How to hire a service writer

How to hire a service writer, step by step

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

What does a service writer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your service writer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a service writer for hire on a part-time basis or as a 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 service writer 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 writer that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of service writers.

   Type of Service Writer	Description	Hourly rate
   Service Writer	Customer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and provide information about an organization’s products and services.	$11-29
   Receptionist/Customer Service	Receptionists or customer service professionals are considered as the first contact point of the clients. They usually greet and welcome guests visiting an office or organization... Show more	$12-17
   Bilingual Customer Service	In bilingual customer service, a representative specializes in responding to calls using English or another foreign language that the customer prefers. Among their primary responsibilities include assisting customers and addressing any inquiries, concerns, or issues that they may raise... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Repair Orders
   • Warranty Claims
   • Cleanliness
   • Parts Inventory
   • Schedule Appointments
   • Product Knowledge
   • Customer Complaints
   • Service Orders
   • Computer System
   • Service Appointments
   • Automotive Problems
   • Payroll
   • Customer Satisfaction

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve certification in service writer sales (upselling )
   • Used SQL queries to report, analyze, and manage the ongoing Y2K research progress.
   • Prioritize and schedule service to residential customers for both HVAC and preventative maintenance.
   • Notify drivers via radio, cell phones, or GPS system.
   • Utilize GPS equipment and location to guide service technicians to service location.
   • Contact drivers for eta's, troubleshooting delivery issues, contact customers, reset orders.

   More service writer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   Average service writer salary

   $39,016yearly

   $18.76 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level service writer salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average service writer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Maryland	$52,492	$25
   2	New York	$48,169	$23
   3	California	$47,668	$23
   4	Wisconsin	$47,664	$23
   5	Colorado	$45,972	$22
   6	Kansas	$45,055	$22
   7	Texas	$43,066	$21
   8	Ohio	$41,335	$20
   9	Pennsylvania	$41,295	$20
   10	Virginia	$40,963	$20
   11	Florida	$40,874	$20
   12	Arizona	$40,209	$19
   13	Illinois	$39,757	$19
   14	North Carolina	$38,956	$19
   15	Washington	$38,831	$19
   16	New Mexico	$38,352	$18
   17	Utah	$37,070	$18
   18	Iowa	$36,024	$17
   19	Missouri	$35,502	$17
   20	Nevada	$32,569	$16

   Average service writer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	American Institute of Physics	$77,307	$37.17
   2	Cummins	$72,120	$34.67	10
   3	GPAC	$70,318	$33.81
   4	NexTier Oilfield Solutions	$65,268	$31.38
   5	Service Motor	$64,103	$30.82
   6	East Penn Manufacturing	$55,155	$26.52
   7	Thermo King	$49,454	$23.78
   8	Goodson Acura of Dallas	$49,228	$23.67	2
   9	Publicis Sapient	$49,068	$23.59
   10	Toyota of Naperville	$46,768	$22.48	1
   11	City of Reno	$44,696	$21.49
   12	Bartley Healthcare	$43,754	$21.04
   13	Greenway Ford	$43,344	$20.84
   14	Vermeer	$43,032	$20.69
   15	First Transit	$43,031	$20.69
   16	Adams County Government Center	$42,863	$20.61
   17	Gerry Lane	$42,576	$20.47	3
   18	Toro	$41,278	$19.85	4
   19	Aramsco	$41,146	$19.78
   20	Holman Enterprises	$40,741	$19.59	2

4. Writing a service writer job description

   A service writer 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 service writer job description:

   Service writer job description example

   Business Description
   Jiffy Lube is the largest quick lube chain in the nation with more than 2,000 franchise owned service centers. We Pioneered the Fast Oil Change industry more than 35 years ago by providing quick & convenient oil changes & fluid maintenance. Today we also offer almost every common repair service, from brake jobs to tune-ups, suspension repair, tire replacement & more.
   
   Qualifications
   The Automotive Service Advisor/Service Writer position requires previous experience, world class customer service, sales abilities & excellent communication skills.
   
   Responsibilities
   As an JLMC Service Advisor, you'll work in a fast-paced and specialized service environment, responsible for creating a positive guest experience, educating guests on automotive services & repairs, customer retention, & providing the highest level of customer satisfaction.
   
   Duties include but are not limited to:

   Providing guests with detailed service recommendations based on manufacturer and industry standards, assisting with technical & service questions as well as to obtain the guests authorizations to performed additional services & repairs. Service advisors must be knowledgeable of Jiffy Lube products & services to answer questions & to communicate any special circumstances that may impact their overall satisfaction. All staff must complete the required training courses for safety, brand standards, & service procedures through Jiffy Lube University. Service Advisors are also responsible for keeping the store clean, safe and presentable.
   
   Requirements

   · Automotive Service advisor or Service writer experience preferred

   · Experience with All Data or a similar automotive repair system is a plus

   · Excellent communication skills (written & oral)

   · Must have a positive attitude with a strong work ethic

   · Must be able to lift and move work-related items up to 50 pounds

   · Must be able to push, pull, lift, and bend at the knees and waist

   · Have a valid drivers license & be authorized to work in the U.S.

   Education

   · High School Diploma or GED

   Compensation

   · We offer competitive starting rates and advancement opportunity

   · State of the art training and certification recognized by ASE

   · Flexible scheduling, personal & family discounts, great team setting

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with service writer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 writer

   Once you've selected the best service writer 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new service writer. 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 writer?