How to hire a utility locate technician

How to hire a utility locate technician, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a utility locate technician, 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

   Hiring the perfect utility locate technician 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 utility locate technicians and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Utility Locate Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Utility Locate Technician	General maintenance and repair workers fix and maintain machines, mechanical equipment, and buildings. They paint, repair flooring, and work on plumbing, electrical, and air-conditioning and heating systems.	$13-23
   Handyman	A handyman can perform various repair and maintenance tasks involving electricity, carpentry, plumbing, and even appliance installation. Most handymen work independently, but they can also choose to be part of a company... Show more	$15-29
   Maintenance Coordinator	A maintenance coordinator is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and safeness of the organization's facilities, as well as conducting repairs on defective equipment and machinery. Maintenance coordinators inspect and diagnose inconsistencies with equipment, replacing faulty components immediately to prevent delays in the operation and avoid potential workplace hazards... Show more	$15-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • DOT
   • Necessary Paperwork
   • OSHA
   • Safety Equipment
   • TV
   • Utility Facilities
   • Telephone Lines
   • Fiber Optic
   • Underground Facilities
   • Ground Utilities
   • GIS
   • GPS
   • Construction Sites
   • Utility Lines

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Perform inspection reviews on final product and packaging to ensure quality standards are achieved according to GMP guidelines.
   • Install Tpo, Pvc, and duro last single ply products.
   • Instruct laborers in EPDM and PVC.
   • Located/Markete utility gas, electric, and cable lines to prevent damage during excavations.
   • Locate underground utilities including telecommunications, electric, power, cable TV, gas, water and sewer systems.
   • Install metal roofs, shingle roofs, and EPDM rubber roofs.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, utility locate technicians' average salary in louisiana is 43% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level utility locate technicians 42% less than senior-level utility locate technicians.
   • Certifications. A utility locate 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 utility locate technician's salary.

   Average utility locate technician salary

   $37,099yearly

   $17.84 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level utility locate technician salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

4. Writing a utility locate technician job description

   A good utility locate 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 utility locate technician job description:

   Utility locate technician job description example

   Woolpert Inc. a leading design, geospatial and infrastructure management firm is seeking motivated and enthusiastic individuals to serve as a Utility Locator Technician in the Kokomo, IN region.
   
   Team members will work as a member of a survey crew and will be responsible for collecting data while utilizing Trimble RTK/GPS and underground utility locating equipment.
   Highly motivated and professional individuals will be considered for rapid advancement.
   
   Preferred Skills:
   
   + Familiarity with electromagnetic multi-frequency locating tools is preferred but not required.
   
   + Prior locating experience is preferred but not required
   
   + Ability to provide sketches of work performed
   
   + Ability to read utility maps, plans, and as-built drawings
   
   + Ability to work alone or in a team setting
   
   Minimum Requirements:
   
   + Must be able to work in all weather environments
   
   + High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
   
   + Frequently lift/move up to 40 pounds, and occasionally lift/move up to 50 pounds
   
   + Willing to work in a team environment and receive verbal instructions
   
   + Strong attention to detail and accuracy
   
   + Valid Driver's License and ability to be on company insurance
   
   + Must be willing to submit to and pass drug screen and background check
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
   
   The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit utility locate technicians, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 utility locate technician

   Once you've found the utility locate 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new utility locate 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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