How to hire an auxiliary operator

How to hire an auxiliary operator, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the auxiliary operator you need to hire. Certain auxiliary 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

   An auxiliary operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, auxiliary operators 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.

   This list presents auxiliary operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Auxiliary Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Auxiliary Operator	Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators manage a system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.	$20-39
   Water Treatment Technician	Water treatment technicians work every day in observing agricultural plant functions, which includes obtaining the daily requirements and making suitable adjustments to satisfy those demands. They carefully implement process sampling to exactly gauge and keep track of levels... Show more	$13-32
   Water Technician	Typically working at water treatment facilities, a water technician specializes in installing and repairing equipment to ensure the good quality of water and consumers' safety. It is their duty to operate tools and equipment, gather and analyze samples to detect any contaminants, participate in adjusting chemical levels, and perform regular maintenance checks on machines to ensure efficiency... Show more	$13-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Control Room
   • Water Chemistry
   • Emergency Situations
   • Plant Operations
   • Plant Equipment
   • Auxiliary Equipment
   • Air Compressors
   • Cranes
   • Safety Procedures
   • Plant Systems
   • Water Pumps
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Air Quality
   • Fuel Oil

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Need method to proactively manage the business improving cross-functional collaboration & KPI visibility.
   • Follow NAES procedures on LOTO while doing so in a safely and timely manner.
   • Complete on site fire school training and responsible for proper operation of plant firefighting equipment.
   • Supervised/Operate PLC control incinerators and demilitarization machines.
   • Insure that lock-out and tag-out procedures are perform safely and in compliance with APS guidelines.
   • Complete training as a fire brigade team member at Delgado fire school.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, auxiliary operators' average salary in arkansas is 56% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level auxiliary operators earn 48% less than senior-level auxiliary operators.
   • Certifications. An auxiliary 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 auxiliary operator's salary.

   Average auxiliary operator salary

   $60,040yearly

   $28.87 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level auxiliary operator salary

   $43,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing an auxiliary operator job description

   An auxiliary 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 auxiliary operator job description:

   Auxiliary operator job description example

   Auxiliary OperatorinColbert, GAatVeolia North America
   
   **Date Posted:** 10/4/2022
   
   **Job Snapshot**
   
   + **Employee Type:** Full-Time
   
   + **Location:** Colbert, GA
   
   + **Job Type:** Other
   
   + **Experience:** 1 to 2 years
   
   + **Date Posted:** 10/4/2022
   
   **Job Description**
   
   Company Description
   
   Veolia Group aims to be the benchmark company for ecological transformation. With nearly 220,000 employees worldwide, the Group designs and provides game-changing solutions that are both useful and practical for water, waste and energy management. Through its three complementary business activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, preserve available resources and replenish them. In 2021, the Veolia group provided 79 million inhabitants with drinking water and 61 million with sanitation, produced nearly 48 million megawatt hours and recovered 48 million tons of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 28,508 billion euros in 2021. www.veolia.com (\)
   
   Job Description
   
   Veolia is seeking an Auxiliary Operator (AO) who will safely and reliably operate wood dryers, fans, pumps, motors, biomass-fired steam boilers and auxiliary equipment. AO will perform O&M tasks for the power plant as a primary responsibility. The AO will report to the Shift Supervisor
   
   Specific responsibilities include the following:
   
   + Performs all O&M activities including monitoring of all equipment and notes operating conditions of auxiliary equipment for the dryer operation and fuel yard operation.
   
   + Reports conditions, trends and abnormalities to the Manager Fuel Handling or the Shift Supervisor
   
   + Perform routine boiler chemistry sampling procedures for all boilers; make adjustments per Control Operator's instructions when assigned to the power plant
   
   + LOTO - Locks out equipment for maintenance; unlocks and retest equipment after completion of repair
   
   + Performs routine maintenance tasks such as equipment lubrication, and minor repairs to operating boiler auxiliaries such as fuel feed systems, pumps, fans etc.
   
   + Has working knowledge of pumps, fans, motors, water treatment and related auxiliary equipment
   
   + Maintains safe working conditions; identifies, reports, and /or corrects unsafe conditions in work area; able to use safety equipment necessary to perform job in safe manner
   
   + Capable of performing operational rounds and required duties of the Auxiliary Operator position
   
   + Demonstrate ability and willingness to identify system components and how those components operate and interact
   
   + Receives deliveries as required
   
   + Works mandatory overtime as required Note: The job can be physically demanding involving movement of heavy equipment and carrying materials up and down stairs. Candidates should be able to lift and maneuver a 50-lb load.Qualifications
   
   + 1-2 years' experience in central utility power plants including boilers, turbines, dryers, compressed air, utility distribution systems including steam, hot and cold water, and distributed control system
   
   + Working knowledge of the principles of combustion, boiler firing practices, steam turbines, water treatment.
   
   + Working skill in the operation of boilers, burners, valves, pumps, fans, water treatment systems, and all auxiliary equipment related to steam and electrical production.
   
   + Ability to perform minor maintenance of the above listed equipment and safety related tasks such as locking, unlocking, and testing for maintenance activities.
   
   + Demonstrated ability to monitor and operate the plant auxiliary equipment in general and inside/outside located equipment in particular..
   
   + Must be able to work rotating shift assignment to support plant operations as assigned
   
   + Ability to tolerate temperature extremes, confined spaces, tolerate heights, climb ladders, lift heavy equipment/materials and carry materials up and down stairs with the capacity of lifting 50 pounds
   
   + Able to wear PPE, accurately read and interpret gauges, and capable to hear and understand audible alarms
   
   + Able to communicate well with others Additional InformationA subsidiary of Veolia group, Veolia North America (VNA) offers a full spectrum of water, waste and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. VNA helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent.
   
   As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination.
   
   We are an Equal Opportunity Employer! All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit auxiliary operators, 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.

   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 auxiliary operator

   Once you've decided on a perfect auxiliary operator 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.

   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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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