How to hire a high lift operator

How to hire a high lift operator, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The high lift operator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A high lift operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, high lift operators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of high lift operators.

   Type of High Lift Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   High Lift Operator	Material moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects. Some operators move construction materials around building sites or excavate earth from a mine... Show more	$13-19
   Warehouse Machine Operator	Warehouse machine operators perform various tasks for their employers. These include setting up, operating, monitoring, and troubleshooting machinery, inspecting parts for specifications and any potential damage, and reading and interpreting diagrams and blueprints to position and secure the machines... Show more	$12-19
   Mechanical Spreader Operator	A mechanical spreader operators manage and operate all equipment in various industries where they perform their jobs. The operators work as general mechanics in building HVAC, general building maintenance, and pump station operations... Show more	$14-27

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pallets
   • OSHA
   • Load Trucks
   • Pallet Jack
   • Safety Standards
   • Store Merchandise
   • RF Scanner
   • Customer Orders
   • Order Selection
   • Clamp Truck
   • Scan Gun
   • Tow Motor
   • Forks
   • Inventory Control

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Inventory control and making sure wrapped fill pallets are accurately account and labele before exiting the building.
   • Maintain proper housekeeping and guidelines set forth by OSHA and management.
   • Operate fork-lift to transport finish product to shipping warehouse for distribution.
   • Maintain safe and clean work environment by keeping shelves, pallet area, and workstations.
   • Experience with setting up LTL, FTL, and FedEx/UPS shipments via phone or computer.

   More high lift operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the high lift operator job description is a good way to get more applicants. A high lift operator 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 high lift operator in Louisiana may be lower than in North Dakota, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level high lift operator. Additionally, a high lift operator with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average high lift operator salary

   $16.58hourly

   $34,481 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level high lift operator salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average high lift operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Ohio	$40,443	$19
   2	Pennsylvania	$37,138	$18
   3	California	$36,062	$17
   4	Missouri	$35,357	$17
   5	Texas	$33,135	$16
   6	Kansas	$32,778	$16

   Average high lift operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	United Natural Foods	$40,356	$19.40	6
   2	O-I Glass	$38,967	$18.73
   3	Tyson Foods	$37,479	$18.02	2
   4	DHL	$33,619	$16.16
   5	acloch	$33,548	$16.13
   6	Dollar Tree	$33,438	$16.08	6
   7	Fanatics	$33,136	$15.93	1
   8	Randstad North America, Inc.	$32,665	$15.70	7
   9	Four Seasons Produce	$30,453	$14.64

4. Writing a high lift operator job description

   A job description for a high lift 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 high lift operator job description:

   High lift operator job description example

   Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform to ignite and harness the passions of fans and maximize the presence and reach for hundreds of partners globally. Optimizing these long-standing partnerships, a database of more than 80 million global consumers and a trusted, recognizable brand name, Fanatics is expanding beyond its position as a global leader for licensed sports merchandise to now becoming a next-gen digital sports platform, featuring an array of offerings for fans across the sports ecosystem.
   
   The Fanatics family of companies currently includes Fanatics Commerce, a vertically-integrated licensed merchandise business that has changed the way fans purchase their favorite team apparel, jerseys, headwear and hardgoods through a tech-infused approach to making and quickly distributing fan gear in today's 24/7 mobile-first economy; Candy Digital, a digital collectibles company that is partnering with prominent sports properties, including MLB and MLBPA, to build an official NFT ecosystem; Fanatics Collectibles, a transformative company that is building a new model for the hobby and giving collectors an end-to-end collectibles experience; and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, a mobile betting, gaming and retail sportsbook platform. Additional ventures that will build out Fanatics' footprint across the broader digital sports landscape will be rolled out soon. Fanatics' partners include all major professional sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, MLS, PGA) and hundreds of collegiate and professional teams, which include several of the biggest global soccer clubs.
   
   As a market leader with more than 8,000 employees, and hundreds of partners, suppliers, and vendors worldwide, we take responsibility for driving toward more ethical and sustainable practices. We are committed to building an inclusive Fanatics community, reflecting and representing society at every level of the business, including our employees, vendors, partners and fans. Fanatics is also dedicated to making a positive impact in the communities where we all live, work, and play through strategic philanthropic initiatives.
   
   At Fanatics, we're a diverse, passionate group of employees aiming to ignite pride and passion in the fans we outfit, celebrate and support. We recognize that diversity helps drive and foster innovation, and through our IDEA program (inclusion, diversity, equality and advocacy) at Fanatics we provide employees with tools and resources to feel connected and engaged in who they are and what they do to support the ultimate fan experience.
   
   The primary responsibility of this position is to pick orders for customers and put away blank goods using motorized equipment.
   
   Key Responsibilities:Pick orders for customers using picking sheet and RF Scanner to maintain inventory.Put away finished goods and blank goods in storage rack, using RF Scanner to maintain inventory,Other duties as assigned by Supervisor/Manager.
   
   Job Requirements:Experience operating a tow motor is helpful Must be certified to operate a High Bay Lift or Drexel MachineMust be able to lift up to 50 pounds Must be able to work in heights of up to 30 feet Must be able to work standing for extended periods of time Must learn to operate a RF ScannerMust be able to read and write EnglishMust be able to work a production shift, with overtime, as necessary Must be able to work at an incentive pace
   
   Ensure your Fanatics job offer is legitimate and don't fall victim to fraud. Fanatics never seeks payment from job applicants. Feel free to ask your recruiter for a phone call or other type of communication for interview, and ensure your communication is coming from a Fanatics or Fanatics Brand email address. For added security, where possible, apply through our company website at www.fanaticsinc.com/careers
   
   Tryouts are open at Fanatics! Our team is passionate, talented, unified, and charged with creating the fan experience of tomorrow. The ball is in your court now.
   
   Fanatics is committed to responsible planning and purchasing (RPP) practices, working with its business partners across its global and multi-layered supply chain, to ensure that planning, sourcing, and purchasing decisions, along with other supporting processes, do not impede or conflict with the fulfillment of Fanatics' fair labor practices.
   NOTICE TO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS/APPLICANTS: In connection with your application, we collect information that identifies, reasonably relates to or describes you (“Personal Information”). The categories of Personal Information that we collect include your name, government issued identification number(s), email address, mailing address, other contact information, emergency contact information, employment history, educational history, criminal record, and demographic information. We collect and use those categories of Personal Information about you for human resources and other business management purposes, including identifying and evaluating you as a candidate for potential or future employment or other types of positions, recordkeeping in relation to recruiting and hiring, conducting criminal background checks as permitted by law, conducting analytics, and ensuring compliance with applicable legal requirements and Company policies.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find high lift operators 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 high lift operator job on Zippia to find and recruit high lift operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting high lift 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.

   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 high lift operator

   Once you've decided on a perfect high lift operator candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new high lift 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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