How to hire a tradesman

How to hire a tradesman, step by step

Here's a step-by-step tradesman hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a tradesman, 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 tradesman's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, tradesmen 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 tradesman salaries for various positions.

   Type of Tradesman	Description	Hourly rate
   Tradesman		$13-24
   Field Supervisor	Field supervisors are referred to as the generals for various industries such as engineering, construction, and energy. These supervisors oversee and manage field staff's performance... Show more	$14-28
   House Supervisor	A house supervisor is responsible for supporting the medical facilities' operations on behalf of the unit management. House supervisors ensure that the medical staff provides the highest quality care services for the patients by responding to their inquiries and concerns and assisting their medical needs... Show more	$17-48

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • HVAC
   • Plumbing
   • Hand Tools
   • Mechanical Equipment
   • Troubleshoot
   • Roofing
   • Perform Routine Maintenance
   • Ventilation
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Scaffolding
   • OSHA
   • Ladders
   • Shovels

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Set up the park and run power for all the vendors that are there.
   • Install acoustic panels, finish caulking.
   • Follow OSHA safety regulations to ensure a safe job site.
   • Assist craft workers in erecting scaffolding, and setting support braces.
   • Participate on OSHA back-up team to follow up and maintain safety issues
   • Used materials include rails, planks and ladders for the scaffold.

   More tradesman duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, tradesmen' average salary in mississippi is 44% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level tradesmen earn 44% less than senior-level tradesmen.
   • Certifications. A tradesman 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 tradesman's salary.

   Average tradesman salary

   $38,236yearly

   $18.38 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level tradesman salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average tradesman salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$52,145	$25
   2	New York	$47,448	$23
   3	New Jersey	$46,561	$22
   4	Florida	$41,983	$20
   5	Texas	$40,592	$20
   6	Colorado	$40,159	$19
   7	Oregon	$40,049	$19
   8	Missouri	$39,701	$19
   9	Virginia	$38,715	$19
   10	Wisconsin	$38,586	$19
   11	Arizona	$38,178	$18
   12	Michigan	$38,126	$18
   13	Ohio	$37,352	$18
   14	New Mexico	$37,160	$18
   15	North Carolina	$37,004	$18
   16	Nevada	$36,926	$18
   17	Alabama	$36,078	$17
   18	South Carolina	$35,617	$17
   19	Tennessee	$35,605	$17
   20	Iowa	$35,591	$17

   Average tradesman salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	PruittHealth	$58,380	$28.07
   2	Johnson Controls	$52,704	$25.34	3
   3	Serco	$50,804	$24.43
   4	Dignity Health	$48,768	$23.45	2
   5	EMCOR Group	$46,874	$22.54	3
   6	Consolidated Construction Co.	$45,543	$21.90
   7	Carrier	$43,513	$20.92
   8	U.S. Engineering	$43,343	$20.84
   9	RWJBarnabas Health	$42,092	$20.24
   10	Sage Hospitality	$41,609	$20.00
   11	Texas Tech University	$40,959	$19.69
   12	BELFOR Franchise Group	$40,545	$19.49
   13	General RV Center	$40,107	$19.28
   14	Snelling	$39,792	$19.13	1
   15	DISH Network	$39,616	$19.05
   16	Trane	$39,472	$18.98
   17	Primoris Services	$39,458	$18.97
   18	Alliance Health	$39,417	$18.95
   19	Mechanical Systems Service	$39,188	$18.84
   20	Colorado State Express	$39,188	$18.84

4. Writing a tradesman job description

   A job description for a tradesman 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 tradesman job description:

   Tradesman job description example

   Looking to get your foot in the door in a high demand industry? Then consider coming on board as an insulation specialist. In this role you will be helping to install insulation in residential properties. This is a great opportunity to become familiar with the HVAC trade and can open doors to other opportunities within the company.
   
   So why consider Marshall's Inc.? We don't only talk about the importance of having a good company culture, we live it! We value our employees and we show that by offering top wages and a comprehensive benefits program so they can care for themselves, their family, and plan for the future! We provide training opportunities to build their skills so they can become the best at what they do which will open doors for growth and advancement. Our managers actually talk to their team members, get to know them, and what is important to them.
   
   Our low turnover speaks to the fact that Marshall's Inc. IS a great place to work. If this sounds like the type of company you'd like to work for - we'd like to hear from you!
   Qualifications:
   
   * Valid OR state driver's license and insurable driving record
   * Ability to lift up to 60 lbs safely
   * Ability to work for extended periods of time in confined spaces such as attics and crawl spaces
   * Ability to work in extreme weather conditions
   * Ability to climb extension ladders and work safely on steeply pitched roofs
   
   Additional helpful experience:
   
   * Construction experience
   * Drywall or finishing experience
   * Carpentry experience
   
   Pay Range: Up to $20.00 DOE
   
   Benefits:
   
   * Medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, and life insurance - 100% of employee-based premiums are paid by the company!
   * Paid Vacation & Holidays
   * 401(k) with employer contributions
   * Medical and Dependent Care
   * Flexible Spending Account
   * Company Uniform
   * Company Boots & Tools Programs
   * Company-provided training, licenses, certifications, and apprenticeship tuition paid

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right tradesman for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with tradesmen they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit tradesmen who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your tradesman job on Zippia to find and attract quality tradesman candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with tradesman candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 tradesman

   Once you have selected a candidate for the tradesman position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize 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 tradesman. 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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