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How to hire a baler

Baler hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring balers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a baler is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new baler to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a baler, step by step

To hire a baler, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a baler, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step baler hiring guide:

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

    Before you post your baler 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 a baler 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 a baler 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 a baler that fits the bill.

    This list presents baler salaries for various positions.

    Type of BalerDescriptionHourly rate
    BalerMaterial moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects. Some operators move construction materials around building sites or excavate earth from a mine... Show more$12-18
    Farm OperatorFarm operators make day-to-day management decisions on farms. An operator could be the owner, the manager, a cash tenant, a share tenant, or a partner... Show more$7-25
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Pallets
    • Baling
    • Waste Paper
    • RAN
    • Tow Motor
    • Balers
    • Assembly Line
    • Manual Labor
    • Routine Maintenance
    • Safety Regulations
    Responsibilities:
    • Direct and leaded the baling operation.
    • Clean and inspect balers before they are sold to customers.
    • Tend automatic machine that stacks bales on pallets for storage or shipment.
    • Assist coworkers working on other balers to keep them from getting behind.
    • Operate paper baler/ operate forklift and bobcat, sorting line and perform material inventory.
    • Operate and troubleshoot automatic stackers.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your baler job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A baler salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a baler in Alaska may be lower than in North Dakota, and an entry-level baler usually earns less than a senior-level baler. Additionally, a baler with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average baler salary

    $15.35hourly

    $31,924 yearly

    Entry-level baler salary
    $25,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025

    Average baler salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$37,372$18
    2Ohio$37,213$18
    3Illinois$35,506$17
    4Oregon$34,702$17
    5Arizona$33,565$16
    6California$32,568$16
    7Washington$30,739$15
    8Georgia$30,301$15
    9Tennessee$30,208$15
    10Texas$29,519$14
    11South Carolina$29,395$14
    12North Carolina$28,126$14
    13Florida$28,052$13

    Average baler salary by company

  4. Writing a baler job description

    A baler 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. Below, you can find an example of a baler job description:

    Baler job description example

    * For a limited time you will receive a $500 signing bonus after 90 successful work days PLUS earn weekly bonuses for meeting your store goals*

    (Offer available in select locations)

    Job Description & Physical Demand Analysis

    General Purpose: In a few brief sentences summarize the primary duties and responsibilities.

    The purpose of this role is to complete the baling process for Goodwill NYNJ. This process is essential to keeping hundreds of thousands of pounds of clothes out of landfills each year while also contributing to Goodwill’s mission of empowering individuals with disabilities or other barriers to employment.


    Essential Functions: Describe the duties that define the core responsibilities of the job.

    · Investigates Blue Bins/Black Crates of material.

    · Separates garbage and clothing to be baled.

    · Separates men’s denim from clothing to be baled

    · Operates baling machine following supervisor’s instructions and safety guidelines.

    · Empties out collection boxes at the building. Brings full equipment to production area.

    · Separates items once unloaded off truck (Clearance, Bale, raw, etc.)

    · Assists in the loading of Salvage trucks

    · Operates lift according to supervisor’s instructions and safety guidelines when assigned.

    · Maintains cleanliness/safety of warehouse by keeping items out of aisles

    · Reports to Warehouse Supervisor and Director of Salvage/Grading/Outlet Additional duties as assigned.


    Qualifications: Describe the minimum educational and experience requirements/preferences.

    The following qualifications are required:

    · High School Diploma or equivalent required.

    · Warehouse experience preferred

    · Fork Lift operating license preferred


    Skills Required: Describe the minimum skills required or preferred

    • Must be able to work a flexible schedule ( Mon-Sat ).

    • Must be able to process multiple tasks in a fast paced environment.

    • Must be willing to train on forklift and baling machines.

    • Must be able to lift 50+ pounds

    • Must be sensitive to working with adults with mental and/or physical disabilities.


    Special Working Conditions: Describe unusual working conditions or environmental factors.

    · See Attached Physical Demand Analysis


    Join Goodwill NYNJ to be part of an innovative organization that values the people we serve as well as our employees who help us fulfill our mission each and every day! We employ a people centered approach. That means that while our mission focus is to empower individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment to gain independence through the power of work, we also strive to create an environment of wellbeing for our employees and their families. As a Goodwiller (that's what we call ourselves!) You'll get to enjoy the following benefits and more!

    • Access to 3 different health plan options, with robust national networks, and no referrals

    • Low-cost dental and vision coverage, as well as a great variety of voluntary benefits

    • 1% Employer supplemental contributions to 401a and an additional 1% match to your 403(b) employee deferrals for eligible employees

    • 15 vacation days, 6 personal days, 7.5 sick days and 10 holidays, for full-time employees in year 1. Our generous vacation package increases in subsequent years of employment

    • Other employee discounts for travel, entertainment, mobile phone plans, etc.

    We hope you will consider joining the Goodwill NYNJ team in our journey to empower our communities and our internal team.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find balers 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 baler job on Zippia to find and recruit baler 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 balers, 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.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    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 baler

    Once you've decided on a perfect baler 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.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new baler. 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 a baler?

There are different types of costs for hiring balers. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new baler employee.

You can expect to pay around $31,924 per year for a baler, 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 balers in the US typically range between $12 and $18 an hour.

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