How to hire a plant mechanic

How to hire a plant mechanic, step by step

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

What does a plant mechanic do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a plant mechanic, 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a plant mechanic to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a plant mechanic that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of plant mechanics.

   Type of Plant Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Plant Mechanic	Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians repair and perform scheduled maintenance on aircraft. They also may perform aircraft inspections as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).	$15-30
   Aircraft Electrician	An aircraft electrician specializes in installing and repairing electrical systems in an aircraft, ensuring quality and efficiency. Their responsibilities typically include running diagnostic tests and examinations, troubleshooting problems, replacing and fixing components, understanding diagrams, and keeping records... Show more	$18-37
   Aircraft Maintenance Technician	Aircraft Maintenance Technicians make commercial, government/private airplanes, and helicopters safe for their crew and passengers. They ensure that aircrafts meet Federal Aviation Regulations.	$17-36

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Plant Equipment
   • Plumbing
   • Mechanical Equipment
   • Hand Tools
   • Ladders
   • HVAC
   • Plant Operations
   • General Maintenance
   • Water Treatment
   • Cooling Towers
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Electrical Systems
   • Mechanical Maintenance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Conduct troubleshooting of hydraulic and avionics components, as well s flight control rigging.
   • Perform general maintenance; light electrical, light plumbing, painting, light carpentry, and light construction.
   • Inspect, lubricate and replace bearings and gearboxes.
   • Experience with plumbing, sinks, toilets, traps, boiler piping, radiator and steam pipes.
   • Work with airline maintenance controllers t troubleshoot, repair and service aircraft and to certify aircraft for flight.
   • Perform simple line maintenance to include refueling, service hydraulics, engine oil, oxygen and minor avionics.

   More plant mechanic duties

3. Make a budget

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

   Average plant mechanic salary

   $45,332yearly

   $21.79 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level plant mechanic salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 10, 2026

   Average plant mechanic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$69,057	$33
   2	Nevada	$64,165	$31
   3	Washington	$59,299	$29
   4	New Jersey	$55,288	$27
   5	New York	$50,998	$25
   6	Wyoming	$50,403	$24
   7	North Dakota	$49,602	$24
   8	Ohio	$49,474	$24
   9	Colorado	$49,466	$24
   10	Maryland	$49,438	$24
   11	Arizona	$46,838	$23
   12	District of Columbia	$46,477	$22
   13	Utah	$46,169	$22
   14	Virginia	$45,337	$22
   15	Texas	$44,090	$21
   16	Kentucky	$43,572	$21
   17	Illinois	$43,493	$21
   18	Iowa	$42,490	$20
   19	Oklahoma	$41,415	$20
   20	Michigan	$40,451	$19

   Average plant mechanic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	SMUD	$77,175	$37.10
   2	WakeMed	$64,988	$31.24
   3	Pacifi	$63,634	$30.59	9
   4	DCP Midstream	$62,321	$29.96
   5	Allan A. Myers	$60,395	$29.04	11
   6	HealthTrust	$59,102	$28.41
   7	Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego	$57,984	$27.88
   8	Baptist Health Home Care	$57,316	$27.56	3
   9	City of Pasadena	$57,267	$27.53	1
   10	Foley Products	$56,312	$27.07
   11	Seneca Foods	$56,034	$26.94	14
   12	Freeport-McMoRan	$55,919	$26.88	25
   13	Kinder Morgan	$55,700	$26.78	10
   14	Walsh Electric	$54,569	$26.24
   15	Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution	$53,926	$25.93
   16	Aramark	$53,816	$25.87	30
   17	Calportland	$53,610	$25.77	29
   18	Kiewit	$53,500	$25.72	8
   19	Johns Manville	$53,161	$25.56	11
   20	The Walsh Group	$53,049	$25.50	2

4. Writing a plant mechanic job description

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

   Plant mechanic job description example

   Building a career at Granite may be the most valuable thing you could do...
   Are you interested in the opportunity to work for an industry-leading company that will give you the experience and exposure you need to build your career and personal brand? If so, then you've come to the right place!
   
   General Summary
   The Plant Mechanic is responsible for the safe repair and maintenance of equipment found in a high production aggregate production facility. Equipment includes but is not limited to: asphalt plant, cone crushers, jaw crushers, screen decks, material screws, conveyors, pumps, dust collectors, asphalt drums, bins, silos, hoppers; hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical machinery and systems.
   
   Perform safety and mechanical inspections of equipment.Address any housekeeping issues within the work area.Performs repairs on machinery and equipment, including but not limited to: changing conveyor belts, repairing bearings, pulleys, idlers, repairing and patching belts, screens and pumps; welding, replacing steel on bins and chutes.Perform maintenance on machinery and equipment, including but not limited to: screen changes, lubricating, fueling, and cleaning.Perform other duties as required.
   
   Education
   High school diploma or GED
   
   Work Experience
   Experience in industrial mechanical repair and maintenance.2-4 years of aggregate plant repair and maintenance experience, preferred.Experience working in an MSHA environment, preferred.
   
   Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
   Ability to troubleshoot, diagnose and repair.Ability to wear a full body harness and work at heights while tied off.Ability to work, day, swing, and night shifts (occasionally extended hours).Ability to work in constant exposure to outside elements, in all weather conditions.Ability to work in safety sensitive setting, including exposure to moving machinery and heavy equipment.Ability to work collaboratively with a team in a fast-paced and complex environment.Ability to obtain an MSHA Part 46 certificate as required for the job.Ability to utilize cut torches to repair and maintain plant equipment.Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.Comply, understand, and support corporate safety initiatives to ensure a safe work environment.Ability and willingness to abide by Granite's Code of Conduct daily.
   
   Physical Demands
   Physical dexterity, stamina, and excellent hand-eye coordination with ability to: grasp, assemble, and lift objects, stand, sit, and walk for extended periods over uneven surfaces, squat, bend, climb ladders onto equipment or other objects, and potentially lie down.Ability to effectively and efficiently work at heights up to 110 feet.Lifting, pushing, pulling of heavy items weighing up to 80 lbs. or more.
   
   About Granite Construction IncorporatedGranite Construction Incorporated is a member of the S&P 400 Index and is the parent company of Granite Construction Company, one of the nation's largest heavy civil contractors and construction materials producers. Granite Construction is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities and a Drug-Free Workplace. For additional information on applicant/employee rights please click here.Notice to Staffing AgenciesGranite Construction, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("Granite") will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Granite, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Granite mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Granite employees, or to Granite's resume database will be considered Granite property. Granite will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Granite will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. Agencies must obtain advance written approval from Granite's recruiting function to submit resumes, and then only in conjunction with a valid fully-executed contract for service and in response to a specific job opening. Granite will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have such agreement in place. Agency agreements will only be valid if in writing and signed by Granite's Human Resources Representative or his/ her designee. No other Granite employee is authorized to bind Granite to any agreement regarding the placement of candidates by Agencies.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find plant 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 plant mechanics they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level plant 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 plant mechanic job on Zippia to find and recruit plant mechanic candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting plant mechanics requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 plant mechanic

   Once you've selected the best plant 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 plant 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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How much does it cost to hire a plant mechanic?