How to hire an assembly operator

How to hire an assembly operator, step by step

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

What does an assembly operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the assembly operator you need to hire. Certain assembly operator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   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 assembly operator 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.

   This list presents assembly operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Assembly Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Assembly Operator	Assemblers 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.	$12-18
   Manufacturing Operator	A manufacturing operator is primarily responsible for overseeing and controlling the performance of machines and equipment, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around monitoring production operations, conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the accuracy and quality of machinery, performing corrective measures and adjustments as needed, and assessing the quality of finished products, all while adhering to deadlines and goals... Show more	$12-20
   Production Assembler	An assembler is responsible for the arrangement of multiple parts to create an entirely new component, following the client's specifications or blueprint instructions. Assemblers must be able to interpret schematics well, as well as being able to operate mechanical equipment and hand tools to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the job... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • Quality Checks
   • Basic Math
   • Quality Standards
   • Math
   • Troubleshoot
   • Assembly Line
   • Assembly Operations
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Dexterity
   • Assembly Process
   • Safety Procedures
   • Safety Policies
   • Calipers

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve enhancement in shop math: trigonometry, compound angles, and geometry.
   • Inventory and manage all stock products within a retail warehousing environment utilizing RF scanner and barcode readers to document material.
   • Handle delicate parts with great dexterity.
   • Assist in the ISO certification for the company * TQM certify
   • Meet cycle time goal and adhere to ISO guidelines.
   • Work in Honda, Chrysler, and Toyota department building door latches.

   More assembly operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the assembly operator job description is a good way to get more applicants. An assembly operator 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 an assembly operator in Texas may be lower than in Maine, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level assembly operator. Additionally, an assembly operator with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average assembly operator salary

   $15.35hourly

   $31,928 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level assembly operator salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average assembly operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$34,695	$17
   2	Minnesota	$34,287	$16
   3	New Hampshire	$34,200	$16
   4	Illinois	$32,969	$16
   5	Michigan	$32,786	$16
   6	Wisconsin	$32,266	$16
   7	Connecticut	$31,838	$15
   8	Ohio	$31,775	$15
   9	Pennsylvania	$30,993	$15
   10	Kentucky	$29,470	$14
   11	Nebraska	$29,346	$14
   12	Virginia	$29,065	$14
   13	Delaware	$28,797	$14
   14	Tennessee	$26,696	$13
   15	North Carolina	$26,477	$13
   16	Texas	$25,579	$12
   17	Georgia	$23,974	$12
   18	Florida	$23,964	$12

   Average assembly operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	North American Stainless	$39,839	$19.15
   2	Infinera	$39,659	$19.07
   3	BD	$38,210	$18.37	8
   4	Raytheon Technologies	$37,458	$18.01	41
   5	Abbott	$37,131	$17.85	52
   6	Igloo Coolers	$36,933	$17.76	3
   7	SWFcontract	$36,902	$17.74
   8	ICU Medical	$36,679	$17.63	5
   9	Analog Devices	$36,575	$17.58	1
   10	Olin	$36,452	$17.52	7
   11	Baxter International	$36,283	$17.44	9
   12	Ericsson	$36,239	$17.42
   13	Lubrizol	$36,121	$17.37	4
   14	Valmont Industries	$36,103	$17.36	14
   15	Cardinal Health	$36,045	$17.33	11
   16	Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems	$35,991	$17.30	1
   17	Pharmaceutical	$35,881	$17.25	3
   18	Brunswick	$35,872	$17.25	12
   19	Dana Incorporated	$35,866	$17.24	2
   20	BorgWarner	$35,799	$17.21	3

4. Writing an assembly operator job description

   A job description for an assembly operator role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an assembly operator job description:

   Assembly operator job description example

   1. Follows complex, sequenced work instructions and performs multiple job tasks within specified cycle times and responsibilities at various workstations.

   2. Performs verification of part numbers, supplier quality, and quality checks to ensure parts are meeting quality criteria.

   3. Performs quality checks through the use of multiple tools and records results.

   4. Resets, re-starts, and performs minor adjustments to production equipment as directed.

   5. Performs required preventive equipment maintenance.

   6. Reads and verifies bill of materials (BOMs)

   7. May require interaction with customers (OEMs)

   8. Follows all established safety procedures including wearing required PPE and maintaining 5S standards.

   9. Performs other duties as assigned

   Job Skills Requirements

   -Ability to perform repetitive tasks at required cycle times

   -Good teamwork, communication and interpersonal skills

   -Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

   -Ability to pay close attention to detail

   -Mathematical skills that require the ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and to make metric system conversions.

   -Fluent in English and primary language used in area of responsibility and/or location

   Educational Requirements

   -High school diploma or general education degree preferred

   Experience Requirements

   -Previous assembly and/or engine experience preferred

   Physical & Environmental Requirements

   -May be required to lift or carry products, parts, and/or other materials of various sizes and weights. (Frequently 5 – 25 pounds), (Occasionally 25 – 75 pounds), (Rarely greater than 75 pounds)

   -Ability to perform occasional to frequent pushing, pulling, bending, kneeling, twisting, crawling and/or reaching over a full work shift (8-12 hours)

   -Ability to stand and / or walk constantly over a full work shift (8-12 hours)

   -Ability to use feet for repetitive movement as in operating foot controls over a full work shift (8-12 hours)

   -Moderate physical demand; often lifting/moving average weight (25 to 50 lbs/11-27 kgs), and occasionally lifting heavy weight materials (up to 70 lbs)

   You should be proficient in:

   • High School / GED
   • Excellent Communication Skills

   Salary info:

   $17 - $17 / hr

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting assembly operators 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 operator

   Once you've found the assembly operator 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new assembly operator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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 operator?