How to hire a feeder

How to hire a feeder, step by step

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

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

What does a feeder do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The feeder hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A feeder's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, feeders 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 feeder salaries for various positions.

   Type of Feeder	Description	Hourly rate
   Feeder	Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.	$11-19
   Stacker	A stacker operates machines to fit lumber stacks. These machines include conveyer chains, mechanical hands, and rollers... Show more	$10-18

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pallet Jack
   • Customer Specifications
   • Safety Standards
   • Assembly Line
   • RAN
   • Tape Measure
   • Offset Printing
   • Machine Operators
   • General Maintenance
   • Milking
   • Open Boxes
   • Industrial Trucks

   Responsibilities:

   • Fed spoons and forks into machine to be send out to different companies
   • Place finish product onto conveyors or into carts, dump slings of product onto work tables.
   • Rotate product first in first out (FIFO).
   • Operate 5-color 40"Komori!
   • Operate 6-color 26"Komori!
   • Run lines that produce plastic shrink bundling.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your feeder job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A feeder salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, feeders' average salary in alabama is 40% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level feeders earn 41% less than senior-level feeders.
   • Certifications. A feeder with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a feeder's salary.

   Average feeder salary

   $15.21hourly

   $31,642 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level feeder salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average feeder salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$39,889	$19
   2	Kentucky	$36,549	$18
   3	Illinois	$36,058	$17
   4	Wisconsin	$34,928	$17
   5	Ohio	$33,684	$16
   6	Indiana	$33,658	$16
   7	Pennsylvania	$33,175	$16
   8	California	$33,143	$16
   9	Texas	$32,619	$16
   10	Montana	$32,537	$16
   11	Nebraska	$31,571	$15
   12	Oregon	$30,624	$15
   13	North Carolina	$29,493	$14
   14	Missouri	$28,756	$14
   15	Oklahoma	$27,782	$13
   16	Georgia	$27,692	$13

   Average feeder salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	UPS	$43,861	$21.09	1
   2	US Foods	$41,141	$19.78
   3	Pactiv	$40,523	$19.48
   4	Retail	$40,281	$19.37
   5	Tyson Foods	$39,450	$18.97
   6	Land O'Lakes	$39,358	$18.92
   7	FedEx	$39,289	$18.89
   8	Eaton	$39,044	$18.77
   9	MeadWestvaco	$36,865	$17.72
   10	Huhtamäki	$36,802	$17.69
   11	GPAC	$36,734	$17.66
   12	Masonite	$35,361	$17.00
   13	Berry Global	$35,023	$16.84
   14	WestRock	$34,808	$16.73	3
   15	Central Garden & Pet	$34,341	$16.51
   16	Specialty Print Communications	$34,202	$16.44
   17	Graphic Packaging International	$32,599	$15.67	5
   18	Sheridan	$32,450	$15.60
   19	Southern Champion Tray	$31,840	$15.31	3
   20	Five Rivers Cattle Feeding	$31,636	$15.21

4. Writing a feeder job description

   A feeder 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 feeder job description:

   Feeder job description example

   Assist web press manufacturing by operating the auto splicer and infeed. Ensure correct paper is hung according to SPC job ticket. Promote teamwork, provide support for other crew members and maintain a safe work environment.
   • Operate press auto splicer and infeed.
   • Record tonnage and gross counter quantities for paper roll usage.
   • Monitor and ensure proper and consistent level of ink is maintained in all ink fountains.
   • Maintain fountain solution supply and monitor conductivity. Log conductivity readings and adjust to target level as needed.
   • Maintain glue supply and monitor thickness of glues with appropriate Zahn cup and make adjustments as needed to ensure consistency.
   • Dispose of consumable waste in the appropriate containers.
   • Assist in makeready operations – bend and hang plates, web up the press, setup ancillary equipment.
   • Assist in wash-ups.
   • Assist in changing blankets.
   • Monitor the weighing of loads of finished product to verify counts using a floor scale to accurately track final press counts.
   • Under direction of 1st Pressman, gather and prepare supplies on upcoming jobs before the previous job ends. This includes job ticket, paper, ink, plates, glue, dies.
   • Keeps press clean and free of clutter, debris and spills.
   • Maintain a safe work environment ensuring compliance to safety guidelines and housekeeping rules.
   • Display a positive attitude, patience, and professionalism at all times.
   • Communicate with crew members from other shifts to allow for smooth transition and uninterrupted production across shifts.
   • Perform other duties as assigned by 1st Pressman or Pressroom Shift Supervisors.
   • Provide feedback on ways to improve upon manufacturing methods to 1st Pressman.
   
   Qualification Requirements
   • High School diploma or equivalent required
   • 1 year of relevant or related experience preferred
   • Maintain a professional, respectful and positive demeanor
   • Take direction and follow through on assignments
   • Ability to read, write, and speak English
   • Perform basic math calculations
   
   Physical Demands and Abilities
   • Lift up to 50 pounds
   • Adjust body position to bend, stoop, stand, walk, turn, pivot, and stand for long periods of time
   • Ability to work in varying temperatures and tight spaces.
   • Exposure to noise levels up to 90 dB(A) Company DescriptionSpecialty Print Communications (SPC) is an award-winning, leading provider of commercial printing, direct marketing and direct mail services to Fortune 500 companies. A third generation family-owned business, we apply an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach to every customer's program.
   
   We offer a full-spectrum of capabilities and expertise in direct mail, loyalty kits, card issuance, hybrid print production, in-line printing, digital imaging, lettershop, postal logistics, and digital brand execution.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit feeders, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 feeder

   Once you have selected a candidate for the feeder position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize 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.

   To prepare for the new feeder 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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How much does it cost to hire a feeder?