic:

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

What does a mobile equipment mechanic do?

Mobile equipment mechanics are skilled employees who are responsible for conducting repairs and maintenance of construction and surface mining equipment such as bulldozers, cranes, and excavators. These mechanics must inspect machines and heavy equipment while evaluating operating manuals to perform diagnosis and resolve any defects. They are required to use hand and power tools to perform repairs on the defective equipment parts. Mobile equipment mechanics must also check any open circuits on the electrical systems of heavy equipment.

Learn more about the specifics of what a mobile equipment mechanic does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The mobile equipment mechanic 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?

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

    This list presents mobile equipment mechanic salaries for various positions.

    Type of Mobile Equipment MechanicDescriptionHourly rate
    Mobile Equipment MechanicHeavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians inspect, maintain, and repair vehicles and machinery used in construction, farming, rail transportation, and other industries.$21-55
    Mechanic HelperThe job of a mechanic helper is to support lead mechanics and perform a variety of duties and responsibilities. You will be assisting in the maintenance of cars, such as changing tires and oils, replacing brakes, and diagnosing vehicle issues... Show more$11-19
    Forklift TechnicianPrimarily, a forklift technician services and monitors forklifts and any other heavy industrial vehicles. Forklift technicians maintain tools, communicate with the salespeople, handle inventory, and utilize computer-based diagnostics on any equipment... Show more$14-28
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Hand Tools
    • Cranes
    • Electrical Systems
    • Loaders
    • Hydraulic Systems
    • Preventive Maintenance
    • Mechanical Systems
    • Asphalt
    • Vehicle Systems
    • Ladders
    • Hoists
    • Mechanical Problems
    • Diesel Engines
    • Bulldozers
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Inspect building systems HVAC and plumbing to ensure operation equipment is within design capabilities and achieves environmental conditions prescribe by the client
    • Replace faulty injectors, governor advance units, heads or blowers.
    • Provide HVAC, plumbing, electrical and general maintenance support to commercial accounts.
    • Revise and implement a HAZMAT standard operating procedure in accordance with USAEUR regulations.
    • Work with the PLC systems to control product movement and other logic controls.
    • Determine and repair malfunctions in electric, mechanical, pneumatic and plc systems.
    More mobile equipment mechanic duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    Average mobile equipment mechanic salary

    $72,190yearly

    $34.71 hourly rate

    Entry-level mobile equipment mechanic salary
    $45,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 14, 2025

    Average mobile equipment mechanic salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$104,171$50
    2Massachusetts$101,628$49
    3Oregon$88,544$43
    4New York$88,305$42
    5New Jersey$83,893$40
    6Washington$81,790$39
    7Maryland$78,377$38
    8District of Columbia$77,755$37
    9Pennsylvania$75,546$36
    10North Carolina$69,652$33
    11Texas$68,426$33
    12Utah$68,296$33
    13Michigan$66,736$32
    14Wyoming$64,732$31
    15Oklahoma$62,567$30
    16Maine$62,425$30
    17Wisconsin$62,396$30
    18Indiana$59,154$28
    19Mississippi$57,334$28

    Average mobile equipment mechanic salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Koch Industries$122,838$59.061
    2Flyers Energy$108,719$52.27
    3Salson Logistics$92,358$44.40
    4Nucor$84,486$40.6218
    5Oldcastle Infrastructure$83,995$40.38218
    6Fluor Corporation$80,403$38.6630
    7Silestone by Cosentino$78,348$37.67
    8TRADEBE TRANSPORTATION$78,133$37.56
    9Croell Ready Mix$78,070$37.53
    10Air National Guard$77,837$37.42
    11Holcim$77,337$37.18
    12Northern Star Industries$76,742$36.90
    13USG$76,493$36.781
    14Gerdau Ameristeel$75,915$36.502
    15Covanta$75,832$36.46
    16Structural Preservation Systems LLC$75,414$36.261
    17G&D Integrated$75,233$36.171
    18United States Army Corps of Engineers$73,909$35.53
    19Amsted Rail$73,818$35.49
    20United States Marine Corps$73,702$35.43
  4. Writing a mobile equipment mechanic job description

    A job description for a mobile equipment mechanic 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 a mobile equipment mechanic job description:

    Mobile equipment mechanic job description example

    Arcosa Lightweight is searching for a Mobile Equipment Mechanic for our 24/7 Streetman, TX plant. In this role you will support a positive safety culture by directing the activities and staff within an aggregate environment that is regulated by MSHA safety standards As a Mobile Equipment Mechanic, you will operate all types of mining equipment and do plan and unplanned repair and maintenance on our mobile equipment.

    Arcosa Lightweight is a leading producer and distributor in the Western and Southwestern U.S. of lightweight and natural aggregates, including expanded shale and clay, crushed stone, sand and gravel, asphalt rock, and other products.
    Essential Duties & Responsibilities

    What You'll Do:
    • Comply with all industry safety rules, procedures and applicable government regulations.
    • Perform equipment inspections.
    • Operate all types of mining equipment in an efficient manner in all weather conditions in a mining production environment.
    • Load product and overburden in open pit mine
    • Attend scheduled departmental and safety meetings.
    • Comply with strict safety procedures, following all MSHA guidelines.
    • Observe production and monitor equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation.
    • Clean and maintain equipment.
    • Complete work maintenance orders.
    • Record operational and production data accurately.
    • Collect and test samples of materials or products to ensure compliance with specifications.
    • Transfer materials supplies and product between work areas.
    • Communicate and work with other departments.
    • Attend scheduled departmental and safety meetings.

    Qualifications and/or Requirements
    • Loader experience helpful
    • General understanding of good manufacturing practices, including machine set up and start up and ability to identify and resolve basic processing issues.
    • Ability to properly use hand tools.
    • Basic math skills and use of calculator.
    • Not required but beneficial - knowledge of blending, fluid bed dryer operation, sieving and granulation processes
    • Passing Drug & Physical Testing and Background check
    • Mine Safety Training (MSHA) - will train upon hire.

    Physical Demands & Work Environment
    • Regularly sitting, standing, walking, talking, hearing. Vision requirements include close vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Frequent use of hands and arms. Requires ability to lift, carry, push or pull medium weights, up to 75lbs. Occasional bending, squatting, crawling, climbing, reaching, ascending and descending stairs or ladders.

    Work Environment
    • This job is performed in the open pit mine and crushing plant in a mining and production environment. While performing job duties there is regular exposure to moderate to loud noise levels, fine dust, vibration and moving mechanical parts.

  5. Post your job

    To find mobile equipment mechanics for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any mobile equipment mechanics they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level mobile equipment mechanics with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your mobile equipment mechanic job on Zippia to find and recruit mobile equipment mechanic candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with mobile equipment 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 mobile equipment mechanic

    Once you've decided on a perfect mobile equipment 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new mobile equipment 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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How much does it cost to hire a mobile equipment mechanic?

Recruiting mobile equipment mechanics involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $72,190 per year for a mobile equipment mechanic, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for mobile equipment mechanics in the US typically range between $21 and $55 an hour.

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