How to hire a control operator

How to hire a control operator, step by step

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

What does a control operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your control operator 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 control operator 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?

   Yes

   No

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

   Here's a comparison of control operator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Control Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Control Operator	Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate machines that cut, shape, and form metal and plastic materials or pieces.	$15-26
   Accounting Manager/Controller	An accounting manager/controller is responsible for spearheading and overseeing the daily operations in a company's accounting department. They monitor the company's budgets, including its costs and expenditures, and produce financial reports... Show more	$31-63
   Plant Controller	A plant controller works at factories where they are primarily in charge of administrative duties and ensuring that operations adhere to budgets, schedules, and standards. As a plant controller, they are also responsible for gathering and analyzing financial data, analyzing cost reports, preparing financial statements, maintaining databases, performing audits and risk assessments, and overseeing the accounting team procedures... Show more	$34-65

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Safety Procedures
   • Payroll
   • Financial Reports
   • CPA
   • Logistics
   • General Ledger
   • Human Resources
   • Balance Sheet
   • Troubleshoot
   • Internal Controls
   • Corrective Action
   • Control Room
   • Emergency Situations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage day to day processing of accounts receivable and payable using QuickBooks, producing reports as needed.
   • Manage all financial activities including financial reporting, general accounting, budgeting, cost accounting, A/R, A/P.
   • Manage, analyze, and prepare period- and year-end documentation, ensuring generally accept accounting principles (GAAP) adherence.
   • Manage logistics to increase shipping efficiency and reduce transportation costs.
   • Manage business unit income statements, product-line contribution margin reporting and absorption analysis.
   • Coordinate and manage annual physical inventory as well as inventory valuation in accordance with Canadian GAAP.

   More control operator duties

3. Make a budget

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

   $42,885yearly

   $20.62 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level control operator salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average control operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Illinois	$46,877	$23
   2	Michigan	$46,769	$22
   3	Florida	$46,429	$22
   4	New York	$46,161	$22
   5	Texas	$46,154	$22
   6	Massachusetts	$45,497	$22
   7	Washington	$44,133	$21
   8	Puerto Rico	$44,037	$21
   9	California	$42,128	$20
   10	Colorado	$42,000	$20
   11	Hawaii	$41,689	$20
   12	Minnesota	$41,637	$20
   13	Kansas	$40,444	$19
   14	Wisconsin	$40,285	$19
   15	Ohio	$39,943	$19
   16	Alabama	$39,805	$19
   17	Virginia	$39,548	$19
   18	Nevada	$38,661	$19
   19	South Carolina	$37,491	$18
   20	Oklahoma	$37,052	$18

   Average control operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Battelle	$62,285	$29.94	1
   2	National Grid plc	$60,696	$29.18	1
   3	Magellan Midstream Partners	$56,838	$27.33
   4	Google	$52,351	$25.17	27
   5	Yale University	$51,772	$24.89
   6	Novo Nordisk	$51,325	$24.68	2
   7	Avista	$50,485	$24.27
   8	University of Virginia	$50,482	$24.27
   9	The University of Texas at San Antonio	$49,644	$23.87	1
   10	Fresenius Kabi	$49,597	$23.84	3
   11	Alere	$49,290	$23.70
   12	Dakkota Integrated Systems	$48,978	$23.55
   13	Turner & Townsend	$48,465	$23.30	14
   14	Abbott	$48,411	$23.27	27
   15	General Electric	$48,190	$23.17	68
   16	CliftonLarsonAllen	$48,003	$23.08	12
   17	United States Army War College	$47,933	$23.04
   18	Toyota Boshoku America	$47,864	$23.01
   19	Southern California Edison	$47,411	$22.79
   20	Musco Lighting	$47,381	$22.78

4. Writing a control operator job description

   A control 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 control operator job description:

   Control operator job description example

   The Motion Control Operator is responsible for designing, programming, and executing camera moves and special effects camera passes for stop motion feature film production.
   Essential Job Functions Handle technically challenging moves and be ready to problem solve with the Director, Director of Photography and lighting Cameraperson. Operate with intimate knowledge of the Kuper motion control system. Ensure the correct and timely recording of all background and additional passes essential to a shot within a reasonable time frame adhering to the shooting schedule. Troubleshoot technical problems associated with motion control rigs. Collaborate with the engineering department to ensure that machinery is safe, clean and in good working condition. Handle move and set-up of motion control rigs and other motion control support gear between the working stages. Ensure that motion control rigs plus related equipment is set up in a safe, operational, and efficient manner for each filming day. Work with artists and crew utilizing the stage space.
   Qualifications 3+ years industry experience as a Motion Control Operator. Experience in stop motion animation preferred especially at feature, episodic and commercials level. Knowledge of on-set animation and motion control. Working knowledge of camera and lighting equipment and an understanding of camera angles and lighting techniques. Proficiency with Kuper motion control system and Dragonframe software. Ability to multi-task, switch tasks quickly and efficiently as priorities change. Ability to combine creativity with technical skills. Demonstrated knowledge of equipment safety. Good communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to work with all levels within the organization. Ability to work as a team member. Detail oriented.
   Physical Demands and Work Environment
   The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk; stand; sit; use hands to operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear both in person and by telephone. The employee must lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee works under typical stage conditions and is exposed to variable indoor temperatures. The noise level is usually quiet or moderate.
   Location
   On-site in Hillsboro, OR
   
   Salary
   Salary is commensurate with skills and experience.
   
   Disclaimer
   The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.
   
   Please review our Employment Disclaimer and Materials Submission Agreement.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find control 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 control operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level control 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 control operator job on Zippia to find and recruit control operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting control operators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 control operator

   Once you've selected the best control 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new control 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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How much does it cost to hire a control operator?