How to hire a gear cutter

How to hire a gear cutter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step gear cutter hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the gear cutter you need to hire. Certain gear cutter roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a gear cutter to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a gear cutter that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of gear cutters and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Gear Cutter	Description	Hourly rate
   Gear Cutter	Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate machines that cut, shape, and form metal and plastic materials or pieces.	$12-29

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CNC Machines
   • Barber-Coleman
   • Calipers
   • RUN

   Responsibilities:

   • Work operating equipment including gear generators such as gear grinders, shapers and hobbing machines and manual OD grinders.
   • Set machine up to run different parts.
   • Operate the machines in the CVT department.
   • Advise management on CMM probes and sizes that would be applicable to their needs.
   • Utilize Gleason gear testers to check gear patterns and a Zeiss CMM to obtain corrections to input into the FANUC controls.
   • Calculate dimensions and tolerances using knowledge of mathematics and instruments such as micrometers and veneer calipers.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, gear cutters' average salary in oklahoma is 39% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level gear cutters 56% less than senior-level gear cutters.
   • Certifications. A gear cutter 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 gear cutter's salary.

   Average gear cutter salary

   $41,190yearly

   $19.80 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level gear cutter salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing a gear cutter job description

   A job description for a gear cutter 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 gear cutter job description:

   Gear cutter job description example

   Under the direction of the supervisor, the Gear Cutter sets up, adjusts and operates a variety of gear hobbing equipment to cut gears, gear shafts and spline shafts having close tolerances and finish requirements according to specified dimensions and company quality standards.
   ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
   
   Includes the following, other duties may be assigned.
   
   * Read machining instructions or work plans to determine machine settings, fixtures and hobs to use, and gear specifications such as dimensions and tolerances. Speed, feed and operating sequence are provided.
   * Install specified tooling and combinations of change gears to provide feeds and speeds compatible with gear sizes, material variations and cutting or hobbing conditions.
   * Mount and secure gear blanks on arbors or fixtures; orient teeth to establish reference starting points.
   * Set feed rates and rotation speeds of hob and work piece according to machining instructions.
   * Operate gear hobber or shaper cutter; make adjustments as needed. Add a flow of coolant to process to maintain the proper temperature of the work piece. Frequently operate multiple gear hobbing machinery.
   * Make hob and cutter changes on standard operations with standard tooling.
   * Use indicator, micrometer, and other standard and special precision inspection equipment to set up, adjust and check dimensions.
   * Notify supervisor of any machine or quality problems.
   * Maintain gear hobbing and shaper cutting equipment; perform preventive maintenance as needed.
   * Follow all clean up and housekeeping procedures. Comply with all quality and safety regulations.
   * A minimum of 1-3 years of trades training or equivalent experience and two to four years of related machining experience.
   * Requires the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, decimals, and percent.
   * Requires the ability to operate various equipment.
   * Requires a knowledge of gear principles, tooling, material characteristics, machine shop procedures, abrasives and general machining practices.
   * Requires the ability to read specifications and gauges and to complete standard production documentation.
   * Requires ability to operator a forklift truck and the ability to lift up to 40 lbs.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit gear cutters, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 gear cutter

   Once you've selected the best gear cutter 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.

   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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