How to hire a casting machine operator

How to hire a casting machine operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step casting machine operator hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a casting machine 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

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

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

   Type of Casting Machine Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Casting Machine Operator	Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate machines that cut, shape, and form metal and plastic materials or pieces.	$11-21
   Mold Setter	A mold setter positions molds used to cast products from a variety of materials such as plastic, metals, lead and composites. In this position, they are responsible for controlling the flow of materials into a machine, monitoring the process to prevent issues, and interpreting blueprints to ensure machinery is set accordingly... Show more	$12-23
   Die Setter	In manufacturing facilities, a die setter is primarily in charge of setting up machines and equipment, selecting and utilizing various tools, preparing molds, gathering measurements and analyzing data, keeping records, monitoring the operations of machinery, and processing products according to protocols. They may also conduct regular maintenance checks, troubleshoot errors, perform basic repairs or adjustments, and produce regular reports for managers... Show more	$13-22

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • Torches
   • Die Cast Machine
   • Mold Changes
   • Trim Press
   • Tongs
   • Quality Checks
   • RAN
   • Extrusion
   • CNC
   • Automatic Machines
   • Continuous Operation
   • Dimension Defects
   • Press Machine

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Preheat work pieces, using heating furnaces and hand torches.
   • Operate die cast and CNC machines, trim and inspect parts.
   • Skim or pour dross, slag, from molten metal, using rakes.
   • X-ray certify to look for internal air in parts production and fix prior to CNC usage
   • Record statistics on ISO documentation, and coordinate with machine technicians and electrical technicians to keep machines operating at maximum efficiency.
   • Participate in technical support and assist validation and QA department during equipment validation.

   More casting machine operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your casting machine operator job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A casting machine operator 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 casting machine operator in South Dakota may be lower than in Oregon, and an entry-level casting machine operator usually earns less than a senior-level casting machine operator. Additionally, a casting machine operator 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 casting machine operator salary

   $15.96hourly

   $33,196 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level casting machine operator salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average casting machine operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$41,319	$20
   2	Oklahoma	$30,432	$15
   3	Iowa	$29,666	$14
   4	Ohio	$29,544	$14
   5	Wisconsin	$28,210	$14
   6	Tennessee	$26,218	$13

   Average casting machine operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Tredegar	$37,028	$17.80
   2	Concorde Battery	$36,974	$17.78	2
   3	Advance Holding Corporation	$32,566	$15.66	24
   4	RAM Mounts	$32,565	$15.66
   5	Randstad North America, Inc.	$31,907	$15.34	7
   6	Kelly Services	$31,691	$15.24	116
   7	ManpowerGroup	$30,501	$14.66	123
   8	NESCO	$30,400	$14.62
   9	Hubbell	$28,815	$13.85	25

4. Writing a casting machine operator job description

   A casting machine 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 a casting machine operator job description:

   Casting machine operator job description example

   Interested in a sign on bonus? How does up to $2,500 sound.

   Come join our culture and the money is yours as you progress and prove yourself.

   
   

   Full Job Description

   As a Melt/Cast Technician, you will be trained on how to create the most exciting aluminum in the Midwest. If you have a strong work ethic, are reliable and flexible as to a job schedule, and value teamwork in a fast-paced and safety-focused environment "we want you!"

   
   

   We look for individuals that are willing to get paid more by cross-training - our PayForKnowledge program rewards you for your initiative!

   
   

   The Melt/Cast is where it all begins and needs to run continuously so this position is critical to producing our high-quality aluminum.

   
   

   Prior manufacturing experience is a plus - or just be trainable. Can you communicate? Work with others as a team? Maintain a clean and organized work area?

   
   

   Skana offers unsurpassed opportunities to build a successful future.

   Schedules Available:

   • 2nd shift (5:45pm-6am)
     • 2-2-3 schedule that provides 180 days off per year!
     • Schedule and Shift Premium - $1.00 for 2-2-3 and $1.00 for Night Shift

   
   

   Benefits are good :

   • Holiday Pay available DAY 1
   • BONUS - Our Company's success is shared with employees - and that may equate to one extra month of pay
   • 401(k) with company match - don't leave money on the table! Invest in your future.
   • Health, Dental and Vision insurances offered and available
   • Uniforms provided and cleaned by company at no charge to YOU!
   • Safety Shoe Reimbursement - two hundred dollars every two years
   • Safety Glasses paid 100%
   • Wellness reimbursement for participation
   • Fundation - employee engagement opportunities throughout the year!

   Work Environment

   This position is in a plant environment which includes frequent exposure to heat, noise, moving mechanical parts and forklift traffic. You will be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment, including but not limited to safety glasses and safety shoes.

   
   

   Skana is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all qualified applicants for employment, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identification, sexual orientation and/or expression or any other characteristic protected by law in every location in which we have facilities national or local.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right casting machine operator for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your casting machine operator job on Zippia to find and recruit casting machine operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with casting machine operator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of 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 casting machine operator

   Once you've found the casting machine 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.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new casting machine 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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