How to hire a vehicle mechanic

How to hire a vehicle mechanic, step by step

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

What does a vehicle mechanic do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a vehicle 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?

   Yes

   No

   A vehicle mechanic's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, vehicle mechanics 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.

   Here's a comparison of vehicle mechanic salaries for various roles:

   Type of Vehicle Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Vehicle Mechanic	Diesel service technicians and mechanics inspect, repair, and overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engine.	$13-29
   Truck Technician	Truck technicians are skilled employees who are responsible for working and inspecting the mechanical parts of trucks such as the engine, wheels, accelerator, and brakes. These technicians must use specialized instruments and tools to diagnose problems and repair parts... Show more	$15-28
   Journeyman/Mechanic	A journeyman mechanic is responsible for diagnosing problems on a vehicle's onboard computer system through a variety of methods, including visual and test-driving vehicles. They oversee environmental guidelines, including legal guidelines for workplace safety, hazardous material disposal guidelines, and other regulatory issues... Show more	$18-34

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • Electrical Systems
   • Diesel Engines
   • Troubleshoot
   • Shop Safety
   • Combat
   • Technical Manuals
   • Vehicle Maintenance
   • Maintenance Services
   • Ignition Systems
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Electrical Troubleshooting
   • Equipment Systems
   • Routine Maintenance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Experience in the repairs of HMMWV, MTV/LMTV, PLS, and HEMMT classes.
   • Maintain HEMTT, heat, PLS, LHS, FMTV, MTV, and HMMWV.
   • Analyze blueprints and FAA technical publications for FAA audits and create innovative ways to manufacture products and save man hours.
   • Inspect, repair and adjust traders, trenching machines, diesel tractors, pan, scrapers and earth moving bulldozers.
   • Perform services, troubleshoot, inspect and repair mechanical/electrical and hydraulic systems and subsystems.
   • Perform automotive diagnosis, routine maintenance, exhaust fabrication and service repairs daily/as need.

   More vehicle mechanic duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, vehicle mechanics' average salary in mississippi is 46% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level vehicle mechanics 53% less than senior-level vehicle mechanics.
   • Certifications. A vehicle 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 vehicle mechanic's salary.

   Average vehicle mechanic salary

   $42,628yearly

   $20.49 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level vehicle mechanic salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average vehicle mechanic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$48,592	$23
   2	Washington	$44,832	$22
   3	New York	$43,465	$21
   4	Colorado	$43,127	$21
   5	Maryland	$42,079	$20
   6	Oregon	$41,727	$20
   7	Texas	$40,099	$19
   8	Arizona	$38,999	$19
   9	Pennsylvania	$38,769	$19
   10	Utah	$38,195	$18
   11	Louisiana	$37,614	$18
   12	Florida	$37,275	$18
   13	Oklahoma	$37,042	$18
   14	Alabama	$34,116	$16
   15	Kansas	$33,783	$16
   16	South Carolina	$33,601	$16
   17	North Carolina	$32,103	$15
   18	Georgia	$31,970	$15

   Average vehicle mechanic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$95,006	$45.68	3
   2	REV Group	$91,443	$43.96	6
   3	Aspen Snowmass	$60,359	$29.02	3
   4	Hemet Unified School District	$51,385	$24.70	1
   5	Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority	$51,314	$24.67	4
   6	Air Products	$50,812	$24.43
   7	LYNX Services	$49,867	$23.97	2
   8	Lockheed Martin	$49,467	$23.78	68
   9	Alaska Airlines	$48,764	$23.44
   10	Vail Resorts	$48,267	$23.21	55
   11	Clean Harbors	$47,865	$23.01	88
   12	Raytheon Technologies	$47,328	$22.75	8
   13	GradyHealth	$47,001	$22.60
   14	Fullerton Joint Union High School District	$45,867	$22.05
   15	The Coca-Cola Company	$45,228	$21.74	5
   16	ASRC Federal	$44,825	$21.55	15
   17	ZF Group	$44,652	$21.47	2
   18	Recruiting Solutions	$43,957	$21.13
   19	Wintergreen	$43,818	$21.07	3
   20	Ethan Allen Workforce Solutions	$43,651	$20.99

4. Writing a vehicle mechanic job description

   A vehicle mechanic 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. Below, you can find an example of a vehicle mechanic job description:

   Vehicle mechanic job description example

   • Top pay in area
   • Career path development opportunities
   • Competitive paid time off
   • Annual seniority bonus
   • Christmas bonus plan based on flagged hours (Optional)
   • Shop Manager on-site for assistance
   • Fair dispatching/teamwork environment
   • Large inventory of vehicles
   • Experienced and loyal service advisors
   • Clean/Safe shop with the equipment you need to get the job done
   • Discounts on parts, service and vehicle purchases for your immediate family
   • Medical, Dental and Vision insurance
   • Paid Life insurance
   • 401(k) plan w/ Fidelity
   • Accident and Illness supplemental plans

   Job duties will include inspecting, diagnosing, and identifying work that needs to be completed on various vehicles. Performing adjustments and calibrations, replenishing fluids, disassembling and reassembling vehicle components, and repairing or replacing parts. Using independent judgment needed to make decisions, documenting all work and hours per manufacturer and Kendall policies, and road testing all vehicles to ensure quality of work and issues resolution.

   This is not an entry level position. Candidates must have mechanical or tech experience at a dealership or large independent shop. ASE certifications are a plus but not required. Must have ability to operate a wide variety of vehicles both automatic and manual transmissions. A valid driver license and good driving record are required.

   Work is performed indoors in a shop environment, tool usage includes mechanic's hand and power tools that produce significant vibration and force, standing and walking will be required for entire work shift in order to complete job duties. Pushing, pulling, crouching, squatting, reaching, and kneeling will be required frequently to access all parts of vehicles being worked on. Lifting as well as pushing and pulling weights and forces from 20 to 100 pounds occasionally required.

   Join Kendall Auto Group and START SOMETHING GREAT! We are a family-owned and operated company with auto dealerships in Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington and Alaska. Kendall has been selling and servicing vehicles since 1937.

   Our mission at Kendall is simple: To deliver an unrivaled customer experience. Through our highly motivated, knowledgeable and caring team of professionals, we pledge to listen to and respect your needs. Doing the right thing means more than selling and servicing vehicles. Our progressive attitude means being exceptional stewards of the communities we operate in. It means going above and beyond every day for the people who mean so much to us – our employees and customers.

   Our employees are members of the Kendall family, who share our same goals and passions. Ideal candidates are confident, driven people who are excited to grow and succeed with one of the most successful automotive dealerships in the Pacific Northwest. If you are looking for a rewarding career, we would like to meet you and start something great!

   To apply, please follow the link to our job board site.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting vehicle mechanics requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 vehicle mechanic

   Once you've selected the best vehicle 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.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been 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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How much does it cost to hire a vehicle mechanic?