How to hire a form setter

How to hire a form setter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step form setter hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your form setter 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 form setter 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

   Hiring the perfect form setter 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.

   This list presents form setter salaries for various positions.

   Type of Form Setter	Description	Hourly rate
   Form Setter	Construction laborers and helpers perform many tasks that require physical labor on construction sites.	$12-26
   Helper/Apprentice	Helpers/apprentices are skilled employees who are responsible for performing various tasks that are related to the construction industry while learning the trade from a skilled employer. These employees must assist skilled tradesmen by performing general construction duties while following the rules and safety regulations of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)... Show more	$12-19
   General Helper	General helpers are skilled workers who help other workers by performing tasks that need less skill, such as holding materials or tools and cleaning work areas and equipment. These helpers are required to provide general labor support to all departments while performing a variety of job assignments... Show more	$13-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • Sidewalks
   • Concrete Structures
   • Tape Measure
   • Ladders
   • Read Blueprints
   • Tie Rebar
   • Scaffolding
   • Construction Projects
   • Traffic Control
   • Asphalt
   • Finishers
   • Stairs
   • Safety Regulations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Hand engraving, cast cleaning and solder assembly as needed.
   • Install flashing and water diversion systems as well as caulking and sealing joints.
   • Gain proficiency in laser repair and fabrication for gold and platinum, and polish in accordance with strict brand standards.
   • Stamp and expose sidewalks and patios
   • Grade & compact fresh dirt in accordance to specifications using pneumatic tampers & come alongs.
   • Work with Meva and Efco forms

   More form setter duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the form setter job description is a good way to get more applicants. A form setter salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a form setter in Nevada may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level form setter. Additionally, a form setter with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average form setter salary

   $39,267yearly

   $18.88 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level form setter salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average form setter salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$46,969	$23
   2	Washington	$41,804	$20
   3	Wisconsin	$40,231	$19
   4	Montana	$39,357	$19
   5	Missouri	$37,700	$18
   6	Ohio	$37,516	$18
   7	Colorado	$37,152	$18
   8	Utah	$35,764	$17
   9	Arizona	$34,236	$16
   10	South Dakota	$33,689	$16
   11	Texas	$32,837	$16
   12	Nebraska	$32,789	$16
   13	Alabama	$31,112	$15
   14	New Mexico	$29,847	$14
   15	Kansas	$25,474	$12
   16	Virginia	$25,234	$12

   Average form setter salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Granite Construction	$61,213	$29.43	18
   2	MDU Resources	$50,947	$24.49
   3	Walsh Electric	$46,923	$22.56
   4	The Walsh Group	$44,548	$21.42	16
   5	Hunter Contracting	$43,378	$20.85
   6	Matrix Construction	$41,483	$19.94
   7	Zachry Construction	$40,772	$19.60	3
   8	Layton Construction	$40,585	$19.51	3
   9	Tradesmen International	$40,084	$19.27	60
   10	Orr Auto Group	$39,391	$18.94
   11	Aerotek	$39,254	$18.87	134
   12	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$39,129	$18.81	39
   13	Hogan & Associates Construction	$38,961	$18.73	2
   14	Builder's Bloc	$37,979	$18.26
   15	J & T Inc	$37,872	$18.21
   16	A.C.S.	$37,872	$18.21
   17	PeopleReady	$37,008	$17.79	37
   18	Elwood Staffing	$34,520	$16.60
   19	Matthews International	$27,034	$13.00

4. Writing a form setter job description

   A job description for a form setter 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 form setter job description:

   Form setter job description example

   Are you looking for a company you can grow with? A company where you feel like part of the family and not just another employee number? Do you want to be a part of something great? Hunter Contracting Co. is a family-owned, heavy civil contracting firm serving Arizona since 1961. We are looking for good, hard-working, high-energy, self-motivating, professional individuals to grow with our project needs.
   What we are proud to offer you :
   
   + Medical/Telemedicine
   
   + Dental
   
   + Vision
   
   + Flexible Spending Account
   
   + 401K
   
   + Life Insurance
   
   + Health and Wellness Programs
   
   + Sick Time
   
   + Holiday Pay
   
   Carpenter/Formsetter
   
   We are currently seeking a Carpenter/Formsetter who is responsible for constructing and installing structural woodwork and related materials for molding concrete structures for streets, roads and bridges.
   
   Responsible for:
   
   + Studying blueprints and diagrams to determine type and dimension of forms to be constructed.
   
   + Loads and unloads lumber and other material as required
   
   + Building rough wooden structures, such as concrete forms, arches, scaffolds, tunnels, bridges, or sewer supports according to sketches, blueprints, or oral instructions.
   
   + Constructs wood form to match arch radius at headwalls.
   
   + Erects scaffolding and ladders for assembling steel forms.
   
   + Attaches hoisting accessories to lift steel forms and moves forms in place with forklift
   
   + Erects steel support members and adjust to line and grade.
   
   + Verifies trueness of structure alignment.
   
   + Constructs forms and chutes for pouring concrete.
   
   + May weld metal parts to steel structural members.
   
   Work Qualifications:
   
   + Reads and understands blue prints, sketches, building plans, and drawings.
   
   + Manual dexterity and the ability to solve math problems quickly and accurately.
   
   + Ability to work without close supervision and be able to adapt to a wide variety of conditions.
   
   + Takes pride in craftsmanship. Works within precise standards of accuracy.
   
   + Prioritizes work to meet goals or deadlines.
   
   + Practices good safety habits.
   
   + May weld metal parts to steel structural members.
   
   Education & Work Experience Requirements:
   
   + Must have own tools.
   
   + Four (4) + years of prior Carpenter experience, OR, completion of an accredited Carpenter Apprentice Program,
   
   + One (1) year experience framing concrete structures.
   
   We do E-Verify, Background Checks and Drug Screens
   
   Women, Minorities and Veterans are encouraged to apply.
   
   EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY statement
   
   Hunter provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Hunter complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, training, apprenticeship, and/or on-the-job training.
   
   M/F/D/V

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find form setters 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 form setter job on Zippia to find and recruit form setter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit form setters, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 form setter

   Once you have selected a candidate for the form setter 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 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 form setter 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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