How to hire a combination operator

How to hire a combination operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step combination 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 combination operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new combination 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 combination operator you need to hire. Certain combination 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 combination 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 combination operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Combination Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Combination Operator	Agricultural workers maintain the quality of farms, crops, and livestock by operating machinery and doing physical labor under the supervision of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers.	$11-19
   Operator	Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them... Show more	$12-25
   Farm Operator	Farm 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:

   • Harvest
   • Wheat
   • Mechanical Problems
   • Safety Procedures
   • Farm Equipment
   • CDL
   • RAN
   • Routine Maintenance
   • GPS

   Responsibilities:

   • Set up and manage GPS equipment for optimum harvesting efficiency.
   • Operate a combine with and without GPS and to cut wheat, canola, corn, and soybeans.
   • Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
   • Satisfy USDA standards and specifications within the facility.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your combination operator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A combination operator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, combination operators' average salary in louisiana is 58% less than in north dakota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level combination operators 44% less than senior-level combination operators.
   • Certifications. A combination operator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a combination operator's salary.

   Average combination operator salary

   $14.89hourly

   $30,962 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level combination operator salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing a combination operator job description

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

   Combination operator job description example

   **Position Title** **:**
   
   Ink Production Worker
   
   **Category/Shift** :
   
   Hourly Full-Time
   
   8am-4pm Monday-Friday
   
   **The Job You Will Perform:**
   
   + Ink production
   
   + Operating a forklift
   
   + Order Fulfillment
   
   + Packaging and labeling of finished products
   
   + Palletizing and preparing all orders for shipment
   
   + Ensures compliance with all safety and quality policies, procedures and standards
   
   + Responsible for housekeeping duties
   
   + All other duties assigned
   
   **The Skills You Will Bring:**
   
   + Goal oriented and a self-starter
   
   + Excellent attendance record
   
   + Safety focused
   
   + Strong interpersonal and communication skills
   
   + Mathematical and mechanical skills
   
   + Must have computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite)
   
   + Must be able to lift a 50-pound container.
   
   **The Benefits You Will Enjoy:**
   
   + Paid time off including Vacation and Holidays
   
   + Retirement, pension, and 401k Matching Program
   
   + Medical & Dental
   
   + Education & Development (including Tuition Reimbursement)
   
   + Life & Disability Insurance
   
   **The Career You Will Build:**
   
   + Leadership training
   
   + Promotional opportunities
   
   **The Impact You Will Make:**
   
   We continue to build a better future for people, the plant, and our company! IP has been a good steward of sustainable practices across communities around the world for more than 120 years. Join our team and you'll see why our team members say they're **Proud to be IP** .
   
   **The Culture You Will Experience:**
   
   International Paper promotes employee well-being by providing safe, caring and inclusive workplaces. You will learn Safety Leadership Principles and have the opportunity to opt into Employee Networking Circles such as IPVets, IPride, Women in IP, and the African American ENC. We invite you to bring your uniqueness, creativity, talents, experiences, and safety mindset to be a part of our increasingly diverse culture.
   
   **The Company You Will Join:**
   
   International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global supplier of renewable fiber-based products. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable worldwide commerce, and pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal care products that promote health and wellness. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 38,000 colleagues globally. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2021 were $19.4 billion. In Russia, we have a 50/50 joint venture, Ilim Group, the country's largest integrated manufacturer of pulp and paper. Additional information can be found by visiting InternationalPaper.com.
   
   **_International Paper is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law._**
   
   Location:
   
   Sanger, CA, US, 93657
   
   Category: Hourly Job
   
   Date: Sep 18, 2022

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find combination operators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any combination operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level combination operators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your combination operator job on Zippia to find and recruit combination operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as ag hires, farm job, farming work , joe produce, picking jobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with combination 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 combination operator

   Once you've selected the best combination operator candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new combination operator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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