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How to hire a student engineer

Student engineer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring student engineers in the United States:

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

How to hire a student engineer, step by step

To hire a student engineer, 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 student engineer:

Here's a step-by-step student engineer hiring guide:

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

What does a student engineer do?

A student engineer is an individual who trains to become a full pledge professional engineer by gaining working experience in the field of engineering. By using their knowledge in the principles of science and mathematics, student engineers should help other professionals develop economical solutions and solve technical problems. They are required to engage themselves in the testing, production, or maintenance of newly developed products. Student engineers are also required to work closely with their senior managers or supervisors.

Learn more about the specifics of what a student engineer does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a student engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    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 student engineer 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 student engineer that fits the bill.

    Here's a comparison of student engineer salaries for various roles:

    Type of Student EngineerDescriptionHourly rate
    Student EngineerMechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.$25-45
    Engineering InternshipAn engineering intern is responsible for assisting the overall project development under the supervision of a head engineer. Engineering interns' duties vary in every industry but generally include generating reports, analyzing budget goals and cost estimates, reaching out to clients for important updates, and providing project improvement recommendations... Show more$12-30
    Mechanical Engineering InternshipOne of the primary responsibilities in a mechanical engineering internship is to follow directives from engineers and managers while gaining practical experience. There are instances when an intern must take part in crafting various materials under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, produce reports and paperwork, operate tools and devices, and provide assistance should anyone need... Show more$15-25
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • GPA
    • C++
    • CAD
    • Co-Op
    • Java
    • Python
    • PowerPoint
    • Data Analysis
    • Data Collection
    • Solidworks
    • Aided Design
    • Engineering Student
    • Project Management
    • Creo
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Compose GIS maps using ArcView, manage large data sets, and help in train other personnel learn program
    • Lead a team of undergraduate students to continue the work done on SEI NASA project (see below).
    • Manage Terraform and refactore from monolithic to application specific components.
    • Complete computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations and execute data analysis using JMP.
    • Aid software engineers in programming and debugging internal SQL database.
    • Perform systems programming in C/C++, Java, MATLAB and Linux.
    More student engineer duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your student engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A student engineer salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, student engineers' average salary in arkansas is 33% less than in washington.
    • Seniority. Entry-level student engineers earn 43% less than senior-level student engineers.
    • Certifications. A student engineer 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 student engineer's salary.

    Average student engineer salary

    $71,947yearly

    $34.59 hourly rate

    Entry-level student engineer salary
    $54,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 15, 2025

    Average student engineer salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Washington$87,185$42
    2California$86,458$42
    3New York$82,861$40
    4Massachusetts$82,854$40
    5Connecticut$81,151$39
    6Oregon$79,694$38
    7Virginia$78,405$38
    8Illinois$75,039$36
    9Georgia$74,647$36
    10Florida$73,871$36
    11Michigan$73,086$35
    12Tennessee$72,971$35
    13Colorado$71,516$34
    14Ohio$70,727$34
    15North Carolina$70,069$34
    16Utah$66,718$32
    17Iowa$65,593$32
    18Kansas$61,961$30

    Average student engineer salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1JPMorgan Chase & Co.$120,426$57.9028
    2Siemens Enterprise Communications Inc$103,583$49.80
    3Abbott$102,605$49.3354
    4Los Alamos National Laboratory$97,456$46.8563
    5Jefferson Lab$97,208$46.73
    6Caterpillar$95,561$45.94127
    7Jabil$91,733$44.1018
    8M.I.T. International, Inc.$89,539$43.059
    9Draper$89,043$42.8112
    10John Deere$88,428$42.5143
    11Micron Technology$87,494$42.06113
    12Magna International$85,872$41.2821
    13Stratasys$84,258$40.513
    14AdvanSix$80,901$38.89
    15Jet Propulsion Laboratory$80,617$38.76
    16Precision Castparts$80,553$38.7319
    173M Company$78,676$37.8335
    18Faurecia Interior Systems Inc$77,501$37.26
    19Wayne County, Michigan$76,362$36.714
    20Siemens$75,797$36.4443
  4. Writing a student engineer job description

    A job description for a student engineer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a student engineer job description:

    Student engineer job description example

    We seek to hire a Structural Engineering Student in our Virginia Beach, VA office beginning in Summer 2023 who will perform various tasks within the assigned design department that may entail special project assignments and/or active involvement in project design and documentation.

    General responsibilities include but are not limited to the following :

    • Performing various aspects of discipline design as directed by a senior or lead Architect or Engineer including conceptual studies, program requirements, design analyses, calculations, systems selection and layout for building design
    • Preparation of programming documents, schematic documents, design development documents, and construction documents as directed
    • Preparation of marketing and presentation materials as directed
    • Performing various services associated with the construction phase, including field visits, answering RFIs, reviewing shop drawings, and preparing record drawings as directed
    • Complying with quality control policies and procedures
    • Learn and implement department and company standards
    • Develop analysis and design skills
    • Participating in team meetings and coordinating efforts with other team members
    • Working with, responding to, and taking direction from Project Managers, Design Managers, Senior Architects, Senior Engineers, Architects or Engineers
    • Working with a team of architects, engineers, interior designers and landscape architects

    Education, Technology, and Experience

    • Currently enrolled as a full-time student in an ABET accredited program and have completed at least their second year of study in one of the following programs:
      • Civil Engineering
      • Civil and Environmental Engineering
      • Civil Engineering Technology
      • Architectural Engineering

    Should be able to effectively utilize current company software programs for word processing, e-mail, and information management.

    Should have working familiarity with design and production software to a point of being able to utilize the software in the development of project documents and interact with other project team members in their use of the software is highly desirable.

    One previous architectural or engineering internship or have relevant work experience is preferred

    Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

    • Ability to arrange housing for the period of employment
    • Ability to prepare effective and concise documents
    • Possess technical precision and creative design skills
    • Ability to make presentations to a variety of groups
    • Display abilities to work well with others in a team environment

    Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
    The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)
  5. Post your job

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

    During your first interview to recruit student engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    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 student engineer

    Once you've selected the best student engineer 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 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 student engineer. 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 student engineer?

Hiring a student engineer comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting student engineers 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 student engineer recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

The median annual salary for student engineers is $71,947 in the US. However, the cost of student engineer hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a student engineer for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $25 and $45 an hour.

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