How to hire a head machinist

How to hire a head machinist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step head machinist hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the head machinist you need to hire. Certain head machinist 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

   Hiring the perfect head machinist 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.

   Here's a comparison of head machinist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Head Machinist	Description	Hourly rate
   Head Machinist	Machinists and tool and die makers set up and operate a variety of computer-controlled and mechanically controlled machine tools to produce precision metal parts, instruments, and tools.	$16-29
   Grinder	Depending on the industry, a grinder has a diverse range of duties. Typically, they oversee setting up and operating bearing grinders, cam grinders, and CNC lathes... Show more	$12-19
   Tool Technician	Tool technicians are skilled professionals who are responsible for repairing a variety of pneumatic and hand tools as well as disassemble defective electrical equipment in a manufacturing firm using these hand tools. These technicians are required to coordinate with other areas of the company to schedule and perform preventive maintenance duties... Show more	$13-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Calipers
   • CNC
   • Engine Lathes
   • Safety Procedures
   • MIG
   • Drill Press
   • Stainless Steel
   • CAD
   • Jigs
   • Rollers
   • Blueprint Specifications
   • Manual Lathes

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage output according to company quality standards and corresponding ISO certification.
   • Work closely with management and engineering staff to ensure efficient and safe methods are utilized in producing high quality aerospace components.
   • Perform various machining tasks as well as fabricated, and assemble prototype automation machinery.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your head machinist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A head machinist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, head machinists' average salary in north carolina is 44% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level head machinists earn 44% less than senior-level head machinists.
   • Certifications. A head machinist 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 head machinist's salary.

   Average head machinist salary

   $46,416yearly

   $22.32 hourly rate

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   Entry-level head machinist salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a head machinist job description

   A job description for a head machinist 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 head machinist job description:

   Head machinist job description example

   61 Barnes Industrial Park North, Wallingford, CT 06492
   
   CT180 Manufacturing Facility
   
   Full-time Shift(s): MON TUE WED THU FRI 2:30pm - 11:00pm
   
   MON TUE WED THU FRI 6:00am - 2:30pm
   
   This position offers a sign-on bonus depending on experience.
   
   OVERVIEW:
   
   Working as Full-time Fastenal Cold Heading Machinist, you will be setting-up and operating cold heading or threading equipment. Operating heading or threading machines will be based on previous experience.
   
   RESPONSIBILITIES:
   
   The duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:
   
   o Setting up and operating cold heading or threading equipment
   
   o Inspecting parts and verifying dimensional data
   
   o Maintaining scheduled delivery
   
   o Reading and interpreting blueprints
   
   o Maintaining tools
   
   o Maintaining all aspects of the machines from set-up to operation
   
   REQUIRED POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   The following skills and qualifications are required for this position:
   
   o 18 years of age or older, due to the nature of work
   
   o Excellent written and oral communication skills
   
   o Knowledge of cold heading and/or threading equipment
   
   o Knowledge of quality tooling associated with cold heading or threading machines
   
   o Demonstrate strong math aptitude, attention to detail and sense of urgency
   
   o Work independently as well as in a team environment
   
   o Learn and perform multiple tasks in a fast paced environment
   
   o Demonstrate our core values of ambition, innovation, integrity and teamwork
   
   o Lift, slide, carry and lower packages that typically weigh 25lbs-50lbs and may weigh up to 100lbs
   
   o Pass the required drug screen (applicable in the US, Puerto Rico and Guam ONLY)
   
   PREFERRED POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   o Possess an understanding of ISO quality systems
   
   o Prior experience reading blueprints
   
   o Familiarity with inspection practices and knowledge of inspection equipment such as calipers, micrometers, comparators, ring gages and protrusion gages
   
   ABOUT US:
   
   Since 1967 Fastenal has grown as a distributor of industrial and construction supplies from a single branch to a Fortune 500 company with approximately 3,200 servicing locations, each providing tailored local inventory and personal service for our customers. As we've expanded across the world, we've retained a core belief in people and their ability to accomplish remarkable things - if given the opportunity. From this philosophy stems an entrepreneurial culture that challenges every employee to run their own business, create their own success, and advance to become company leaders.
   
   As a growth company with a solid financial position, we are committed to training, promoting from within, and creating opportunities for our employees. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and are looking to make your mark as part of an elite growth company, you won't find a better fit than Fastenal.
   
   FULL-TIME BENEFITS:
   
   Fastenal offers a competitive benefits package to all full-time employees. This package includes Health, Life, Long Term Disability, and Dental Insurance, in addition to, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, and 401(k) with an employer contribution.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right head machinist 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 head machinists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit head machinists 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 head machinist job on Zippia to find and recruit head machinist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit head machinists, 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. 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 head machinist

   Once you've found the head machinist 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new head machinist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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