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How to hire an assembly line associate

Assembly line associate hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring assembly line associates in the United States:

  • There are a total of 190,190 assembly line associates in the US, and there are currently 51,772 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire an assembly line associate is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per assembly line associate on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Arthur, IL, has the highest demand for assembly line associates, with 2 job openings.

How to hire an assembly line associate, step by step

To hire an assembly line associate, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire an assembly line associate:

Here's a step-by-step assembly line associate hiring guide:

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

    Before you post your assembly line associate job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an assembly line associate for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an assembly line associate 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 an assembly line associate that fits the bill.

    The following list breaks down different types of assembly line associates and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Assembly Line AssociateDescriptionHourly rate
    Assembly Line AssociateAssemblers and fabricators assemble finished products and the parts that go into them. They use tools, machines, and their hands to make engines, computers, aircraft, ships, boats, toys, electronic devices, control panels, and more.$11-16
    Manufacturing Team MemberManufacturing team members are employees who are part of the group or department that fulfills the manufacturing need of the company or plant. They are trained workers who are familiar with the needs of the organization... Show more$11-19
    Production Team MemberA production team member is responsible for performing duties in manufacturing and industrial processes, conducting quality check procedures for the outputs, and inspecting the efficiency of items before distribution. Production team members operate various equipment and machinery, requiring them to ensure that the equipment works in the best state to avoid potential hazards and delay in operations... Show more$10-17
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Safety Standards
    • Production Process
    • Safety Policies
    • Quality Checks
    • Honda
    • Quality Standards
    • Machine Operators
    • RAN
    • Blueprint Specifications
    • Motor Vehicle
    • Equipment Operational
    • Safety Regulations
    • BMW
    • Quality Products
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Inventory and manage all stock products within a retail warehousing environment utilizing RF scanner and barcode readers to document material.
    • Gain understanding of the components of a Honda engine.
    • Inventory and manage all stock products within a retail warehousing environment utilizing RF scanner and barcode readers to document material.
    • Assemble components into fixtures using microscope and tweezers in a microelectronics company
    More assembly line associate duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your assembly line associate job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An assembly line associate can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, assembly line associates' average salary in louisiana is 31% less than in alaska.
    • Seniority. Entry-level assembly line associates 31% less than senior-level assembly line associates.
    • Certifications. An assembly line associate 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 an assembly line associate's salary.

    Average assembly line associate salary

    $14.17hourly

    $29,465 yearly

    Entry-level assembly line associate salary
    $24,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025

    Average assembly line associate salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Minnesota$32,137$15
    2Illinois$29,884$14
    3North Carolina$29,182$14
    4Arizona$29,127$14
    5Alabama$28,690$14
    6Michigan$28,137$14
    7Missouri$27,977$13
    8Ohio$27,497$13
    9Tennessee$26,022$13
    10Florida$24,636$12

    Average assembly line associate salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Medline$35,148$16.90
    2MasterBrand Cabinets$33,987$16.34
    3Fortune Brands Home & Security$31,528$15.16
    4WestRock$31,122$14.963
    5Farmer's Fridge$29,282$14.08
    6Kelly Services$28,982$13.9336
    7System One$28,903$13.904
    8ManpowerGroup$28,549$13.7349
    9Randstad North America, Inc.$28,479$13.691
    10Adecco$27,877$13.40332
    11Express Employment Indy South$27,492$13.223
    12United Talent$27,407$13.181
    13The Reserves Network$27,348$13.152
    14Automation Personnel Services$27,196$13.075
    15PeopleShare$26,823$12.902
  4. Writing an assembly line associate job description

    An assembly line associate 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 an assembly line associate job description:

    Assembly line associate job description example

    Production Associate opportunities for various shifts are available. $14.00 - $16.00 hourly (depending on shift).

    1st Shift - 6am to 2:30pm, Mon-Fri

    2nd Shift - 2pm to 10:30pm, Mon-Fri

    3rd Shift - 10pm to 6:30am, Mon-Fri


    Benefits offered at Universal Pure:

    • Paid vacation and holidays!
    • Health and medical benefits!
    • 401(k) with company match!
    • A culture of people development and internal career growth.
    • A culture of caring, collaboration and respect.

    Production, Manufacturing, Warehouse Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Packing and unpacking product
    • Loading and unloading cylinders for the HPP machine
    • Stacking and building pallets
    • Labeling and code dating product
    • Sanitation duties as assigned
    • Following health, safety, and cleanliness standards
    • Work on an assembly line
    • Ability to communicate in English (speak, read, and write)
    • Excellent attendance and punctuality for an hourly role
    • Other duties as assigned


    Production, Manufacturing, Warehouse Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

    • High School Diploma/GED
    • Ability to perform basic mental math
    • Ability to balance productivity, quality and safety
    • Ability to work in a fast paced environment
    • Ability to effectively work with others and as part of a team
    • Refrigeration, warehouse, production or manufacturing experience preferred

    Production, Manufacturing, Warehouse Work Environment:

    • This role operates in a wet and cold/refrigerated environment (around 35 degrees F) located within a manufacturing, warehousing, and production type facility. Must be able to withstand cold temperatures for 8 hours a day.

    Production, Manufacturing, Warehouse Physical Demands:

    • This is largely a static role with standing, however, the ability to perform repetitive bending and standing up is also required. This would require the ability to lift 10-35 lbs. repetitively and up to 45 lbs. occasionally. Must also be able to push/pull up to 250 lbs on rollers occasionally.


    At Universal Pure we offer medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and other health benefits. We also offer a 401(k) with a company match, paid vacation, paid holidays, and an attendance bonus. We are developing an effective, caring, and respectful team both in the HR department and across the organization and seek to add new employees who feel the same.


    "We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or disability."


    "Upon offer of employment, candidates will be asked to complete a drug screening test. The offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of this test.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find assembly line associates 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 assembly line associate job on Zippia to find and recruit assembly line associate candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit assembly line associates, 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 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 assembly line associate

    Once you've decided on a perfect assembly line associate 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 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.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new assembly line associate. 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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How much does it cost to hire an assembly line associate?

Before you start to hire assembly line associates, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire assembly line associates pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $29,465 per year for an assembly line associate, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for assembly line associates in the US typically range between $11 and $16 an hour.

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