How to hire a test technician

How to hire a test technician, step by step

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

What does a test technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the test technician you need to hire. Certain test technician roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A test technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, test 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.

   Here's a comparison of test technician salaries for various roles:

   Type of Test Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Test Technician	Electrical and electronics engineering technicians help engineers design and develop computers, communications equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment, and other electrical and electronic equipment. They often work in product evaluation and testing, using measuring and diagnostic devices to adjust, test, and repair equipment... Show more	$14-29
   Test Operator	The job of a test operator is to test the functionality of electronic components, assemblies, units, parts, and systems in a manner consistent with standard procedures. As a test operator, you will perform a variety of duties that include working with engineers to ensure accurate procedures are being followed, perform different mechanical assembly operations, and inspecting products for the correct orientation and placement... Show more	$12-23
   Electronics Engineering Technician	Electronics Engineering Technician helps engineers design and advance electronic devices and components, install electrical equipment, and maintain electronic systems. They usually work in product evaluation and testing... Show more	$23-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Test Procedures
   • Test Results
   • Hand Tools
   • Test Data
   • RF
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Oscilloscopes
   • Data Acquisition
   • Test Fixtures
   • Windows
   • Math
   • Data Collection
   • Dexterity
   • Technical Support

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Install and manage windows applications for the user, maintain servers and manage help desk operations.
   • Manage and distribute cad standards to contributing design consultants and assist with any design issues as necessary.
   • Perform in-circuit emulation and boundary scan testing (JTAG).
   • Perform extensive testing on CVD, PVD, display and solar tooling.
   • Configure bios to better suit the operating system, motherboard and CPU's needs and requirements.
   • Use of micrometers, calipers, torque wrenches, rivet and crimping tools, electrical test equipment, drill presses.

   More test technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your test technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A test technician salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, test technicians' average salary in montana is 47% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level test technicians earn 51% less than senior-level test technicians.
   • Certifications. A test technician 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 test technician's salary.

   Average test technician salary

   $43,171yearly

   $20.76 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level test technician salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

   Average test technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$59,467	$29
   2	California	$52,477	$25
   3	Washington	$50,648	$24
   4	Massachusetts	$49,121	$24
   5	Arizona	$48,770	$23
   6	Maryland	$48,127	$23
   7	Texas	$46,853	$23
   8	Connecticut	$45,614	$22
   9	Michigan	$45,436	$22
   10	North Carolina	$44,774	$22
   11	Oregon	$44,211	$21
   12	New Hampshire	$44,111	$21
   13	Wisconsin	$43,199	$21
   14	Colorado	$43,186	$21
   15	Minnesota	$43,102	$21
   16	New Jersey	$42,665	$21
   17	Georgia	$40,865	$20
   18	North Dakota	$39,127	$19
   19	Florida	$36,843	$18
   20	Nebraska	$36,154	$17

   Average test technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Nokia	$88,873	$42.73	18
   2	Amphenol	$86,322	$41.50	12
   3	Comtech Telecommunications	$82,848	$39.83	4
   4	Tata Group	$81,356	$39.11	26
   5	MicroVision	$81,216	$39.05
   6	IBM	$79,599	$38.27	19
   7	LUFKIN Industries	$77,542	$37.28
   8	Lam Research	$76,717	$36.88	2
   9	Cigniti Technologies	$76,467	$36.76
   10	Erp Analysts	$75,911	$36.50
   11	Quest Global	$75,501	$36.30
   12	Compunnel	$75,095	$36.10
   13	KLA	$73,477	$35.33	6
   14	Arkema	$72,629	$34.92	2
   15	QSSI	$70,348	$33.82
   16	Continental Resources	$70,305	$33.80	1
   17	Vicor	$69,840	$33.58
   18	Astronics	$67,456	$32.43	16
   19	BWX Technologies	$66,860	$32.14	12
   20	Schneider Electric Industrial Services	$66,268	$31.86	23

4. Writing a test technician job description

   A good test technician 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 test technician job description:

   Test technician job description example

   • 2-year Technical Degree Required
   • Minimum 5 years electro-mechanical test experience required
   • Bench experience with the electrical, mechanical, and environmental test equipment such as: Digital multi-meters, Oscilloscopes, Bench power supplies, Temperature chambers, Environmental test chambers, Electromechanical shakers, EMC test equipment, RF test equipment, etc.

   We Value

   • Experience with UL approval process
   • Familiarity with MS Office products (Excel, Word)
   • Must be eligible to receive US passport.

   Must Be Able To…

   • Must be able to ride in a car for 6 hours at a time.
   • Must be able to sit for extended periods of time.
   • Must be able to communicate in English (written & verbal).

   
   What's in it for you?

   Phoenix Contact offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401k matching, and a generous time off package. There are also a wide variety of additional benefits available including 14 weeks fully paid maternity leave & 6 weeks fully paid paternity leave, life insurance, short & long-term disability, on-site gym access, health & wellbeing center, on-site café, walking trails, tuition assistance, and more!

   #LI-MH1

   Notice to Staffing Agencies, Placement Services, and Professional Recruiters:

   Phoenix Contact has an internal Staffing Department. Recruiters are hereby specifically directed NOT to contact Phoenix Contact employees directly in an attempt to present candidates. Phoenix Contact will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Phoenix Contact, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Phoenix Contact mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Phoenix Contact employees, or to Phoenix Contact's resume database will be considered Phoenix Contact property. Phoenix Contact will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Phoenix Contact will consider any candidate for whom a Recruiter has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Recruiter free of any charges or fees. Phoenix Contact will not pay a fee to any Recruiter that does not have a signed Phoenix Contact contract in place specific to the position for which the resume was submitted. Recruiting vendor agreements will only be valid if in writing and signed by Phoenix Contact's Director of Organization Development and Talent Acquisition or his or her designee. No other Phoenix Contact employee is authorized to bind Phoenix Contact to any agreement regarding the placement of candidates by Recruiters. By submitting a candidate to Phoenix Contact, recruiters agree to be bound and comply with this policy.

   Phoenix Contact is committed to the diversity of our employees. We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find test technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any test technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level test technicians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your test technician job on Zippia to find and recruit test technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting test technicians 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 test technician

   Once you've decided on a perfect test technician 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 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new test technician. 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 test technician?