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How to hire a service technician

Service technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring service technicians in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a service technician 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 service technician to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a service technician, step by step

To hire a service technician, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a service technician:

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

What does a service technician do?

Service technicians are assigned in the field to address the concerns of their clients. Service technicians are responsible for the installation, maintenance, or repair of different units or items related to their company's products or services. They should be familiar with their company's products so that they can properly install, maintain, or repair them. They conduct diagnostics and analysis to assess the condition of the unit they are servicing and properly address problems. They also do routine maintenance check-ups. Service technicians are expected to be trustworthy, have good analytical skills, and have good decision-making skills.

Learn more about the specifics of what a service technician does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The service 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?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a service technician 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 service technician that fits the bill.

    The following list breaks down different types of service technicians and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Service TechnicianDescriptionHourly rate
    Service TechnicianHeavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians inspect, maintain, and repair vehicles and machinery used in construction, farming, rail transportation, and other industries.$13-27
    Instrument Technician ApprenticeAn 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
    Preventive Maintenance TechnicianA preventive maintenance technician performs routine facility maintenance to prevent possible mechanical failure. The technicians change worn out machine parts before they can cause mechanical damage... Show more$14-25
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Plumbing
    • Customer Service
    • Preventative Maintenance
    • Hand Tools
    • CDL
    • Patients
    • Customer Satisfaction
    • Safety Procedures
    • Ladders
    • Diagnosis
    • Work Ethic
    • OSHA
    • Service Calls
    • Strong Customer Service
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage and perform the installation of HVAC equipment, air handlers, condensers, thermostats, ducts and piping.
    • Perform routine maintenance work on loaders, conveyors, trucks, and trailers.
    • Cable installation as a COMCAST subcontractor
    • Ensure ISO compliance and perform QC.
    • Service damaged smartphones, tablets, and peripherals.
    • Remove and launch boats from water using heavy equipment.
    More service technician duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    Average service technician salary

    $40,379yearly

    $19.41 hourly rate

    Entry-level service technician salary
    $28,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 23, 2025

    Average service technician salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$50,022$24
    2Arizona$46,959$23
    3Nevada$46,252$22
    4New York$46,078$22
    5Massachusetts$45,497$22
    6Maryland$44,525$21
    7New Mexico$43,553$21
    8Pennsylvania$43,006$21
    9Washington$41,321$20
    10Minnesota$40,499$19
    11Ohio$40,279$19
    12Virginia$40,181$19
    13Texas$39,966$19
    14Oregon$39,866$19
    15Florida$39,433$19
    16Colorado$38,984$19
    17Illinois$38,753$19
    18Indiana$38,430$18
    19North Carolina$37,723$18
    20Oklahoma$37,680$18

    Average service technician salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1IBM$79,134$38.05
    2Dorsey & Whitney$64,630$31.07
    3ABB$64,166$30.8550
    4Schneider Electric Industrial Services$63,376$30.4777
    5Quaker Houghton$62,517$30.0611
    6AMETEK$61,192$29.4215
    7Nabors Industries$59,324$28.5212
    8HDR$59,237$28.481
    9American Water$58,524$28.1413
    10General Electric$58,077$27.9227
    11Ernst & Young$57,783$27.7854
    12Siemens$56,558$27.1951
    13Sierra Pacific Industries$56,271$27.0523
    14Forum Energy Technologies$56,122$26.989
    15Johnson Controls$55,862$26.86530
    16Cummins$55,766$26.81167
    17National Grid plc$55,743$26.805
    18Mt. San Antonio College$55,276$26.572
    19NW Natural$55,241$26.56
    20CyberCoders$55,042$26.46
  4. Writing a service technician job description

    A service technician 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 service technician job description:

    Service technician job description example


    At Delaware North, we care about our associates professional and personal wellbeing. We have a comprehensive benefits program designed to give our associates the comfort, safety, and stability they need to deliver exceptional service to our guests. All associates are eligible for benefits including weekly pay, employee assistance program, training and development, employee discounts, and flexible work schedules. Medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) with company match, paid vacation and holidays, and tuition reimbursement are available for eligible associates.

    Must be 21 years old

    Pay rate: starting at $15.00 per hour.

    Schedule: 11:00AM - 7:30PM.

    Responsibilities
    • Ensure all GEM owned equipment is kept operational and in compliance with state regulations.
    • Develop working knowledge of gaming machine parts as well as equipment operation and repair.
    • Organize, prioritize, and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
    • Perform as a team member and assist fellow employees to ensure a smooth operation.
    • Ensure all established policies and procedures are adhered to ensure protection of assets and GEM personnel.
    • Must be comfortable securing, handling, and transporting large sums of currency.
    • Conflict resolution regarding gaming equipment issues.
    • Work as ambassador for GEM as part of daily job function.
    Qualifications
    • Minimum of 2 years' related experience or training required.
    • Basic math skills including addition and subtraction.
    • Intermediate computer skills including e-mail, spreadsheets, graphics, routine data base activity, and record keeping, as well as basic smart phone and GPS knowledge.
    • Maintain a valid driver's license.
    • Must be able to maintain appropriate license in accordance with the State of Illinois Requirements.
    • Able and willing to work flexible work schedule.
    • General knowledge of gaming regulations.
    Physical Requirements
    • Ability to operate a motor vehicle for extended periods of time.
    • Able to lift and carry a minimum of 70 pounds occasionally.
    • Ability to stand, sit, and kneel for brief periods.
    • Ability to work in an indoor, loud, and smoky
    Shift Details

    2nd Shift

    Who We Are

    At Delaware North, you ll love where you work, who you work with, and how your day unfolds. Whether it s in sporting venues, casinos, airports, national parks, iconic hotels, or premier restaurants, there s no telling where your career can ultimately take you. We empower you to do great work in a company with 100 years of success, stability and growth. If you have drive and enjoy the thrill of making things happen - share our vision and grow with us.

    Delaware North Companies, Incorporated and its subsidiaries consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. Delaware North is an equal opportunity employer.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find service technicians 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 service technician job on Zippia to find and recruit service technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting service technicians 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.

    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 service technician

    Once you've selected the best service technician 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.

    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.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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 technician?

Recruiting service technicians 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.

Service technicians earn a median yearly salary is $40,379 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find service technicians for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $13 and $27.

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