How to hire a grading machine operator

How to hire a grading machine operator, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a grading machine operator, 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?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a grading machine operator 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 grading machine operator that fits the bill.

   This list presents grading machine operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Grading Machine Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Grading Machine Operator		$16-33
   Packager	Packagers are skilled employees who place completed products into containers and prepare them for shipment by weighing and labeling each package. As the final checkpoints between buyer and manufacturer, packagers must ensure that items are in proper working order as well as discard defective items according to company procedures... Show more	$10-21
   Packaging Technician	A packaging technician is responsible for planning the packaging design of various products, creating attractive outputs by utilizing software tools and applications, and ensuring that the deliverables adhere to the product's features. Packaging technicians generate new designs according to market trends and public demands... Show more	$13-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • Quality Checks
   • RAN
   • Plant Operations
   • SCADA
   • Routine Maintenance

   Responsibilities:

   • Experience with safe handling procedures and PPE for various hazordous chemical such as hypochlorite, bisulfite, ferric and polymer.
   • Control & troubleshoot automate extrusion line adjusting speed & feed, monitoring temperature, & finish material specification per customers order.
   • Manufacture ammunition from components using a power loading machine.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, grading machine operators' average salary in wyoming is 52% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level grading machine operators 51% less than senior-level grading machine operators.
   • Certifications. A grading machine 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 grading machine operator's salary.

   Average grading machine operator salary

   $49,238yearly

   $23.67 hourly rate

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   Entry-level grading machine operator salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

4. Writing a grading machine operator job description

   A grading machine operator 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 grading machine operator job description:

   Grading machine operator job description example

   Description

   POSITION: JOB PROFILE:	Grading Operator
   JOB CODE: FLSA/GRADE:	Non-Exempt/S1		JOB FAMILY:	Casting
   Last reviewed:
   JOB SUMMARY
   The Grading Operator are responsible for extraction slabs from cure ovens, performing quality inspections on cast product, and following process and safety policies and procedures.
   ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
   Extractor & Anver Lift Extraction of epoxy-resin slabs from cure ovens using extractor hoist Wipe down cured slabs with TABC thinner for removal of mold release Stacks graded epoxy slabs in correct locations using an Anver lift Performs daily safety checklists of designated equipment Stocks material such as paper, thinner, and plywood for process use Empty thinner rag containers in designated barrels Identify defects in epoxy-resin slabs Keep work area clean and free of hazards Grader Data Entry Performs gloss and/or color readings using a colorimeter Basic Knowledge of the IPAD data collection tablet Log all required information into Casting Data base Apply material identification stickers to every slab Use calibrated measuring devices to check material thickness and warpage Other duties as assigned to meet business needs
   KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
   Ability to demonstrate comprehension of positional work instructions Capable of becoming forklift certified Able to work overtime including weekends Capable of operating Anver lifts
   MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
   EDUCATION: High School Graduate or GED
   Experience working in a manufacturing environment preferred EXPERIENCE: 3+ months preferred
   WORKING CONDITIONS
   PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to stand, stoop, bend, and reach overhead repetitively during an 8 hour day. Ability to perform mechanically assisted pushing/pulling of 500lbs. Ability to lift 50lbs frequently

   Durcon is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting grading machine operators 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 grading machine operator

   Once you've found the grading machine operator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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 grading machine operator. 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.

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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