How to hire a finisher

How to hire a finisher, step by step

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

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

What does a finisher do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your finisher 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 finisher 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 finisher's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, finishers 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 finishers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Finisher	Description	Hourly rate
   Finisher	Masonry workers, also known as masons, use bricks, concrete blocks, concrete, and natural and manmade stones to build walls, walkways, fences, and other masonry structures.	$12-18
   Prestressed Concrete Labour	Prestressed concrete labor works at construction sites where they are in charge of handling and processing prestressed concrete materials into structural forms. They typically coordinate with managers and engineers to learn the construction plans and guidelines, design and build structures, prepare materials, and perform corrective measures when necessary... Show more	$12-20
   Cement Mason	A cement mason plays a vital role in every construction project. They specialize in pouring, spreading, forming, and even finishing cement in areas such as floors, ceilings, walls, and roads, ensuring procedures adhere to project guidelines and industry standards... Show more	$11-30

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • Finishers
   • Customer Service
   • Donuts
   • Math
   • Quality Standards
   • Basic Math
   • Stainless Steel
   • Coats
   • Quality Checks
   • Safety Standards
   • Safety Guidelines
   • Etching
   • CNC

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Work on high ceilings using scaffolding or other tools, such as stilts.
   • Employ skills of TIG and MIG welding, grinding, fabrication, finishing, and staining.
   • Walk stilts, drive boom lifts, scissor lifts and used scaffolding to work in areas beyond physical reach.
   • Utilize precise math and measuring skills.
   • Assist in the training of new polishers.
   • Remodel commercial hotels, red roof inn, holiday inn

   More finisher duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, finishers' average salary in arkansas is 44% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level finishers earn 33% less than senior-level finishers.
   • Certifications. A finisher 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 finisher's salary.

   Average finisher salary

   $15.60hourly

   $32,442 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level finisher salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average finisher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Illinois	$41,609	$20
   2	California	$41,255	$20
   3	New Jersey	$37,381	$18
   4	Oregon	$37,307	$18
   5	Colorado	$35,266	$17
   6	Maryland	$35,264	$17
   7	Arizona	$34,393	$17
   8	Ohio	$33,645	$16
   9	Nebraska	$33,063	$16
   10	Virginia	$32,322	$16
   11	Iowa	$30,208	$15
   12	Kansas	$29,044	$14
   13	Utah	$28,875	$14
   14	Florida	$28,397	$14
   15	Alabama	$28,223	$14
   16	North Carolina	$28,029	$13
   17	Tennessee	$27,466	$13
   18	Texas	$27,104	$13
   19	Georgia	$26,926	$13
   20	Louisiana	$25,159	$12

   Average finisher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	OMNOVA Solutions	$42,138	$20.26
   2	Bunge	$40,507	$19.47	2
   3	Valmont Industries	$40,490	$19.47	2
   4	Lockheed Martin	$40,068	$19.26
   5	Danaher	$39,841	$19.15
   6	Eaton	$39,126	$18.81
   7	Steris	$38,891	$18.70	4
   8	Smith & Nephew	$38,270	$18.40
   9	REV Group	$37,979	$18.26	6
   10	Biomerics	$37,947	$18.24	2
   11	Precision Castparts	$37,677	$18.11	3
   12	Cirrus Aircraft	$37,630	$18.09	4
   13	Brunswick	$36,763	$17.67
   14	Safran	$36,660	$17.63
   15	Chris-Craft	$36,597	$17.59
   16	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$36,234	$17.42	28
   17	NOV	$36,181	$17.39	2
   18	VisionCorp Rep	$36,106	$17.36
   19	Belcan	$35,944	$17.28	1
   20	YKK AP America	$35,902	$17.26	5

4. Writing a finisher job description

   A finisher 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 finisher job description:

   Finisher job description example

   Are you looking to get paid weekly? Doherty Staffing Solutions is partnering with a manufacturing company located in Albert Lea, MN. We are seeking candidates for an Assembler position on 1st shift. Compensation for this contract position is $17.00-$18.00 per hour, depending on experience. Interested? Read below for more information!

   Company Summary
   American made manufacturer of dasherboard (hockey board) systems for over 26 years. We are looking for a laborer who can help us assemble boards and provide other help when needed. They will be working with plastics as they will be drilling and screwing the plastics to a hockey board as well as other jobs during the summer.

   What a Finisher will do:
   Measure and cut plexiglass
   Predrill holes for screws
   Place boards on frames
   Assemble boards with nuts, screws, and bolts
   Able to use hand and power tools as well as small machinery

   What you need to become a Finisher:
   Must be able to read a tape measure
   Assembly experience
   Mechanical aptitude
   Must have a good work history

   Let your skills shine & earn a great paycheck with this position! Click Apply Now to complete our online, mobile-friendly application. For questions or additional information about the Finisher position, please contact our Owatonna office at .
   
   As an equal opportunity employer, Doherty Staffing Solutions welcomes candidates of all backgrounds and experiences to apply. If this position sounds like the right opportunity for you, we encourage you to take the next step and connect with us. We look forward to meeting you!

   Referrals wanted; earn UNLIMITED $100 rewards!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting finishers 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.

   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 finisher

   Once you've selected the best finisher 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.

   To prepare for the new finisher 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 finisher?