How to hire a transmission technician

How to hire a transmission technician, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The transmission technician hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a transmission technician 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 transmission technician that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of transmission technicians.

   Type of Transmission Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Transmission Technician	Automotive service technicians and mechanics, often called service technicians or service techs, inspect, maintain, and repair cars and light trucks.	$13-29
   Automotive Repair Technician	An automotive repair technician specializes in repairing and maintaining automotive equipment and systems. Part of their job requires them to communicate with clients to identify their needs, inspect the vehicles, conduct diagnostic and emission tests, troubleshoot problems, and replace or fix components as necessary... Show more	$13-30
   Front End Mechanic	Unlike front-end specialists that have to specialize in the repair of just one system in a vehicle, front-end mechanics perform essential care and maintenance in a vehicle. Their job ranges from changing oil, checking out fluid levels, and rotating tires to fixing or replacing worn-out parts in a vehicle such as brake pads, wheel bearings, and sensors... Show more	$15-27

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Hand Tools
   • Shop Equipment
   • Chrysler
   • Diagnosis
   • ASE
   • Diesel Engines
   • Transmission Repair
   • Dyno
   • R
   • Manual Transmission
   • Automotive Vehicles
   • Technical Manuals
   • Diagnostic Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Tap and install high pressure taps.
   • Complete rebuild and dyno test each transmission.
   • Inspect machinery, troubleshoot issues, and document findings.
   • Perform clutch, manual transmissions and other driveline repairs.
   • Diagnose and repair various mechanical and electrical problems of Toyota passenger cars.
   • Coordinate the repair efforts or repair Ethernet equipment as well as DS1 and DS3.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, transmission technicians' average salary in kentucky is 43% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level transmission technicians 55% less than senior-level transmission technicians.
   • Certifications. A transmission 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 transmission technician's salary.

   Average transmission technician salary

   $42,179yearly

   $20.28 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level transmission technician salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 29, 2026

4. Writing a transmission technician job description

   A good transmission 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 transmission technician job description:

   Transmission technician job description example

   We are looking for well-trained and experienced Ford Service Automatic Transmission Technician to join our team. We take pride in providing a high quality of service to our customers, and are happy to provide career opportunities to sharp and enthusiastic people. We are a single point, family owned and operated Dealership. We have earned 6 consecutive Presidents Awards.

   Responsibilities

   • Perform work specified on the repair order with efficiency and in accordance with dealership
   • Test-drive vehicles, and test components and systems, using diagnostic tools and special service equipment
   • Diagnose, maintain, and repair vehicle automotive systems including engine, transmission, electrical steering, suspension, brakes, air conditioning, etc.
   • Communicate directly with the Service Advisor so that customers are informed if any additional service is needed. Provide an estimate of time needed for additional repairs
   • Execute repairs under warranty to manufacturer specifications

   Qualifications

   • 2+ years of Service Technician experience preferred
   • High school diploma or equivalent, ASE Certification required
   • B level qualifications, including Diagnostic, Electrical and Engine Repair
   • Dexterity, requiring a steady hand, excellent hand-eye coordination
   • Mechanical and troubleshooting skills and ability to operate electronic diagnostic equipment
   • Excellent customer service skills and basic computer competencies
   • Positive, friendly attitude, along with an eagerness to improve
   • Enjoy working in a dynamic environment
   • Teammate with ability to collaborate with others effectively
   • Ability to learn new technology, repair and service procedures and specifications
   • Valid driver's license and clean driving record

   We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination/harassment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right transmission technician 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 transmission technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit transmission technicians 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 transmission technician job on Zippia to find and recruit transmission technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with transmission technician 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.

   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 transmission technician

   Once you've found the transmission 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 important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   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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