# Hiring and pay for trades businesses

Guides for owners hiring their first office staff and technicians: how much to pay a customer service rep, dispatcher, office manager or tech based on federal wage data, plus job descriptions and interview questions you can copy, and what to automate before you hire.

## Hiring and payroll

- [Customer Service Representative Interview Questions (With Answers to Listen For)](https://www.brix.so/hiring/customer-service-representative/interview-questions): 26 customer service rep interview questions for HVAC, plumbing and electrical shops, with good answers, red flags, a scored mock call and a hiring rubric.
- [Customer Service Representative Job Description (Copy and Edit)](https://www.brix.so/hiring/customer-service-representative/job-description): Copy-ready customer service representative job description for HVAC, plumbing and electrical shops: duties, KPIs, schedule, pay range and posting tips.
- [Dispatcher Job Description for HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical Companies](https://www.brix.so/hiring/dispatcher/job-description): Copy-ready dispatcher job description for HVAC, plumbing and electrical companies: daily duties, routing KPIs, on-call terms, pay range and screening.
- [Hiring a Customer Service Representative: A Guide for Trades Owners](https://www.brix.so/hiring/customer-service-representative): How to hire a CSR for an HVAC, plumbing or electrical shop: when you need one, what to pay, a job description outline, interview questions, a mock call.
- [Hiring a Dispatcher: When You Need One and How to Pick the Right Person](https://www.brix.so/hiring/dispatcher): When a home service shop needs a dispatcher, what the job covers, what to pay, how to test candidates with a live board exercise, and a 90-day scorecard.
- [Hiring Electricians: A Guide for Electrical Contractors](https://www.brix.so/hiring/electrician): How electrical contractors hire: license and ratio checks, service vs construction electricians, a hands-on troubleshooting test and a 90-day plan.
- [Hiring Plumbers: A Guide for Plumbing Business Owners](https://www.brix.so/hiring/plumber): How plumbing shops hire: license and gas-endorsement checks, apprentice vs journeyman, a bench-test working interview, questions to ask and a 90-day plan.
- [How Much to Pay a Customer Service Representative in 2026](https://www.brix.so/hiring/customer-service-representative/pay): CSR pay from BLS May 2025 data: national median $21.53 an hour, $22.38 at specialty trade contractors, pay by state, bonus plans and the full cost to hire.
- [How Much to Pay a Dispatcher at a Trades Company in 2026](https://www.brix.so/hiring/dispatcher/pay): Dispatcher pay from BLS May 2025: $24.20 national median, $23.26 at specialty trade contractors, state wages, bonus ideas and the full cost of the hire.
- [How Much to Pay a Plumber in 2026: Apprentice to Master](https://www.brix.so/hiring/plumber/pay): Plumber pay from BLS May 2025: $30.67 median, apprentice to journeyman steps, state wages, commission plans with overtime math, full cost.
- [How Much to Pay an Electrician in 2026](https://www.brix.so/hiring/electrician/pay): Electrician pay from BLS May 2025: $30.38 median, $29.63 at contractors, apprentice vs journeyman cost, wages by state and overtime with service premiums.
- [How Much to Pay an HVAC Technician in 2026](https://www.brix.so/hiring/hvac-technician/pay): HVAC tech pay from BLS May 2025: $29.33 median, $28.88 at contractors, state wages, spiff and commission plans, overtime math, cost per billable hour.
- [How Much to Pay an Office Manager at a Trades Company in 2026](https://www.brix.so/hiring/office-manager/pay): Office manager pay for trades shops from BLS May 2025: $33.42 median for office supervisors at trade contractors, state wages, salary vs hourly, full cost.
- [How to Hire an HVAC Technician: A Guide for Shop Owners](https://www.brix.so/hiring/hvac-technician): Hire HVAC techs: when to add a truck, EPA 608 and license checks, where to find candidates, a paid ride-along test, interview questions and a 90-day plan.
- [Office Manager Job Description for a Contracting or Trades Company](https://www.brix.so/hiring/office-manager/job-description): Copy-ready office manager job description for HVAC, plumbing and electrical shops: billing, collections, payroll prep, team lead duties and a pay range.
- [When to Hire an Office Manager (and What They Should Own)](https://www.brix.so/hiring/office-manager): Signs your trades business needs an office manager, what the role should own, manager vs. bookkeeper, pay benchmarks, a paperwork test and a 90-day plan.

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Canonical: https://www.brix.so/hiring