How to hire an inserting machine operator

How to hire an inserting machine operator, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the inserting machine operator you need to hire. Certain inserting machine operator 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 an inserting 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 an inserting machine operator that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of inserting machine operators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Inserting Machine Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Inserting Machine Operator		$12-20
   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:

   • Postal Service
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Stitching
   • Mail Room
   • Quality Checks
   • APS
   • Postage Meter
   • Pitney Bowes
   • Production RUN
   • Customer Specifications
   • RAN
   • Bundling
   • ZIP Codes
   • Equipment Operation

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate Aps and Mps series inserting machines.
   • Control & troubleshoot automate extrusion line adjusting speed & feed, monitoring temperature, & finish material specification per customers order.
   • Seal or open envelopes, by hand or by using machines and clear jams in sortation equipment.
   • Learned how to multi task and keep a positive attitude.
   • Consult with engineering and upper management on product improvement to produce the most cost effective product without compromising quality.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, inserting machine operators' average salary in wyoming is 46% less than in minnesota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level inserting machine operators 37% less than senior-level inserting machine operators.
   • Certifications. An inserting 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 an inserting machine operator's salary.

   Average inserting machine operator salary

   $16.45hourly

   $34,220 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level inserting machine operator salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 29, 2026

4. Writing an inserting machine operator job description

   An inserting 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. To help get you started, here's an example of an inserting machine operator job description:

   Inserting machine operator job description example

   Inserter Operator 2
   
   Pay Range: $17.50 - $19
   
   This Position Offers a $1,000 Sign-on Bonus!
   
   St Charles, IL - BCS
   
   Your Next Job Awaits You at RRD St Charles, IL!
   
   Join a Growing Team!
   
   The Business Communication Services (BCS) St. Charles facility provides outsourced transactional document production and mailing services - including the presentment and delivery of data and documents via electronic media. St. Charles specializes in complex, data intensive applications with variable imaging, dynamic content, and extensive personalization. Combining a unique blend of professional services and production technologies, the focus is on security, quality, and on-time performance. Located 40 miles west of Chicago, the facility was built in 1990 and provides in-house programming and document composition with complete electronic prepress services.
   
   C SHIFT: 6PM-6AM - Sunday, Monday, Tuesday
   
   Shift Differential Applies!
   
   RRD is an EEO/AA including Vets and Disabled Employer.
   
   Perks for joining the RRD team!!
   
   We have a comprehensive, full-time benefits package that includes: medical/dental/vision and life insurance, short/long-term disability,401(k), health savings and flexible spending accounts, and more. We believe in promoting from within, so there is definitely opportunity for growth at RRD. Grow to where you want to be.
   
   Description:
   
   WALLACE AVE - Operate machines that insert/fold printed material, such as letters or booklets, into folders or envelopes. Set up and adjust the machine to operate efficiently. Oversee output and make adjustments as necessary.
   
   Requires excellent knowledge of standard set ups, adjustments and operating characteristics of the equipment and skill to perform standard adjustments and operate the equipment. Ability to set up, operate, and perform basic adjustments to the equipment according to the individual job requirements, operating characteristics, and capabilities of the equipment. Typically, the adjustments performed at this level are routine and the need for such adjustments are readily apparent.
   
   Required Skills
   
   + Must have good eye-hand coordination
   
   + Strong mechanical aptitude required
   
   + Ability to communicate in English -read, write, understand
   
   + Lifting up to 50 lbs, 4-6 hours
   
   + Walking/standing, 6-7 hours
   
   + Bending/stooping, 2-3 hours
   
   Required Experience
   
   High school diploma, GED, or equivalent experience in a manufacturing environment
   
   Pitney Bowes and/or Kern experience preferred, but not required

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting inserting 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.

   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 inserting machine operator

   Once you've selected the best inserting machine operator 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new inserting machine operator. 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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