How to hire a food assembler

How to hire a food assembler, step by step

Here's a step-by-step food assembler hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

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

   Type of Food Assembler	Description	Hourly rate
   Food Assembler	Food preparation workers perform many routine tasks under the direction of cooks, chefs, or food service managers. Food preparation workers prepare cold foods, slice meat, peel and cut vegetables, brew coffee or tea, and perform many other food service tasks.	$10-17
   Kitchen Staff	The kitchen staff consists of preparation workers who execute several routine tasks as directed by chefs, food service managers, and cooks. These works should have the ability to follow cooking instructions and deliver well-prepared meals... Show more	$11-17
   Deli Worker	A deli worker specializes in handling deli products and providing customer service in retail stores. They are primarily responsible for packaging and labeling products according to their weight and type, assigning prices, sorting out quality, and arranging them on display, all while following food safety and health guidelines... Show more	$10-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Food Products
   • Pallets
   • Culinary
   • USDA
   • Meal Trays
   • HACCP
   • Tray Setups
   • Gourmet
   • Food Orders
   • Airline Equipment
   • Airline Specifications
   • Food Carts
   • Food Preparation
   • Storage Cabinets

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate large cooking equipment such as fryers, grills and ovens.
   • Operate large volume cooking equipment such as grills, fryers, or griddles.
   • Interact with patients, family, and staff and communicate pertinent dietary information to the clinical dietitians and supervisor personnel.
   • Wash pots and pans, refrigerators, counters, stoves and ovens; sweep and mop floors and carry out garbage.

   More food assembler duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, food assemblers' average salary in louisiana is 47% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level food assemblers 43% less than senior-level food assemblers.
   • Certifications. A food assembler 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 food assembler's salary.

   Average food assembler salary

   $13.57hourly

   $28,226 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level food assembler salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average food assembler salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$34,726	$17
   2	Minnesota	$34,706	$17
   3	Colorado	$33,544	$16
   4	Washington	$33,240	$16
   5	Utah	$31,717	$15
   6	Illinois	$28,992	$14
   7	Texas	$27,104	$13
   8	North Carolina	$25,017	$12
   9	Florida	$23,382	$11
   10	Arkansas	$22,716	$11
   11	Tennessee	$21,016	$10

   Average food assembler salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Schwan's	$32,014	$15.39	4
   2	Remedy Intelligent Staffing	$31,144	$14.97
   3	PeopleReady	$31,134	$14.97	30
   4	Staff Management	$30,548	$14.69	10
   5	Aventure Staffing	$30,145	$14.49	5
   6	Deli Express	$28,831	$13.86
   7	Randstad North America, Inc.	$28,385	$13.65
   8	ITW	$28,116	$13.52	36
   9	Threefold Educational Center	$27,978	$13.45
   10	R.M. Schulte & Associates	$27,929	$13.43	2
   11	Sovos Brands	$27,446	$13.20
   12	Gate Gourmet Inc	$27,382	$13.16	6
   13	Taylor Farms	$25,576	$12.30

4. Writing a food assembler job description

   A job description for a food assembler 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 food assembler job description:

   Food assembler job description example

   These positions are temp to hire, working in a fast paced environment. Once hired on, insurance after 90 days as well as vacation time!

   Refer a friend and receive a $100 referral bonus after 30 days.

   Starting rate for 1st shift: $17.00 per hour.

   Starting rate for 2nd shift: $18.00 per hour.

   We also have PRN (as needed) shifts for those looking for part time work or just looking to earn a little extra money for the holidays!!!

   Training is provided to every new hire every step of they way to help you achieve your goals. This job is repetitive, but it gives you the chance to hone in your skills.

   • This is a COLD environment, so if you like the cold, this job could be a great fit for you. Must be willing to work in cooler temps between 40 and 50 degrees.

   • We are centrally located in Dickson and convenient to Charlotte, Waverly, White Bluff and other surrounding cities in and around Dickson County.

   Responsibilities:

   • You will learn how to prepare a significant number of prepared items in a minute

   • Assemble a minimum of 32 sandwiches per minute on an assembly line (16 movements per minute)

   • Stuff packages into cartons by hand

   • Inspect cartons for damage and correct dates

   • Place cartons into cases

   • Required to rotate through all positions on the line

   • Stack off cases onto pallets

   • Regular, punctual, and predictable attendance

   • Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment

   Requirements:

   • High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience

   • Must wear steel-toed safety shoes as floors may be wet/slick from the sanitation process

   • Responsible for food safety and quality

   • Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

   • Complete an orientation process which provides training in the Key Concepts of Food Safety and Quality

   • Understand that identification of any failures in these areas is their responsibility

   • If they identify a deficiency in Food Safety and/or Quality, they are responsible for taking corrective action and reporting the issue to their direct supervisor or Quality supervisor

   • Ability to pass a background check and a drug screen.

   • Other duties as assigned

   Physical Demands:

   • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand; use hands and fingers, (constant simple grasping with right and left hands)

   • Frequent bending at waist, twisting, squatting

   • Occasional pushing/pulling with right and left hands

   • Occasional reaching above shoulder

   • The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds with a max of 35 pounds

   Company DescriptionMasis Staffing is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find food assemblers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your food assembler job on Zippia to find and recruit food assembler candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting food assemblers 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 food assembler

   Once you've decided on a perfect food assembler candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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.

   To prepare for the new food assembler 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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