How to hire a scrum master

How to hire a scrum master, step by step

Here's a step-by-step scrum master hiring guide:

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

What does a scrum master do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The scrum master 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?

   Yes

   No

   A scrum master's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, scrum masters 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 scrum master salaries for various positions.

   Type of Scrum Master	Description	Hourly rate
   Scrum Master		$31-54
   Information Technology Technical Lead	An information technology technical lead is responsible for assisting the technology team in solving system issues, designing new application systems, improving existing network infrastructure, and maintaining the safety and security of the organization's database. Information technology technical leads inspect the technology system's performance, recommending strategic solutions for optimization and smooth navigations for end-users... Show more	$40-70
   Information Technology Project Lead	Information technology (IT) project leads are professionals who manage a team of IT professionals that work on the IT projects of an organization. These project leads are required to handle all issues regarding the project and financial management as well as review business and product requirements with the technical development team to address production issues... Show more	$36-66

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Jira
   • Software Development
   • Agile Scrum
   • Kanban
   • Continuous Improvement
   • User Stories
   • Project Management
   • Product Backlog
   • Conflict Resolution
   • Pi Planning
   • Agile Principles
   • Scrum Ceremonies
   • Agile Practices
   • Release Planning

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Analyze SQL, SSIS and VBA to achieve better processing time.
   • Manage high-level budgeting and time tracking for the project and also demonstrate knowledge of TDD.
   • Lead UX and e-commerce optimization projects through product road-map ownership, cross-department negotiations, and product requirement creation.
   • Manage the release process and the end to end SDLC for MMIS to ensure that customer commitments are being keep.
   • Manage the release development and deployment of mission critical ERP and call center web-base java application in an Agile/SCRUM environment.
   • Implement agile methodologies by managing and prioritizing Kanban board.

   More scrum master duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your scrum master job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A scrum master can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, scrum masters' average salary in alaska is 35% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level scrum masters 43% less than senior-level scrum masters.
   • Certifications. A scrum master with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a scrum master's salary.

   Average scrum master salary

   $86,329yearly

   $41.50 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level scrum master salary

   $65,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average scrum master salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$109,758	$53
   2	Washington	$94,592	$45
   3	Delaware	$92,408	$44
   4	New York	$90,632	$44
   5	Pennsylvania	$90,618	$44
   6	Rhode Island	$89,065	$43
   7	District of Columbia	$87,678	$42
   8	Virginia	$87,673	$42
   9	Maryland	$87,513	$42
   10	New Jersey	$86,097	$41
   11	North Carolina	$85,814	$41
   12	Massachusetts	$84,686	$41
   13	Connecticut	$84,573	$41
   14	Arizona	$84,451	$41
   15	Texas	$83,357	$40
   16	Illinois	$82,919	$40
   17	Ohio	$81,946	$39
   18	Minnesota	$81,377	$39
   19	Florida	$80,624	$39
   20	Indiana	$80,455	$39

   Average scrum master salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	ICE Mortgage Technology	$144,793	$69.61
   2	PayPal	$141,223	$67.90	2
   3	Snowflake Computing	$140,506	$67.55
   4	Levi Strauss & Co.	$140,189	$67.40
   5	First Republic Bank	$136,792	$65.77
   6	Xandr	$136,596	$65.67
   7	Gap Inc.	$134,607	$64.71
   8	Cepheid	$134,584	$64.70
   9	Twilio	$134,520	$64.67
   10	Vista Equity Partners	$133,679	$64.27	1
   11	Bloomberg	$132,243	$63.58	17
   12	Edward Hospital & Health Services	$131,383	$63.16
   13	Santander Private Banking International	$129,925	$62.46
   14	Upwork	$129,598	$62.31
   15	Bunge	$129,440	$62.23
   16	Barclays	$129,274	$62.15	1
   17	Cisco	$127,921	$61.50	10
   18	Hannaford Supermarkets	$127,401	$61.25
   19	J.P. Morgan	$127,054	$61.08
   20	Neiman Marcus Group	$126,639	$60.88	1

4. Writing a scrum master job description

   A scrum master 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. Below, you can find an example of a scrum master job description:

   Scrum master job description example

   KPMG New Zealand is part of the international KPMG network, one of the world's leading professional services organisations. We provide audit, tax, and advisory services to individuals, SMEs, not-for-profit organisations, multi-nationals and government agencies.
   
