How to hire an assistant operator

How to hire an assistant operator, step by step

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

What does an assistant operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an assistant operator, 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an assistant operator 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 assistant operator that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of assistant operators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Assistant Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Assistant Operator	Secretaries and administrative assistants perform clerical and administrative duties. They organize files, prepare documents, schedule appointments, and support other staff.	$13-24
   Cell Operator	A Cell Operator is someone who handles a production cell in a company or factory. This position ensures that a cell unit of the production functions properly and efficiently... Show more	$14-21
   Relief Operator	A relief operator job depends on the institution or organization. Their main jobs include examining, measuring, and weighing materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices such as rulers, micrometers, or scales... Show more	$17-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Ladders
   • Safety Procedures
   • Safety Committee
   • Quality Checks
   • PPE
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • CDL
   • Quality Standards
   • Emergency Situations
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Production Equipment
   • Safety Standards
   • Machine Operation

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage proper removal and allocation for full yarn spindles.
   • Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
   • Maintain current MSHA training requirements.
   • Coordinate special movement of ISO tanks.
   • Certify in MSHA hard-rock mine safety.
   • Maintain spinning/winding machines by putting idle spindles and cones back into production.

   More assistant operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your assistant operator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An assistant operator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, assistant operators' average salary in oklahoma is 47% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level assistant operators earn 44% less than senior-level assistant operators.
   • Certifications. An assistant operator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an assistant operator's salary.

   Average assistant operator salary

   $37,607yearly

   $18.08 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level assistant operator salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average assistant operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$51,981	$25
   2	New York	$48,590	$23
   3	Massachusetts	$45,889	$22
   4	North Dakota	$45,745	$22
   5	Minnesota	$43,383	$21
   6	Wisconsin	$41,294	$20
   7	Utah	$40,487	$19
   8	Colorado	$40,314	$19
   9	Illinois	$39,304	$19
   10	New Mexico	$38,544	$19
   11	Virginia	$37,810	$18
   12	Nevada	$37,314	$18
   13	Texas	$36,944	$18
   14	Iowa	$36,689	$18
   15	North Carolina	$36,430	$18
   16	Florida	$36,354	$17
   17	Mississippi	$35,134	$17
   18	Georgia	$34,818	$17
   19	Pennsylvania	$34,587	$17
   20	Louisiana	$34,585	$17

   Average assistant operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Massachusetts General Hospital	$48,907	$23.51
   2	University of California-Berkeley	$48,814	$23.47
   3	BD	$48,353	$23.25	6
   4	Turner Construction	$45,825	$22.03	12
   5	New York State Restaurant Association	$45,422	$21.84
   6	Expro	$43,879	$21.10	5
   7	Green Bay Packaging	$41,453	$19.93	7
   8	Nomaco	$41,358	$19.88
   9	International Paper	$40,803	$19.62	25
   10	Performance Contracting	$40,445	$19.44
   11	Badger Daylighting	$40,218	$19.34	140
   12	Post Holdings	$40,132	$19.29	58
   13	Carnegie Mellon University	$39,991	$19.23	2
   14	China Mobile	$39,927	$19.20
   15	Owens Corning	$39,899	$19.18	17
   16	City of Rochester MN	$39,786	$19.13
   17	The Bryce Company Llc	$39,748	$19.11	1
   18	Partners Healthcare Solutions Inc	$39,748	$19.11
   19	Beth Israel Lahey Health	$39,748	$19.11	29
   20	PDS Tech	$39,715	$19.09	8

4. Writing an assistant operator job description

   An assistant operator 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 assistant operator job description:

   Assistant operator job description example

   Domtar, part of the Paper Excellence Group, makes products that people around the world rely on every day. We design, manufacture, market and distribute a wide variety of communication, specialty and packaging papers, market pulp and airlaid nonwovens.
   
   We are the largest integrated manufacturer and marketer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America, and one of the largest manufacturers of pulp in the world.
   
   Our network of 11 pulp and paper mills and 9 manufacturing and converting facilities gives us approximately 2.7 million tons of papermaking capacity and 1.5 million air-dried metric tons (ADMT) of market pulp capacity annually to help us to serve our customers, support our employees and strengthen our communities.
   
   Domtar Addison converting is conveniently located near I-355 between Army Trail Road and North Avenue (Route 64). This position runs on a 16/5 schedule - 8-hr shifts, Mon-Fri, 6 AM - 2 PM.
   Candidates interested in this position:
   
   Must be able to work in a self-directed work environment Must be able to lift 60lbs. without assistance.
   
   Must be able to work safely and constantly keep aware of surroundings.
   
   Operate safely, efficiently and continuously the piler sections of the folio machine - 2 skid piling stations and one ream (for cartons) piling station to meet budget and quality demands. Set up for each size change includes the changing of paddles (ream dividers), movement of tapes, plows, rollers, etc. Assist folio operator with roll changes on an average of once every two 1 ½ - 2 hours; this includes the slabbing, splicing of paper, pulling paper on jam ups, and rethreading webs under machine after web breaks. Assists in packaging the sheeted paper for shipping - this includes the nailing of skids, repiling and skid inverting. Assist with unplugging baler, cyclone and trim chutes as required, assists maintenance personnel and performs general housekeeping duties
   
   Assist Backstand person. Prepare rolls for the sheeter by stripping the outer wrap from the roll and inspect the roll for damage or defects. Remove the spent butt rolls from the machine and insert the full rolls into the roll stands. Install the leading edge of the new rolls onto the vacuum splice bars. Apply double-sided tape and trim off excess paper from the vacuum bar. Stage the units into position for the next splice. Bales all the roll wrap and defective paper from the rolls. Stack the corrugated end flaps onto a pallet and place the core plugs into Gaylord box for recycling. Place the spent butt rolls onto the core-stripper machine. Remove the empty cores and place in rack. Strap the bundles of cores for recycling. Sweep the immediate work area during the shift. Assist with preventative maintenance on Sheeter.
   Tools used and provided: pneumatic roll mover, strapping tool, core-plug removal tool, broom and dust pan. PPE provided: Non-prescription safety glasses, ear plugs, work gloves PPE required: Steel-toe shoes Apparel: Jeans and plain T-shirt (no graffiti or offensive writing) Minimum Qualifications include: High School Graduate or G.E.D. Past Industrial Experience and a Mechanical Aptitude are Helpful
   Benefits:
   401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Health insurance (BC/BS) Life insurance Paid holidays & vacation Tuition reimbursement Vision insurance Domtar is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, color, sex (including gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), marital status, religion, national origin, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find assistant operators 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 assistant operator job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit assistant operators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 assistant operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the assistant operator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new assistant operator. 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.)

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How much does it cost to hire an assistant operator?