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How to hire a structural designer

Structural designer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring structural designers in the United States:

  • There are currently 26,470 structural designers in the US, as well as 51,432 job openings.
  • Structural designers are in the highest demand in Atlanta, GA, with 19 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a structural designer 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 structural designer to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a structural designer, step by step

To hire a structural designer, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a structural designer:

Here's a step-by-step structural designer hiring guide:

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

What does a structural designer do?

A Structural Designer designs, develops, and supervises the construction of new buildings and bridges, or extensions to existing properties or other structures. They review and update construction drawings as well as communicate project problems and flaws to managers.

Learn more about the specifics of what a structural designer does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The structural designer 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 structural designer 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 structural designer that fits the bill.

    Here's a comparison of structural designer salaries for various roles:

    Type of Structural DesignerDescriptionHourly rate
    Structural DesignerCivil engineers design, build, supervise, operate, and maintain construction projects and systems in the public and private sector, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment.$22-40
    Civil Engineering InternshipCivil engineer interns work to improve their knowledge about construction and its relevant works. An internship provides them insight into various aspects of construction and how things run at the site... Show more$16-38
    Autocad DrafterAn Autocad Drafter develops drawings and plans for the construction and manufacturing industries. They use various types of computer-aided design and drafting software.$14-26
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Revit
    • Structural Design
    • BIM
    • Navisworks
    • Ladders
    • Engineering Design
    • Design Drawings
    • Construction Drawings
    • Structural Drawings
    • Steel Structures
    • Concrete Structures
    • Tekla
    • Stairs
    • Auto CAD
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Field route pipe systems; manage line and pipe support list; ISO s for fabrication / installation.
    • Assure compliance with refinery and OSHA safety requirements in selecting, locating and hookup of equipment.
    • Develop record system, QA & QC policies and procedures, peer review system to reduce installation errors.
    • Provide general arrangement, detail, and design drawings of ladders, platforms, and frame structure for the following projects.
    • Prepare AutoCAD engineering drawings of structural components for natural gas turbine compressor stations.
    • Programme PLC, VFD and SCADA equipment.
    More structural designer duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your structural designer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A structural designer salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, structural designers' average salary in wyoming is 36% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level structural designers earn 44% less than senior-level structural designers.
    • Certifications. A structural designer 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 structural designer's salary.

    Average structural designer salary

    $63,273yearly

    $30.42 hourly rate

    Entry-level structural designer salary
    $47,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 22, 2026

    Average structural designer salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$83,095$40
    2New York$68,836$33
    3Maine$67,013$32
    4Texas$66,791$32
    5Oregon$66,192$32
    6Colorado$61,019$29
    7Minnesota$60,775$29
    8Nevada$60,701$29
    9North Carolina$60,143$29
    10Pennsylvania$60,036$29
    11Illinois$59,726$29
    12Iowa$59,128$28
    13Washington$58,937$28
    14Ohio$58,793$28
    15Arizona$58,288$28
    16Idaho$58,177$28
    17Missouri$57,446$28
    18Florida$57,043$27
    19Alabama$55,346$27
    20Georgia$54,008$26

    Average structural designer salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Tesla$90,388$43.464
    2BlackRock$84,792$40.778
    3Green Bay Packaging$80,393$38.65
    4Progress Rail$76,367$36.71
    5Jacobs Engineering Group$75,215$36.162
    6Contract Lumber$74,564$35.85
    7GNB$74,373$35.76
    8Ameren$74,282$35.711
    9Harley Ellis Devereaux$73,979$35.5735
    10International Plant Nutrition$73,686$35.43
    11Skidmore, Owings & Merrill$72,989$35.0925
    12WestRock$72,867$35.031
    13Air Products$72,203$34.711
    14Shepard$71,633$34.44
    15DLR Group$71,569$34.4140
    16e-Tech Solutions$71,499$34.372
    17Ammann & Whitney$71,348$34.30
    18Aerotek$71,142$34.2048
    19Spec's$70,795$34.042
    20T.Y. Lin International$70,775$34.03100
  4. Writing a structural designer job description

    A good structural designer 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 structural designer job description:

    Structural designer job description example

    Headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) is a worldwide leader in the innovative design, engineering, manufacturing and installation of sorting systems and components for the solid waste, recycling, waste-to-energy, plastics, and construction and demolition industries. Wholly owned subsidiaries include Nihot (Amsterdam), National Recovery Technologies (Nashville, TN) and Zero Waste Energy (Pleasant Hill, CA). Clients around the globe choose BHS because of its experience, dedication to cutting-edge technology, quality construction and durability, and unmatched customer service. In business since 1976, we have won numerous industry awards and are poised for continued innovation and growth.

    BHS has an exciting opportunity for an in-office Structural Designer at our headquarters in Eugene, Oregon. In this role you will primarily be working on industrial, non-building structures that provide support and personnel access to our industrial recycling equipment and systems. You will coordinate with engineering staff and be an integral part of our design team. The team strives to provide safe, accurate, timely, and efficient designs. Your initiative, knowledge, experience, and communication skills will allow you accurately and efficiently create structural models and detailed fabrication drawings.

    If you have these qualifications, knowledge, skills, and abilities . . .

    • A minimum of associates degree in design/drafting with experience in structural design -or- equivalent combination of education and experience is required
    • Proficiency in 3D modeling software required. Knowledge of Inventor and/or TEKLA modeling software is a plus
    • Highly organized, self-motivated individual who can work independently as well as effectively in a collaborative team environment
    • Attention to detail with focus on accuracy and efficiency
    • Excellent interpersonal skills including verbal and written communication, including the ability to communicate technical ideas verbally and in writing to various audiences

    And can handle these responsibilities . . .

    • Using Autodesk Inventor and/or TEKLA software, to design structures, walkways, platforms, and related items which support and provide personnel access to industrial recycling equipment for use in commercial recycling plants
    • Checking dimensions of materials to be used and assigning numbers to the materials
    • Modifying and revising designs as needed
    • Creating layouts using information provided by members of the project and structural engineering teams.

    We will give you . . .

    • Competitive Pay
    • Medical
    • Vision
    • Dental, including Orthodontia
    • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance
    • Life & Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance
    • 401(k) with company match
    • Generous pay for time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, bereavement, jury duty
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • Flexible Spending Account
    • Tuition reimbursement
    • Targeted learning and development opportunities
    • Positive and friendly work environment

    This is an exciting time to be part of a rapidly growing company on the verge of even greater success. If you think you have what it takes to be part of a company that strives to create a working environment that stimulates team spirit, passion, engagement, and achievement, we want to hear from you!

    Please visit our website ( www.JoinBHS.com ) to apply and learn more.

    BHS values diversity in its work force and is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find structural designers 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 structural designer job on Zippia to find and recruit structural designer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit structural designers, 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.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 structural designer

    Once you've decided on a perfect structural designer 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new structural designer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  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 structural designer?

There are different types of costs for hiring structural designers. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new structural designer employee.

Structural designers earn a median yearly salary is $63,273 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find structural designers for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $22 and $40.

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