How to hire a utility aide

How to hire a utility aide, step by step

Here's a step-by-step utility aide hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the utility aide you need to hire. Certain utility aide 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

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

   This list shows salaries for various types of utility aides.

   Type of Utility Aide	Description	Hourly rate
   Utility Aide		$10-17
   Dishwasher/Busser	Dishwashers/bussers perform varied supportive kitchen and janitorial tasks. These tasks include washing the dishes, resetting the tables, and removing plates and flatware from the tables... Show more	$10-17
   Cook/Dishwasher	Cooks/dishwashers must develop kitchen skills to excel in this line of job. Each cook or dishwasher must learn to develop skills in food preparation, sanitation, and customer service... Show more	$11-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Rules
   • Cleanliness
   • HVAC
   • Food Preparation Equipment
   • Food Carts
   • Dry Storage
   • Food Trucks
   • Hand Tools
   • Dishwashers
   • Cooking Equipment
   • Assist Residents
   • Hand Trucks
   • Clean Kitchen

   Responsibilities:

   • Assist with the day to day procedure to ensure that proper cleanliness are maintained throughout the shift.
   • Wash dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, or pans; using dishwashers or by hand.
   • Maintain cleanliness in the work area, organize all chemicals, supplies and sanitize all the food equipment.
   • Operate forklifts, operate manlifts, basic stick welding, operate both oxygen/acetylene and oxygen/natural gas torches.
   • Wash dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, and pans, using dishwasher machine.
   • Use a variety of cooking equipment such as wood-ovens, grills, fryers, and various other pieces.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, utility aides' average salary in mississippi is 46% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level utility aides earn 42% less than senior-level utility aides.
   • Certifications. A utility aide 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 utility aide's salary.

   Average utility aide salary

   $13.41hourly

   $27,902 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level utility aide salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a utility aide job description

   A utility aide 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a utility aide job description:

   Utility aide job description example

   Salary: $13.00

   McGregor is perfectly situated on a picturesque 45-acre estate, overlooking downtown Cleveland with a view of Lake Erie in the distance. Recognized as a leader of innovation and high-value services, McGregor is meeting the changing needs of Cleveland's seniors throughout Cuyahoga County. McGregor is a leading care provider for elders through our residential care services and community-based PACE program that keeps people connected in the community. Our grant-making foundation supports innovations, workforce development, and quality of care in all settings; each providing ways to age well and improve lives!

   
   

   What do I need as a Utility Aide with McGregor?

   • Must demonstrate dependability with scheduled work hours.
   • Prior dietary experience preferred.
   • Customer service-oriented.

   
   

   What will I do as a Utility Aide with McGregor?

   • Set up and operate dish machine and pots and pans sink according to procedures; store all items; check dish machine for proper operations of cycles and wash and rinse temperatures.
   • Record dishwasher and refrigeration temperatures according to procedures.
   • Lift and load bulk food supplies and equipment and place them in the appropriate storage area.
   • Clean dish room, pantry, and kitchen floors.
   • Transport assigned food carts to and from various kitchens and place them in designated areas.
   • Clean and store equipment after completion of work.
   • Wash pots and pans and place them in designated areas.

   
   

   Why Choose McGregor

   We meet or exceed area wage and benefit offerings for members of our Care Giving Team, and our goal is to provide a rewarding employment experience for each Team Member. We offer a wide variety of benefits, including:

   • Competitive Pay Rates
   • Sign-On and Retention Bonus
   • Health insurance plan with Wellness program options
   • Shift differential payments
   • Employee Referral Program
   • Secure, free parking
   • Mission minded work environment

   
   Health Care Heroes: McGregor needs You!

   McGregor is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find utility aides 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 utility aide job on Zippia to find and recruit utility aide candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with utility aide 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 utility aide

   Once you've found the utility aide 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.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new utility aide. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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 utility aide?