How to hire a dryer operator

How to hire a dryer operator, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your dryer 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 dryer 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 dryer operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, dryer 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 dryer operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Dryer Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Dryer Operator	Food and tobacco processing workers operate equipment that mixes, cooks, or processes ingredients used in the manufacture of food and tobacco products.	$13-21
   Machine Operator/Forklift Operator	A machine operator/forklift operator is responsible for operating industrial trucks to move merchandise around the warehouse facilities and other assigned areas. Machine operators/forklift operators also assist with inventory tasks by scanning orders and ensuring the correct merchandise for shipment... Show more	$12-18
   Production Line Operator	Production line operators must have strong reading skills and a knowledge base for loading and unloading, quality control, and starting and stopping of production lines. Those who choose this career will be expected to assist in assembling and manufacturing machines, foodstuffs, and products... Show more	$12-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CIP
   • GMP
   • Minor Maintenance
   • Safety Rules
   • OSHA
   • FDA
   • Safety Guidelines
   • Dryers
   • Food Safety
   • Cleanliness
   • Safety Procedures
   • Product Quality
   • Troubleshoot
   • Moisture Content

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage distillation process to determine product specification compliance, and prepare unit for shutdown or turnaround process.
   • Involve in cleanup for USDA inspections.
   • Move to the assembly department building electrical panels, installing electrical panels, installing various electrical devices on new centrifuges.
   • Comply with OSHA when writing permits, LOTO, confine space, and when following all procedures.
   • Make equipment rounds, write safe work permits, and LOTO on relate equipment to be work.
   • Overlook daily operations of single/twin screw extruders and packaging of finish product.

   More dryer operator duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, dryer operators' average salary in indiana is 39% less than in vermont.
   • Seniority. Entry-level dryer operators 34% less than senior-level dryer operators.
   • Certifications. A dryer 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 dryer operator's salary.

   Average dryer operator salary

   $36,131yearly

   $17.37 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level dryer operator salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average dryer operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Montana	$40,620	$20
   2	Massachusetts	$40,563	$20
   3	Illinois	$39,374	$19
   4	Iowa	$38,803	$19
   5	North Carolina	$37,857	$18
   6	California	$35,203	$17
   7	Colorado	$34,837	$17
   8	Wisconsin	$34,612	$17

   Average dryer operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Dairy Farmers of America	$45,698	$21.97	145
   2	Reckitt Benckiser	$43,625	$20.97	8
   3	Fresh Express	$43,140	$20.74	15
   4	Land O'Lakes	$42,728	$20.54	58
   5	Ampi	$42,257	$20.32	1
   6	Steel Dynamics	$42,169	$20.27	7
   7	Rembrandt Foods	$41,697	$20.05
   8	Optimum Nutrition	$40,724	$19.58	30
   9	Perrigo	$40,692	$19.56	3
   10	Post Holdings	$40,510	$19.48	61
   11	Mayo Clinic	$39,622	$19.05	3
   12	Sensient Technologies	$39,351	$18.92	5
   13	Michael Foods	$39,253	$18.87
   14	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$38,959	$18.73	318
   15	Lesaffre International Corporation	$38,770	$18.64	1
   16	Oil-Dri Corporation of America	$38,340	$18.43	10
   17	Unifrax	$38,162	$18.35
   18	Kerry Holding Co.	$38,154	$18.34	34
   19	Cambrex	$37,867	$18.21
   20	AmeriPride Services	$36,888	$17.73

4. Writing a dryer operator job description

   A job description for a dryer operator role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a dryer operator job description:

   Dryer operator job description example

   Job Type :
   
