How to hire a forge press operator

How to hire a forge press operator, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your forge press 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 forge press 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?

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   Hiring the perfect forge press operator 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 forge press operators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Forge Press Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Forge Press Operator		$12-19
   Machine Operator	Machine operators are responsible for managing the machines assigned to them. They set up, install, operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and ensure quality output... Show more	$12-19
   Operator	Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them... Show more	$12-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Forge Press
   • Calipers
   • Minor Maintenance
   • Hand Tools
   • Quality Checks
   • Tongs
   • SPC
   • Quality Inspection
   • Press Operation
   • Production Runs
   • RAN
   • CNC
   • CMM
   • Machine Setups

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Flute grinders, brad point machines and chop see.
   • Use of calipers, mics and various tools to assure forge parts are to spec.
   • Maintain strict quality requirements using scales, calipers and micrometers.
   • Operate an overhead remote crane to move and stage raw material.
   • Press operator on misc multicolore Heidelberg and Komori presses

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, forge press operators' average salary in alabama is 38% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level forge press operators 33% less than senior-level forge press operators.
   • Certifications. A forge press 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 forge press operator's salary.

   Average forge press operator salary

   $16.14hourly

   $33,563 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level forge press operator salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing a forge press operator job description

   A job description for a forge press 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 forge press operator job description:

   Forge press operator job description example

   **Job Summary:**
   
   Responsible for the set up and operation of forge and trim presses by performing the following duties. The role requires the above to be accomplished within Tecomet's principles of continuous improvement, customer driven innovation and a win first culture, while meeting company financial and other performance metrics.
   
   **Essential Duties and Responsibilities:**
   
   + Installs specified dies on press die sets, and positions and clamps holding fixtures to die sets.
   
   + Aligns metal parts between dies or positions them against fixtures on press.
   
   + Moves controls to lower ram that forces dies together.
   
   + Dimensionally lays out parts.
   
   + Monitors and records all associated dimensions on the product to ensure conformance to all customer specifications.
   
   + Identifies maintenance needs of equipment and reports to management.
   
   + Communicates with Die department on recommendation of windage and stock to add to dies.
   
   + Mixes lubricants in lubrication tank.
   
   + Performs preventative maintenance checks on press and die sets
   
   + Monitors temperatures of furnaces according to type of metal being forged.
   
   + Completes quality documents such as Statistical Process Control charts, routers, and tags.
   
   + Maintains housekeeping and safety standards in work area.
   
   + Read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
   
   + Write routine reports and correspondence.
   
   + Speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization.
   
   + Add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. And compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
   
   + Apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. And deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
   
   + Uses inspection equipment such as calipers, micrometers, CMM, height gages, and comparators.
   
   + Additional duties as requested by management.
   
   **Qualification Requirements**
   
   **Educational/Training Requirement:**
   
   + High school diploma or general education degree (GED)
   
   **Experience:**
   
   + Two to three years related experience.
   
   **Licenses/Certifications:**
   
   + n/a
   
   **Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:**
   
   + Working knowledge of press operations and forging equipment.
   
   + Knowledge of blueprint reading and geometric tolerancing.
   
   + Excellent hand/eye coordination, communication and interpersonal skills
   
   + Ability to work independently and exercise judgment
   
   2nd shift - 3:00pm till 11:00pm
   
   3rd Shift - 11:00pm till 7:00am

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with forge press 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 forge press operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the forge press operator 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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