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How to hire a solution specialist

Solution specialist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring solution specialists in the United States:

  • There are currently 11,335 solution specialists in the US, as well as 56,938 job openings.
  • Solution specialists are in the highest demand in Chicago, IL, with 55 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a solution specialist 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 solution specialist to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a solution specialist, step by step

To hire a solution specialist, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a solution specialist:

Here's a step-by-step solution specialist hiring guide:

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

What does a solution specialist do?

A solution specialist is responsible for selling and promoting goods and services of an organization to existing and potential clients through product demonstrations and professional sales pitches, typically on phone calls and e-mail communication. Solutions specialists must possess strong product knowledge to respond to customers' inquiries and concerns about the products and successfully close sales deals that would increase the company's revenues and profitability. A solutions specialist must have excellent communication and customer service skills, maximizing strategic techniques to build customer satisfaction.

Learn more about the specifics of what a solution specialist does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The solution specialist 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?

    A solution specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, solution specialists 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 shows salaries for various types of solution specialists.

    Type of Solution SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Solution SpecialistCustomer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and provide information about an organization’s products and services.$22-60
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Product Knowledge
    • Sales Process
    • SQL
    • Java
    • Azure
    • Windows
    • Troubleshoot
    • Customer Satisfaction
    • Technical Support
    • Pre Sales
    • Excellent Presentation
    • CRM
    • Customer Service
    • PowerPoint
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Lead multiple team meetings covering best practices, new policy and procedures, and explaining new MBO targets.
    • Manage existing accounts while identifying new sources of opportunities for sales in the SME segment through cold calling and prospecting.
    • Manage payroll and overall candidate compliance regarding eligibility of employment and new hire paperwork.
    • Manage billing inquiries, encourage cross-selling and referral for additional property and casualty lines of business.
    • Manage Microsoft SQL consolidation project to improve the operational efficiency of database servers and reduce their licensing costs.
    • Research and implement new technology solutions including a CRM software, email marketing opportunities, and a company blog.
    More solution specialist duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your solution specialist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A solution specialist salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, solution specialists' average salary in louisiana is 63% less than in alaska.
    • Seniority. Entry-level solution specialists earn 63% less than senior-level solution specialists.
    • Certifications. A solution specialist 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 solution specialist's salary.

    Average solution specialist salary

    $76,424yearly

    $36.74 hourly rate

    Entry-level solution specialist salary
    $46,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 17, 2025

    Average solution specialist salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Washington$131,170$63
    2California$108,217$52
    3Oregon$105,164$51
    4Minnesota$103,775$50
    5District of Columbia$103,079$50
    6Massachusetts$100,709$48
    7New York$100,164$48
    8New Jersey$97,866$47
    9Illinois$96,883$47
    10Maryland$92,000$44
    11Michigan$89,223$43
    12Connecticut$89,197$43
    13Pennsylvania$87,405$42
    14Ohio$86,947$42
    15North Carolina$83,899$40
    16Missouri$82,950$40
    17Virginia$82,769$40
    18Arizona$82,169$40
    19Indiana$78,833$38
    20Nebraska$76,277$37

    Average solution specialist salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1PayPal$131,727$63.33
    2Federal Reserve$130,957$62.96
    3Genentech$128,196$61.63
    4Federal Reserve Bank$127,074$61.09
    5Exact Sciences$125,395$60.291
    6Google$124,247$59.736
    7Microsoft$123,995$59.6155
    8Bloomberg$121,484$58.417
    9SAP$121,247$58.295
    10PepsiCo$120,070$57.736
    11Opera Colorado$117,841$56.65
    12Nuance Communications$116,907$56.21
    13Hitachi Vantara$114,688$55.14
    14McKinsey & Company Inc$113,654$54.6424
    15Schlumberger$110,059$52.911
    16Agilent Technologies$109,026$52.421
    17Moody's$108,902$52.362
    18Analog Devices$108,067$51.96
    19Sharp$107,111$51.501
    20Avid$106,856$51.37
  4. Writing a solution specialist job description

    A good solution specialist 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 solution specialist job description:

    Solution specialist job description example

    Starting Pay: $20.50/HR with an average monthly incentive between $250 - $500.

    Who we are…

    At Heritage Financial Credit Union, we are focused on growth. When you begin your career at HFCU, we want to get to know you, your goals and your aspirations so that we can best support you with the necessary tools, resources and opportunities to help make possible the achievement of your hopes and dreams.

    Member Solutions Center…

    The Member Solutions Team is responsible for servicing members, non-members, and 3rd party businesses & vendors, both over the phone and via electronic channels. The main functions of the Member Solutions Center are providing outstanding member service, researching and resolving member issues both within the department and in cooperation with other teams, and recommending products and services to support our membership in reaching their fullest potential.

    Who you are…

    You’re someone who isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves to help support the department’s initiatives. You’re a problem solver, who’s always looking to share your thoughts, ideas, and improvements with the team. You’re looking to take your member service experience and career to the next level by improving your knowledge base, expanding your skill sets, and partnering to support department growth. You have a desire to understand the business, and expand your capacity to help members and partners across the organization. You’re team oriented, have a passion for serving others, possess a positive attitude, and have a strong willingness to learn and develop.

    You’re available to work a flexible work week, which includes rotating Saturday coverage.

    The role…

    As a Member Solutions Specialist with Heritage Financial, your main focus will be to deliver outstanding service to our membership base, as well as provide internal support to our organization. This includes, assisting members over the phone and via electronic services with transactions, loan payments, account inquiries and research, escalations to other departments, electronic transfers, online banking support, and more. You’ll act as a liaison between the member and various business units, including Deposit Support, Compliance, Retail, and our Lending Departments. You will build relationships with members to support their banking needs from start to end, and you’ll partner with your teammates to achieve personal, professional, and team success.

    Why us...

    Heritage Financial has been in the community for over 80 years. Throughout this time, we have worked diligently to create a culture of teamwork, superior service orientation, and open communication! We offer the opportunity for growth and development as well as competitive pay, flexible hours, paid time and holidays off, and health benefits!

    Our Mission

    We are more than a bank. We believe in our members and employees – in their stories, both past and yet to be written.

    We are the combined heritage of generations who care about and support each other to provide lasting contributions in our communities.

    We are committed to creating opportunities for people by providing necessary tools, resources and education to make possible the achievement of their goals, hopes and dreams.

    Equal Opportunity Statement

    Employment at our Credit Union is based upon merit, ability, and qualifications. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected status.

  5. Post your job

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

    Recruiting solution specialists 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.

    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 solution specialist

    Once you've decided on a perfect solution specialist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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.

    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 solution specialist?

Hiring a solution specialist comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting solution specialists involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of solution specialist recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $76,424 per year for a solution specialist, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for solution specialists in the US typically range between $22 and $60 an hour.

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