   Full-time
   Salary : $20 -$21 DOE PLUS SIGN ON BONUS Shift: Multiple Shifts Currently Available : -2nd Shift 3pm - 11pm -3rd shift 11pm - 7am -Weekend Days 5am - 5pm -Weekend Nights 5pm - 5am
   ***pre-employment background and drug screen required***
   Demonstrate Competence:
   The Dryer Operator is in charge of production for the shift and job responsibilities change as the flow of the operation and conditions within the plant change. It is his/her duty to see that the production levels are maintained at their highest level without damaging any equipment while maintaining a superior quality product, and a safe workplace. At no time should the Dryer Operator run the plant outside of his/her comfort zone. While on duty it is the Dryer Operators responsibility to make sure that all departments (bagging, forklift operators, loader operators, pellet mill operators and custodians) are working safely and efficiently. As a Dryer Operator, you can expect to be asked questions from all departments of the operation. You should familiarize yourself with all procedures and be familiar with the job descriptions in each department. See that 3 ash tests are completed in a 12-hour shift. See that your Pellet Mill Operator completes his/her assignments each day. (See Mill Operators Routines & Responsibilities). Assist Pellet Mill Operator whenever possible. This may include changing a roll, die, etc. Inspections and Maintenance:
   Always keep production levels at the highest level possible without jeopardizing SAFETY, plant equipment, or quality. Make sure that all plant employees remain focused on their responsibilities while at the same time, maintaining a safe work environment. Make sure that the daily plant log sheets are completed for your shift and all requested information is filled out including any and all maintenance or safety issues. These samples must be done EVERY 30 minutes. Check pellet for excessive wood chunks. If chucks are found in Pellets shutdown and find cause. If Pellets are too long/short make necessary equipment adjustments. Lignetics prides itself on quality. To maintain a premium grade pellet, the pellet weight must be between 40 and 46 pounds per cubic foot (PPCF). Normally a 42.5pound pellet is the best. A visual inspection of the pellets is also completed while conducting a weight check. The pellets must test out at less than .80 to 1.0 percent ash by weight. Anything higher does not meet Lignetics standards. An ash test is conducted on a bagged pellet sample every 70 tons. The majority of a grab sample must be ¾ in length. This does not mean that a few pellets over or under will make a bad product. We simply need to have the majority of the pellets between these parameters. In order to meet premium grade, the fines content cannot be over 1 %. As long? as the equipment is being maintained this should be easily achieved. Obviously, the less fines the better. Keep in mind some fines will be generated during shipment. Communication and Teamwork:
   Maintain good communications between your shift and the one that follows so that everyone understands what problems may arise. Report all incidents no matter how minor to Plant Manager. This means any equipment failures, potential equipment failures, all injuries, and all safety issues. Report all pellet quality issues to the Quality Control Supervisor. Responsible for assisting other production areas, as needed. Move and wrap completed products. Assist the Shift Leads to start and stop the pellet mills. Any other duties as assigned. Qualifications/Education:
   High School diploma or GED preferred Manufacturing and production line experience required Prior experience operating manufacturing systems, equipment, monitoring systems, PLC programming or manufacturing software Prior lead or supervisory experience preferred Must possess good eye, hand and foot coordination Must have computer aptitude at an intermediate level Ability to concentrate for extended periods of time and multi-task Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs and stand for a minimum of 7 hours per day Required to read and interpret scales Requires mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills Requires the ability to do simple math calculations Benefits:
   Annual bonus Pellet purchase program 2 weeks paid time off + 2 floating holidays Competitive Full benefits package - (401(k), vision, medical, dental) Lignetics SWAG gear to include an annual pair of work boots & other PPE
   About Lignetics, Inc. Lignetics, Inc. offers clean, renewable solutions. We have 30 years of experience innovating? eco-friendly essentials for everyday life. Lignetics manufactures a variety of consumer brands in several different categories including wood pellets for home heating, BBQ pellets for grilling, wood pellets and shavings for animal bedding, and a wood fiber-based cat litter. Each of our products have unique features and benefits but are all linked with a wonderful recycled, renewable, sustainable, and carbon neutral story. We turn recycled sawdust into value-add, branded consumer products.
   
   Requirements:
   
   
   PI193962841

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right dryer 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 dryer operator job on Zippia to find and recruit dryer operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with dryer 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. 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 dryer operator

   Once you've found the dryer 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 dryer 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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