How to hire a service mechanical technician

How to hire a service mechanical technician, step by step

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

What does a service mechanical technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The service mechanical technician 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

   Hiring the perfect service mechanical technician 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.

   This list presents service mechanical technician salaries for various positions.

   Type of Service Mechanical Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Service 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.	$15-32
   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
   Mechanic	Mechanics are professionals responsible for assembling, maintaining, and repairing vehicles and types of machinery. They are knowledgeable of various tools and equipment, machinery, electrical systems, and other components... Show more	$16-30

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Diagnosis
   • Hydraulic Systems
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Strong Customer Service
   • Hand Tools
   • DOT
   • Electrical Systems
   • Construction Equipment
   • Propane
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Loaders
   • Shop Equipment
   • Customer Relations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Dispatch work accordingly, manage and assist team members with more complex repairs and diagnosis.
   • Follow OSHA work safe regulations while visiting customer plants.
   • Maintain and service regular customer workloads on all HVAC systems perform seasonal filters, replacement of belts, motors.
   • Inspect, troubleshot, and repair hoists and overhead bridge cranes, AC/DC motors generators and electrical/mechanical auxiliary equipment.
   • Test electro-mechanical subsystems for circuit integrity and operational reliability.
   • Gain experience in MIG, TIG, stick, and flux core welding as well as metal fabrication

   More service mechanical technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your service mechanical technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A service mechanical technician salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, service mechanical technicians' average salary in kentucky is 40% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level service mechanical technicians earn 51% less than senior-level service mechanical technicians.
   • Certifications. A service mechanical technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a service mechanical technician's salary.

   Average service mechanical technician salary

   $47,820yearly

   $22.99 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level service mechanical technician salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average service mechanical technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$62,321	$30
   2	Arizona	$54,233	$26
   3	Indiana	$53,931	$26
   4	Washington	$53,677	$26
   5	Delaware	$53,578	$26
   6	Pennsylvania	$53,180	$26
   7	Texas	$52,402	$25
   8	New York	$47,979	$23
   9	Michigan	$47,084	$23
   10	Oregon	$46,607	$22
   11	Alabama	$45,774	$22
   12	Louisiana	$45,639	$22
   13	Nebraska	$45,307	$22
   14	South Carolina	$44,776	$22
   15	Colorado	$43,125	$21
   16	Georgia	$41,569	$20
   17	Iowa	$40,668	$20
   18	Idaho	$38,037	$18
   19	Kentucky	$37,449	$18

   Average service mechanical technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	State Street	$103,209	$49.62	6
   2	Crown Equipment	$72,205	$34.71	331
   3	Raytheon Technologies	$61,836	$29.73	92
   4	Trek Bicycle	$61,479	$29.56	12
   5	Plaza Auto Mall	$58,056	$27.91
   6	Kendall Auto Group	$51,779	$24.89
   7	Jeff Wyler	$51,749	$24.88
   8	Monster Products	$50,531	$24.29
   9	The Jamar Company	$50,186	$24.13
   10	Ryder System	$49,203	$23.66	32
   11	TDIndustries	$49,179	$23.64
   12	Golden Gate Bridge	$49,058	$23.59
   13	Atlas Copco Drilling Solutions LLC	$49,032	$23.57	42
   14	Planet Honda Colorado	$48,947	$23.53	3
   15	Thermo King	$48,575	$23.35	9
   16	Goodwin Recruiting	$48,521	$23.33	2
   17	Recruiting Solutions	$48,398	$23.27
   18	CPG International Holdings LP	$47,088	$22.64
   19	Fred Haas Country	$46,995	$22.59	5
   20	Bradley-Morris	$46,509	$22.36

4. Writing a service mechanical technician job description

   A good service mechanical technician 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 service mechanical technician job description:

   Service mechanical technician job description example

   Fred Haas Toyota Country, 22435 S.H. 249, Houston, TX 77070
   Located at Spring Cypress & 249, just 5 mins North of the Beltway!
   ASE Certified Technician / Mechanic - Fred Haas Toyota Country
   

   Excellent pay? Career advancement? State-of-the-art shop? Our dealership offers that and more for our ASE Certified Mechanic. If you are looking for more than just a “new job” and are ready to make a serious career move, then we may have the right opportunity for you. ASE Certified Mechanics are experts of their trade, with the ability to quickly and efficiently identify problems and perform routine maintenance on a daily basis.

   Responsibilities

   • Determine and discuss vehicle issues, current work and future needs with customers and service advisors.
   • Diagnose, maintain and repair automotive systems.
   • Perform quality inspections, including test drives, of vehicles prior to returning them to customers
   • Communicate directly with service advisors to keep customers informed of any additional service needs and provide an estimate for any new repairs.
   • Execute repairs under warranty to manufacturer specifications.

   Compensation

   Sign on bonus with competitive compensation.

   Requirements

   At our dealership, ASE Certified Mechanics are determined and persistent problem solvers who are expected to maintain a comprehensive understanding of the latest automotive technologies.

   Education and/or Experience

   High school diploma or GED (general equivalency diploma); or 1 to 3 months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

   Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

   Operator Driver License

   State Inspection License

   Benefits

   Benefits include medical, vision and dental insurance, 401K retirement savings plan, Vacation time, holiday and sick leave, company paid continuing education and training. Our company maintains a strong policy of equal employment opportunity for all associates. We hire, train, promote and compensate associates on the basis of personal and professional competence and potential for advancement without regard for race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability or citizenship, as well as other classifications protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

   About

   The biggest difference our customers and guests experience at Fred Haas Companies is a dedicated staff of friendly, well-trained, and experienced employees. Reflecting the diversity of Houston today, the Fred Haas staff includes the best and the brightest of many different cultures, speaking many different languages. The result has been continuous recognition from the automotive industry in every aspect of the business. Fred Haas Companies is continuously recognized by several industry awards as a leader among its peers. Fred Haas Companies has a long-standing tradition of excellence and guest-satisfaction and we are seeking team members who have the highest level of integrity, are self-motivated and have a desire for a long-term career.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit service mechanical technicians, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up 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 service mechanical technician

   Once you've found the service mechanical technician candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new service mechanical technician. 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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How much does it cost to hire a service mechanical technician?