How to hire a system technician

How to hire a system technician, step by step

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

What does a system technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a system technician, 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?

   Yes

   No

   A system technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, system technicians 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 presents system technician salaries for various positions.

   Type of System Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   System Technician	Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.	$12-32
   Information Technology/Support Technician	An information technology (IT) support technician is a professional who is responsible for providing support and troubleshoots software and hardware problems faced by customers. As for larger organizations that have their own IT department, technicians must work together internally with their IT staff members... Show more	$14-31
   Information Technology Technician	An information technology technician, also known as an IT technician, is responsible for ensuring that all computer systems in a company or organization are running smoothly and efficiently. Their duties primarily revolve around installing and maintaining systems, including software and hardware, and resolving any issues... Show more	$13-39

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Hand Tools
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Technical Support
   • Control Systems
   • Security Systems
   • OSHA
   • Test Equipment
   • Ladders
   • HVAC
   • PC
   • Switches
   • CCTV
   • Electrical Systems

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Install and manage approve software distributions using Microsoft SCCM.
   • Manage, support and maintain modern EMC SAN storage platform.
   • Manage 185 virtualize desktops running in a cluster VMware ESX environment.
   • Provide on-site construction support and lead system testing, debugging, and startup.
   • Develop and implement a weekly schedule on SQL databases to automate the execution of maintenance plans.
   • Plan and lead training programs on new software development essential to the movement to a paperless travel department for DoD.

   More system technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your system technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A system technician can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, system technicians' average salary in maine is 37% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level system technicians 60% less than senior-level system technicians.
   • Certifications. A system technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a system technician's salary.

   Average system technician salary

   $43,410yearly

   $20.87 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level system technician salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average system technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$60,599	$29
   2	Oregon	$58,481	$28
   3	California	$56,196	$27
   4	Nevada	$55,609	$27
   5	New York	$54,597	$26
   6	Wyoming	$53,199	$26
   7	Illinois	$52,785	$25
   8	Colorado	$51,848	$25
   9	Texas	$51,282	$25
   10	Massachusetts	$50,902	$24
   11	Tennessee	$50,694	$24
   12	Minnesota	$48,671	$23
   13	District of Columbia	$48,428	$23
   14	Indiana	$46,984	$23
   15	Maryland	$46,513	$22
   16	North Carolina	$45,582	$22
   17	Georgia	$44,838	$22
   18	Florida	$43,969	$21
   19	Arizona	$43,807	$21
   20	Virginia	$43,767	$21

   Average system technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$84,749	$40.74	1
   2	Apple	$81,016	$38.95	48
   3	Sandia National Labs	$79,882	$38.40
   4	Micron Technology	$79,313	$38.13	8
   5	Plug Power	$76,737	$36.89	59
   6	Westinghouse Appliances Australia	$76,730	$36.89	28
   7	Clark Construction Group	$76,271	$36.67
   8	Cadence Design Systems	$75,649	$36.37	8
   9	Baker Hughes	$72,197	$34.71	18
   10	Ernst & Young	$71,414	$34.33	134
   11	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$69,877	$33.59	5
   12	Intel	$69,576	$33.45
   13	Schneider Electric Industrial Services	$69,443	$33.39	64
   14	Johnson Controls	$68,397	$32.88	341
   15	Tesla	$67,969	$32.68	170
   16	Navistar	$67,069	$32.24	2
   17	International Trucks	$66,780	$32.11
   18	Siemens	$66,469	$31.96	26
   19	Basin Electric Power Cooperative	$66,284	$31.87	1
   20	Rutgers University	$65,042	$31.27	28

4. Writing a system technician job description

   A system 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. Below, you can find an example of a system technician job description:

   System technician job description example

   Drive innovation for investor results
   At Vanguard, we put investors first. This means putting innovation front and center. As part of our Technology Leadership Program in the Investment Systems track, you'll help create IT solutions that impact Vanguard's global execution of investment activities. You'll support crucial operations and technologies at the forefront of IT to provide Vanguard clients the best chance at investment success. Make it count!
   
   Are you a self-starter looking to lead, bringing teams together around ideas with purpose? Then join the crew where disruption is inspired by mission. Here you'll develop the programs that serve our crew and over twenty million investors, worldwide. By participating in technical capstones, hackathons and working on solution-oriented projects, you'll build the skillset to lead our crew internally, so we can make a difference for investors everywhere.
   
   The TLP Vanguard Specialty Program (VSP) is a two-year rotational development program available to graduating college seniors who are ready to enter the business world, and eager to develop their technical expertise in Application Development. The program consists of three, eight-month rotations.
   
   In this program, you will:
   Build high-impact solutions that allow Vanguard to perform at its best and do what's right for investors Support achieving client outcomes and giving our investors the best chance at investment success Gain hands-on experience in software development and practice Agile & LEAN methodologies in a dynamic environment Share your insights and drive outcomes individually and in collaborative, supportive environments Build a network with program managers, alumni, senior leaders and peers Meet regularly with your department manager and internship program manager to receive personalized coaching and mentorship
   
   What it takes
   Bachelor's or Master's degree with a concentration in computer science, computer engineering, IST, IT, CIS, or related technical/engineering subject matter required Strong interest in financial services, finance industry and/or investment systems Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher preferred Demonstrated leadership skills and/or leadership aspirations Effective analytical, communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a team-oriented environment
   
   Special Factors
   Vanguard is not offering sponsorship for this position.This position will begin in 2023 and students graduating in December 2022 or Spring 2023 are encouraged to apply.
   
   About Vanguard
   We are Vanguard. Together, we're changing the way the world invests.
   
   For us, investing doesn't just end in value. It starts with values. Because when you invest with courage, when you invest with clarity, and when you invest with care, you can get so much more in return. We invest with purpose - and that's how we've become a global market leader. Here, we grow by doing the right thing for the people we serve. And so can you.
   
   We want to make success accessible to everyone. This is our opportunity. Let's make it count.
   
   Inclusion Statement
   Vanguard's continued commitment to diversity and inclusion is firmly rooted in our culture. Every decision we make to best serve our clients, crew (internally employees are referred to as crew), and communities is guided by one simple statement: “Do the right thing.”
   
   We believe that a critical aspect of doing the right thing requires building diverse, inclusive, and highly effective teams of individuals who are as unique as the clients they serve. We empower our crew to contribute their distinct strengths to achieving Vanguard's core purpose through our values.
   
   When all crew members feel valued and included, our ability to collaborate and innovate is amplified, and we are united in delivering on Vanguard's core purpose.
   
   Our core purpose: To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success.
   
   Future of Work
   During the pandemic, we transitioned to a work from home model for the majority of our crew and we continue to interview, hire, and on-board future crew remotely.
   
   As we have developed the path forward, we have taken a thoughtful approach that both maximizes the advantages of working remotely and the many benefits of coming together and collaborating in a shared workspace. We believe that in-person interactions among our crew are important for preserving our unique culture and advantageous for the personal development of our crew.
   
   When our Crew return to the office, many will work in our hybrid model. A smaller proportion of our crew will operate in the Work from Home work model (for example, field sales crew); or in the Work from Office model (for example, portfolio managers).
   
   The working model that your role falls into will be communicated to you in the interview process - please do ask if you are unsure. We encourage you to make the decision regarding your job interview and offer knowing which model your role will fall into. We will test and learn as our ways of working evolve and will continue to evaluate working models along the way.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find system 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 system technician job on Zippia to find and recruit system technician 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 system technicians, 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.

   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.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview system technician candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   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 system technician

   Once you've found the system technician candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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 system technician first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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