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How to hire a transit mechanic

Transit mechanic hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring transit mechanics in the United States:

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

How to hire a transit mechanic, step by step

To hire a transit mechanic, 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 transit mechanic:

Here's a step-by-step transit mechanic hiring guide:

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

    Before you start hiring a transit mechanic, 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?

    Hiring the perfect transit mechanic also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    The following list breaks down different types of transit mechanics and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Transit MechanicDescriptionHourly rate
    Transit MechanicDiesel service technicians and mechanics inspect, repair, and overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engine.$12-30
    Diesel TechnicianDiesel technicians specialize in repairing and handling the maintenance of vehicles powered by diesel. They are primarily responsible for inspecting cars, conducting tests, and identifying its problems to determine what course of action to take... Show more$15-31
    Shop TechnicianShop Technicians are skilled workers assigned to a retail store. Their main activities depend on the nature of the business their company is in... Show more$12-25
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • CDL
    • Electrical Systems
    • Hydraulic Systems
    • Road Calls
    Responsibilities:
    • Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.
    • Replace axels water pumps, fuel pumps and ac belts.
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, transit mechanics' average salary in montana is 48% less than in nevada.
    • Seniority. Entry-level transit mechanics 57% less than senior-level transit mechanics.
    • Certifications. A transit mechanic 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 transit mechanic's salary.

    Average transit mechanic salary

    $41,605yearly

    $20.00 hourly rate

    Entry-level transit mechanic salary
    $27,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 3, 2026
  4. Writing a transit mechanic job description

    A job description for a transit mechanic 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 transit mechanic job description:

    Transit mechanic job description example

    Hiring Range: $28.19 - $33.14 Hourly

    Salary Range: $23.67 - $33.14 Hourly

    Job Summary: Performs scheduled preventative maintenance inspections; uses diagnostic skills and equipment to inspect, repair and/or rebuild components and sub-components of the City of Greeley transit vehicles and equipment; rebuilds and fabricates parts; assists with parts inventory, tracking and ordering; keeps accurate records; and maintains facility, equipment and tools.

    Generally works on transit buses, para transit vans, specialty vehicles, automobiles, and/or light equipment. Performs other duties as assigned.

    This position reports 1:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday -Friday with occasional weekend rotations and on-call responsibility.

    Experience, Knowledge, Skills:

    • Three years auto mechanical repair plus vocational or technical training in equipment and vehicle repairs and/or electrical and mechanical systems desirable.
    • Valid driver's license with good driving record. Commercial Driver's License (CDL), Class A or B or be able to obtain within 90 days of employment.
    • Certified or have ability to become certified to perform Department of Transportation vehicle inspections.
    • Employees in this position are required to submit to federally-mandated random drug and alcohol screening and will be required to pass a DOT (Department of Transportation) physical and a substance screen prior to employment.
    • Must obtain CFC license and CFC Refrigerant certification Type I and II within one year of employment.
    • Must have own tools necessary to complete work.

    Essential Functions:

    Ability to:

    • Diagnose, repair and maintain all types of heavy and/or light duty equipment.
    • Perform both routine maintenance of vehicles and major repairs. Prepare new vehicles for service including order specifications, installing components or special equipment.
    • Provide customer service such as on-site service, after-hours service and special requests for service.
    • Perform required annual tests on vehicles/mechanical equipment and prepare the appropriate documentation.
    • Maintain or update information on warranty repairs.
    • Work shifts, weekends, holidays, evenings and/or extended hours as required.

    Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

    • Frequent exposure to fumes or airborne particles, risk of electrical shock, and vibration.
    • Occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, toxic or caustic chemicals, outside weather conditions, extreme cold and extreme heat.
    • Frequent exposure to excessive noise levels.
    • Communication skills enough to convey information to co-workers, customers, and supervisor.
    • Vision enough to perform functions such as identifying materials necessary to complete maintenance on equipment, interpreting dials, and repairing equipment.
    • Manual dexterity enough to operate tools, vehicles, and equipment.
    • Flexibility enough to bend, twist, and reach out to load and unload equipment, supplies, and tools.
    • Ability to move over rough, uneven, and rocky surfaces in performance of maintenance duties.
    • Stamina and strength enough to lift and move objects of up to 50 pounds.

    Conditions of Employment: Candidates must successfully complete all pre-employment screenings and employment eligibility verification. Pre-employment screenings include a drug test, a background and national sex offender search, a motor vehicle record search, and for some positions, a physical demands evaluation. For more information about City policies and practices during the recruitment process, including but not limited to EOE, Reasonable Accommodation, and pre-employment screenings, please visit our career page HERE .

  5. Post your job

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

    To successfully recruit transit mechanics, 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.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    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 transit mechanic

    Once you've selected the best transit mechanic 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.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  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 transit mechanic?

Recruiting transit mechanics involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $41,605 per year for a transit mechanic, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for transit mechanics in the US typically range between $12 and $30 an hour.

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