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How to hire a food sanitarian

Food sanitarian hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring food sanitarians in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a food sanitarian is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new food sanitarian to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a food sanitarian, step by step

To hire a food sanitarian, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a food sanitarian, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step food sanitarian 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 sanitarian job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new food sanitarian
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a food sanitarian, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect food sanitarian also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    The following list breaks down different types of food sanitarians and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Food SanitarianDescriptionHourly rate
    Food SanitarianOccupational health and safety specialists analyze many types of work environments and work procedures. Specialists inspect workplaces for adherence to regulations on safety, health, and the environment... Show more$12-40
    Public Health InternshipA public health internship provides students with a great learning opportunity to put into practice those educational principles and skills learned in the classroom. They will gain a better understanding and appreciation for the duties and responsibilities of full-time professionals in public health... Show more$12-26
    Safety And Training CoordinatorA safety and training coordinator helps ensure that all employees, subcontractors, and vendors adhere to the safety protocols and safety behaviors. They oversee safety instructor's safety teachings, procedures, and implementation.$14-29
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Food Handling
    • FDA
    Responsibilities:
    • Attend calibration meetings to ensure compliance with all applicable HACCP, state and local health codes.
    • Review client HACCP systems through identifying and monitoring critical control points, record keeping, and verification procedures.
    • Develop master sanitation periodic spreadsheet and direct compliance in a USDA facility.
    • Collect and process food samples using aseptic techniques, complete appropriate documentation and deliver to IDPH food borne illness investigation laboratory.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your food sanitarian job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A food sanitarian salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, food sanitarians' average salary in kansas is 48% less than in alaska.
    • Seniority. Entry-level food sanitarians earn 69% less than senior-level food sanitarians.
    • Certifications. A food sanitarian 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 food sanitarian's salary.

    Average food sanitarian salary

    $47,142yearly

    $22.66 hourly rate

    Entry-level food sanitarian salary
    $26,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 31, 2026
  4. Writing a food sanitarian job description

    A food sanitarian 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. Below, you can find an example of a food sanitarian job description:

    Food sanitarian job description example

  5. Successfully complete the assessment within 7 days.

    • For more information about what it's like to work for Whole Foods, check out our videos:

    Benefits

    • Competitive pay, flexible scheduling, paid time off, 20% store discount, growth opportunities including training programs, and more!

    Team Members provide support performing duties related to customer service, stocking, and sanitation in assigned department(s). All Whole Foods Market Retail jobs require ensuring a positive company image by providing courteous, friendly, and efficient service to customers and other Team Members at all times. All positions must be performed in accordance with team and store Standard Operating Procedures. Team Members must be prepared and able to perform the duties inherent in other Team Member job descriptions. All positions must strive to support Whole Foods Market core values and goals, promote national, regional, and store programs and initiatives, and ensure adherence to all applicable health and safety regulations.

    Desired Work Experience

    • No prior retail experience required.

    Responsibilities

    • Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.

    • Performs opening, mid, and closing duties as assigned.

    • Follows department procedures for preparing, storing, rotating, and stocking of product.

    • Prepares, packages, weighs, and prices products for sale.

    • Monitors product quality and freshness and ensures proper product rotation.

    • Ensures cases and shelves are clean and well-stocked.

    • Completes spoilage, sampling, temperature, and sweep logs as required.

    • Assists with periodic inventory checks.

    • Arrives to workstation on time, appropriately groomed, dressed and ready to work; works all scheduled shifts and attends required trainings and meetings.

    • Provides excellent customer service, addresses needs of customers in a timely and effective manner and models suggestive selling techniques; answers phones and pages promptly and courteously.

    • Maximizes sales potential through effective and proper procedures for prepping, storing, rotating, stocking, and merchandising product.

    • Follows and complies, or ensures compliance, with established procedures, including Weights and Measures, health and sanitation, and safe work practices.

    • Maintains, or ensures maintenance of, a clean and sanitary working and shopping environment; maintains equipment in accordance with Whole Foods Market cleanliness and safety standards.

    • Ensures accuracy of signs and pricing.

    • Immediately reports safety hazards and violations.

    • Performs other duties as assigned by store, regional, or national leadership.


    Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

    • Ability to learn basic knowledge of all products carried in department.

    • Ability to visually examine products for quality and freshness.

    • Proactively reads labels and familiarizes oneself on various products.

    • Strong to excellent communication skills and willingness to work as part of a team.

    • Ability to deliver information in a clear and respectable manner to fellow Team Members, customers, and vendors.

    • Ability to meet customer service expectations and standards in all interactions with customers, vendors, and Team Members.

    • Ability to follow directions and procedures; effective time management and organization skills.

    • Passion for natural foods and the mission of Whole Foods Market.

    • Strong work ethic and ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a sense of urgency.

    • Understanding of and compliance with Whole Foods Market quality goals.


    Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

    • Must be able to lift 50 pounds.

    • In an 8-hour workday: standing/walking 6-8 hours.

    • Hand use: single grasping, fine manipulation, pushing and pulling.

    • Work requires the following motions: bending, twisting, squatting and reaching.

    • Exposure to FDA approved cleaning chemicals.

    • Exposure to temperatures: Less than 32 degrees Fahrenheit (freezing), 32-40 degrees Fahrenheit (refrigerators), >90 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • Ability to work in a wet and/or cold environments.

    • Ability to use tools and equipment, including box cutters, knives, electric pallet jacks, forklifts, hand trucks, six-wheel carts, balers, and other heavy machinery.

    Note : The purpose of this document is to provide a general summary of essential responsibilities for the position and is not meant as an exhaustive list. This document does not reflect all job duties or requirements for every position. Requirements build as one progresses through the job levels, so any job duties required at a lower level may be required at the higher level in addition to the duties listed for that higher level. Duties, assignments, and other responsibilities may differ for similar positions based on business conditions, departmental or geographic location, and/or needs for the particular position. An individual must demonstrate successful performance in their current position before being considered for promotion. In addition, in order to promote into a higher-level position, a business need for the promotion must exist and the candidate must be considered the most qualified person for the new position. Completion of certain milestones such as obtaining an advanced degree or certification, time in current position, or developing skills to perform at the higher-level role do not guarantee a promotion.

    At Whole Foods Market, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all Team Members and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Whole Foods Market hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.

  • Post your job

    To find the right food sanitarian for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with food sanitarians they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit food sanitarians who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your food sanitarian job on Zippia to find and attract quality food sanitarian candidates.
    • Use niche websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  • Interview candidates

    Recruiting food sanitarians 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.

  • Send a job offer and onboard your new food sanitarian

    Once you've selected the best food sanitarian 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 food sanitarian. 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.

  • 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 food sanitarian?

    There are different types of costs for hiring food sanitarians. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new food sanitarian employee.

    Food sanitarians earn a median yearly salary is $47,142 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find food sanitarians for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $12 and $40.

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