How to hire a seismic engineer

How to hire a seismic engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step seismic engineer hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the seismic engineer you need to hire. Certain seismic engineer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect seismic engineer 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.

   Here's a comparison of seismic engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Seismic Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Seismic Engineer	Mining and geological engineers design mines to safely and efficiently remove minerals such as coal and metals for use in manufacturing and utilities.	$29-60
   Principal Engineer	A principal engineer is responsible for monitoring the overall design phase of the construction process, including coordinating with the client for progress and updates, as well as performing adjustments as needed based on clients' specifications and requirements. Principal engineers also inspect the materials and resources used to ensure that the project stays within the budget goals and set timeframe... Show more	$45-85
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Technical Support
   • Stress Analysis
   • Retrofit
   • Nuclear Power
   • R
   • Data Processing
   • ACI
   • Process Equipment

   Responsibilities:

   • Authore substantiation documents in compliance with FAA regulations and customer requirements to achieve type certifications and supplemental type certifications.
   • Cover all aspects of QC and in-file processing.
   • Company's algorithms have been develop for streamer data and are not appropriate for an OBC project.
   • Supervise a team which design and construct the first 1 11/16"3 axis VSP tool for Schlumberger.
   • Determine loads as per ASCE 7 and perform engineering calculations for beams, columns, foundations and connections.
   • Streamline the process of FEA model building, solving and post processing by writing custom ANSYS APDL macros.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your seismic engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A seismic engineer 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 seismic engineer in South Carolina may be lower than in New Mexico, and an entry-level seismic engineer usually earns less than a senior-level seismic engineer. Additionally, a seismic engineer 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 seismic engineer salary

   $88,120yearly

   $42.37 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level seismic engineer salary

   $61,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 22, 2025

   Average seismic engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$117,549	$57
   2	Colorado	$96,525	$46
   3	Texas	$87,514	$42
   4	Georgia	$83,571	$40
   5	Florida	$79,381	$38
   6	Wisconsin	$74,687	$36
   7	Louisiana	$74,262	$36
   8	South Carolina	$70,853	$34

   Average seismic engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Halliburton	$112,528	$54.10
   2	Shaw Environmental Inc.	$102,696	$49.37
   3	*n/a*	$102,536	$49.30
   4	Konecranes	$101,983	$49.03	3
   5	Enercon	$95,168	$45.75	17
   6	Southern Nuclear	$80,783	$38.84
   7	Planate Management Group	$80,028	$38.48
   8	Arup	$70,415	$33.85	10

4. Writing a seismic engineer job description

   A good seismic engineer 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 seismic engineer job description:

   Seismic engineer job description example

   Seismic Engineer Technical Services : Forensic A&E : Forensics · Newport Beach, California
   
   Department Technical Services : Forensic A&E : Forensics
   
   Employment Type Full Time
   
   Minimum Experience Mid-level
   
   Are you looking to join an organization that is growing and dynamic? What about a high-energy, collaborative environment that rewards hard work?
   
   J.S. Held is a global multi-disciplinary consulting firm with over 90 locations worldwide. We are highly committed to all members of our community, both employees and clients. Our organization focuses on promoting a sense of community and inspiring our people to achieve results that exceed goals.
   
   Job Description:
   
   We are seeking California-licensed Professional and Structural Engineers (PE and SE) to enhance our already robust team of professionals supporting our clients throughout the US. Our engineers are routinely engaged in seismic risk evaluations/assessments and retrofit design, provide consultation , and prepare and deliver technical papers. Our areas of practice include residential, commercial and industrial buildings' roof and floor framing systems, lateral force resisting systems, foundation systems, and hazard assessments and resulting damage (often in Catastrophic Zones). Assignments will occasionally require travel. Active involvement in professional associations and societies is encouraged and supported.
   
   Job Responsibilities:
   
   + Conducts field observations and data collection
   
   + Prepares reports detailing observations made, review of testing results or research by others, and opinions or recommendations
   
   + Works with building departments to determine repair/design directives
   
   + Develops technical topics for publication
   
   + Meets with and presents to peers and clients
   
   + Engages in client-relations marketing
   
   + Culminates and maintains high-level client relationships
   
   We would like to talk with you if you have:
   
   + Bachelor's degree in Engineering (from an ABET accredited school required)
   
   + PE license (required in California); SE is preferred
   
   + 5 or more years of experience with seismic lateral system design and seismic structural analysis (required)
   
   + 2 or more years of experience with seismic risk assessment/report writing (preferred)
   
   + Experience in construction (preferred)
   
   + Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
   
   + Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
   
   + Computer skills (including Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
   
   + A desire to learn, excel and grow with us and within the profession
   
   J.S. Held is dedicated to becoming the global leader in providing multi-disciplinary consulting services to the construction, government, healthcare, industrial, insurance, energy, legal, and technology, communities. We have diverse practice areas including Construction Advisory, Forensic Accounting & Economics, Forensic Architecture & Engineering, Surety, Environmental Health & Safety, Equipment, Toxicology, and Building & Property Consulting, among other disciplines. J.S. Held is devoted to recruiting and cultivating top industry talent to build a collaborative and diverse team of experts. We leverage our experience to provide local, cost-efficient solutions and an unrivaled client experience. We embrace diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Our commitment to building a team and environment that fosters professional and personal enrichment is unwavering. We are greater when we are equal!
   
   Some of the Benefits We Have Include
   
   J.S. Held understands all of our employees are people and sometimes life needs flexibility. We work to always provide an environment that best supports and suits our team's needs.
   
   + Our flexible work environment allows employees to work remotely, when needed
   
   + Generous PTO Policy
   
   + Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
   
   + 401k Match
   
   + Commuter Benefits
   
   EEO Statement
   
   J.S. Held LLC provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, J.S. Held LLC complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscriminatory employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
   
   J.S. Held LLC expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with J.S. Held LLC employees' ability to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.
   
   Other Duties
   
   Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
   
   Please explore what we're all about at . We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer.
   
   #LI-JB1

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find seismic engineers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your seismic engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit seismic engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit seismic engineers, 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 seismic engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the seismic engineer 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 seismic engineer. 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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