How to hire a vocational specialist

How to hire a vocational specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step vocational specialist hiring guide:

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

What does a vocational specialist do?

Post a vocational specialist job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The vocational specialist 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

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

   The following list breaks down different types of vocational specialists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Vocational Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Vocational Specialist	School counselors help students develop academic and social skills and succeed in school. Career counselors assist people with the process of making career decisions by helping them develop skills or choose a career or educational program.	$14-22
   Outreach Worker	An outreach worker is responsible for supporting community events and relief efforts to assist citizens with their needs, providing them resources, and facilitating lifestyle programs. Outreach workers coordinate with participants, suppliers, and sponsors for funding and promotions... Show more	$13-23
   Youth Mentor	Youth mentors are adult individuals who are responsible for creating programs to improve the well-being of young people by providing role models that can support them academically and socially. These mentors must educate the community on issues related to mental health while making regular home visits to youth and young adults... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Rehabilitation
   • Social Work
   • Crisis Intervention
   • Substance Abuse
   • Competitive Employment
   • Vocational Rehabilitation
   • CPR
   • Community Resources
   • Vocational Assessments
   • Autism
   • Community Treatment
   • Support Services
   • Persistent Mental Illness
   • Employment Services

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Conduct therapeutic and vocational rehabilitation groups for individuals who are diagnosed with a severe mental illness.
   • Facilitate vocational rehabilitation groups weekly.
   • Conduct initial interviews with individuals to determine if the situation warrant further investigation by EEO Specialists/investigators.
   • Document all activities including rationale for decisions in accordance with DARS policies and procedures.
   • Assist clients preparing to transition with housing applications and or locating low income and or affordable housing.
   • Facilitate vocational rehabilitation groups weekly.

   More vocational specialist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the vocational specialist job description is a good way to get more applicants. A vocational specialist salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a vocational specialist in Missouri may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level vocational specialist. Additionally, a vocational specialist with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average vocational specialist salary

   $37,486yearly

   $18.02 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level vocational specialist salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average vocational specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$53,329	$26
   2	Washington	$47,989	$23
   3	Massachusetts	$47,128	$23
   4	New Jersey	$41,886	$20
   5	Ohio	$41,277	$20
   6	Rhode Island	$40,994	$20
   7	New York	$40,477	$19
   8	Wisconsin	$39,354	$19
   9	Minnesota	$38,353	$18
   10	Pennsylvania	$38,230	$18
   11	Arizona	$36,496	$18
   12	Louisiana	$33,561	$16
   13	North Carolina	$31,749	$15
   14	Georgia	$31,400	$15
   15	Florida	$31,193	$15

   Average vocational specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	New York State Restaurant Association	$45,343	$21.80
   2	Multicare Companies Inc.	$40,820	$19.63	7
   3	October Road	$40,427	$19.44
   4	Eliot Community Human Services Inc	$40,122	$19.29	36
   5	Sound	$40,111	$19.28
   6	St Luke's Hospital & Health Network Inc	$39,799	$19.13
   7	St. Luke's Health System	$39,594	$19.04	6
   8	INSTITUTE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES	$39,591	$19.03	34
   9	Vinfen	$39,543	$19.01	325
   10	West Central Behavioral Health	$39,342	$18.91	2
   11	Mental Health Resource Center	$39,333	$18.91	17
   12	Pioneer High School	$39,307	$18.90
   13	ICL	$39,189	$18.84	19
   14	NORTH	$38,923	$18.71
   15	Cape Abilities Inc	$38,771	$18.64	2
   16	Resources for Human Development	$38,547	$18.53	12
   17	Hamilton-Madison House	$38,487	$18.50	3
   18	Powell Valley Care Ctr	$38,253	$18.39
   19	Easter Seals Southern California	$37,673	$18.11	42
   20	Westcare Health Corporation	$37,458	$18.01	27

4. Writing a vocational specialist job description

   A good vocational specialist 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 vocational specialist job description:

   Vocational specialist job description example

   Are you looking for an opportunity to advance your career while working with an extraordinary team? At Merakey, we put heart and soul into everything we do. We are seeking Vocational Specialist to join our team at our program in New Orleans, LA.
   Earn $16.10 + $4,050 mileage stipend
   
   Position Details
   
   Provides ongoing supports, crisis intervention, job counseling. Conducts an ongoing process of vocational assessments of each consumer's strengths, capabilities, current adjustment, work skills, and particular needs by gathering data from the consumer, the treatment team, the case record, the family members, and employers. Links consumers with outside agencies, private vendors, businesses, and job sites. Negotiates job positions and advocates for consumers in those positions.
   
   BENEFITS
   
   Merakey offers Medical, Dental, Vision insurance plans, competitive compensation plans, Work/Life balance, flexible schedules, cell phone discount plan, employee referral bonuses, tuition reimbursement and much more!
   
   To fill out an on-line application: www.merakey.org/careers
   
   
   ABOUT MERAKEY
   
   Merakey is a leading developmental, behavioral health, and education non-profit provider with a fifty-year history. We offer a breadth of integrated services to individuals and communities across the country. Our belief that every individual has the right to achieve growth, dignity, and fulfillment guides all of our decisions. At Merakey, we care about each other and are committed to providing the very best care to those we serve. Merakey strictly follows a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.
   
   Merakey is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer! We deeply value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ethnic background, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability status. Moreover, we are committed to creating teams that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply.
   
   The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:
   
   * Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university.
   * Two years' experience in human services, education, or other helping profession.
   * Some marketing experience preferred.
   * Experience and ability working in a team environment (IPS model).
   * Must have valid driver's license and vehicle

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit vocational specialists, 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 vocational specialist

   Once you've decided on a perfect vocational specialist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new vocational specialist. 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a vocational specialist?