   KPMG Digital Lighthouse is comprised of several specialist chapters who combine to design, deliver and operate cutting edge digital solutions on a variety of architectures, supporting our cross-sector clients to digitally transform their organisations and thrive on a global scale. We are a passionate, inclusive and supportive team who care about our clients, our people and the work we do. Join us today and accelerate your digital career with KPMG.
   
   The opportunity: We are looking for a Scrum Master to drive the agile processes and cadence of the Software Development chapter to support the continued delivery of quality outcomes and robust digital solutions for our clients. You will form part of a high performing, collaborative team who in collaboration with other Digital Lighthouse chapters, solve our clients most complex business challenges through harnessing the power of technology
   
   Day to day you will: Lead the iterative evolvement and operation of new ways of working using Agile frameworks and a CI / CD led approach with a strong focus on automation Use Scrum Master expertise and in collaboration with the Product Owner, co-ordinate backlog refinement, manage new requests, co-ordinate sprint planning, retros and daily stand ups Build strong working relationships and regularly collaborate with product owners, delivery leads and business stakeholders to align on expectations, update on project delivery and build trust Remove impediments from the development team and create an environment where they feel supported, empowered and creativity can occur
   
   What you'll bring to the team: Demonstrated experience as a Scrum Master or Agile Coach in a fast-paced environment, underpinned by relevant Agile and Scrum certifications (PMI-ACP, ICP, AgilePM, SAFe etc) A good understanding and working knowledge of programming languages such as CSS, HTML, JavaScript. Ideally having had exposure to a SaaS environmentA Servant leadership mindset with the ability to support conflict resolution, continual improvement, effective collaboration and empowerment Excellent written and verbal communication skills along with demonstrated people and project management capability A can-do attitude and willingness to learn, innovate and challenge the status quo by introducing new ideas and concepts to the team
   Life at KPMG
   
   We offer rewarding careers to talented individuals and a range of benefits to help provide holistic support for your work life, whatever your circumstance. As a KPMG employee, we will offer you:
   - An array of health and wellness benefits such as free flu jabs, subsidised sporting events, access to EAP, additional leave to support you if you are diagnosed with COVID-19, access to e-bikes and other facilities. You will also have access to our Wellbeing@KPMG portal which has an extensive array of health and wellness advice.
   - Hybrid Working - a mix of working in the office and at home to enhance your work/life balance as well as access to technology to get your 'home hub' set up.
   - Work from Overseas policy - extend time connecting with friends and family outside New Zealand
   - Flexible leave options, including the ability to purchase additional annual leave.
   - Access to ‘Whanau@KPMG' - 18 weeks' paid flexible leave for all new parents - primary and secondary carers
   - Unlimited access to digital accreditations through our partnership with Microsoft, LinkedIn Learning, with bespoke learning pathways for all employees.
   - Corporate discounts on a range of lifestyle goods and services.
   - Opportunity to join any of our Inclusion, Diversity and Equity networks as a participant and ally.
   - Opportunity to join our Social club and enjoy activities such as cooking classes, painting, quiz nights and more.
   - Time off for volunteering.
   - Eligibility to our annual discretionary bonus scheme.
   - Opportunities for local and international secondments.
   
   We believe that diversity of background and experience strengthens relationships and delivers meaningful benefits to our people, clients and communities. Our goal is to be recognised as an employer of choice for all, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, generation, flexible work status, family circumstances, sexual orientation or disability. Further info can be found on our website
   
   We are a 2022 Circle Back Initiative Employer - we commit to respond to every applicant.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right scrum master 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 scrum master job on Zippia to find and attract quality scrum master candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit scrum masters, 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.

   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.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a scrum master applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   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 scrum master

   Once you have selected a candidate for the scrum master position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new scrum master. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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