How to hire a lathe operator

How to hire a lathe operator, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The lathe 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

   Hiring the perfect lathe operator 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of lathe operators.

   Type of Lathe Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Lathe Operator	Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate machines that cut, shape, and form metal and plastic materials or pieces.	$12-22
   Numerical Control Operator	A numerical control operator is responsible for monitoring machinery and managing computer-generated equipment to produce tools and components from various mechanical resources. Numerical control operators must have extensive knowledge with the technology and mechanical industry to perform basic troubleshooting and detect malfunctions during operations... Show more	$13-24
   Extrusion Operator	An extrusion operator is also sometimes called a drawing machine operator. They control and monitor machines that shape thermoplastic materials for industries such as aerospace manufacturing, general plastics manufacturing, and automobile and auto parts manufacturing... Show more	$13-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CNC Lathes
   • Micrometers
   • Manual Lathes
   • Hand Tools
   • Calipers
   • Math
   • Print Specifications
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Lathe Machines
   • Perform Routine Maintenance
   • Machine Operation
   • Machine Tools
   • Quality Checks
   • Dial Indicators

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate and programme Mazak lathes.
   • Operate dual side Okuma lathe.
   • Perform SPC inpections reports for cus to meet monitoring.
   • Fabricate metal parts using punch press, CNC brake press.
   • Check parts using CMM, micrometers and other appropriate gauges.
   • Grind and send dog food into the extrusion for cooking.

   More lathe operator duties

3. Make a budget

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

   Average lathe operator salary

   $36,280yearly

   $17.44 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level lathe operator salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average lathe operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Ohio	$46,589	$22
   2	Utah	$42,836	$21
   3	Missouri	$42,825	$21
   4	Mississippi	$42,618	$20
   5	California	$39,464	$19
   6	Michigan	$38,613	$19
   7	Pennsylvania	$36,796	$18
   8	Texas	$35,720	$17
   9	Wisconsin	$35,311	$17
   10	Washington	$35,269	$17
   11	Minnesota	$35,118	$17
   12	North Carolina	$34,358	$17
   13	New York	$33,969	$16
   14	Florida	$33,830	$16

   Average lathe operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Valmont Industries	$44,868	$21.57	12
   2	Precision Castparts	$40,796	$19.61	48
   3	Alamo Group	$39,359	$18.92	10
   4	Timber Products	$39,339	$18.91
   5	3M Company	$37,087	$17.83	24
   6	Franklin Electric	$36,765	$17.68	1
   7	Tradesmen International	$36,353	$17.48	26
   8	Morton Salt	$36,149	$17.38
   9	AAR	$36,098	$17.35	3
   10	CNY Outsourcing	$35,954	$17.29
   11	Arcosa	$35,876	$17.25	35
   12	Laboratory Testing	$35,719	$17.17
   13	TriMas	$35,692	$17.16	19
   14	rEvolution	$35,680	$17.15	5
   15	QPS	$35,676	$17.15
   16	Drt Inc	$35,554	$17.09	4
   17	Varex Imaging	$35,554	$17.09
   18	The Rogers Company	$34,951	$16.80	1
   19	Onamac Ind	$34,941	$16.80
   20	Randstad North America, Inc.	$34,808	$16.73	7

4. Writing a lathe operator job description

   A good lathe operator job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a lathe operator job description:

   Lathe operator job description example

   Since its inception in 1966, Besse Forest Products Group has grown from twelve employees to providing employment opportunities to hundreds of individuals across Northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

   Today, Besse Forest Products Group remains 100% family owned, and is recognized worldwide as the trusted name for the finest Northern hardwood veneer, green lumber, kiln-dried lumber, and specialty plywood.

   Besse Forest Products Group is a successful forest products company with sawmill and veneer mills in Northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

   Lathe Operator Job Responsibilities:

   • Load/unload logs from machine
   • Works from detailed work orders
   • Set stripper knives to proper score lengths
   • Sets up lathe machines by positioning and locating work piece
   • Control and adjust machine settings
   • Operates wood lathe
   • Performs routine preventative maintenance and cleaning on assigned machines
   • Learns to use the hand tools needed to perform the job
   • Sets-up new knives and nose bars

   Desired Experience:

   • Reliable and able to work with attention to detail and safety standards
   • Bending, standing, and walking is required for most of the shift
   • Physical strength to handle up to 50-pound objects
   • Ability to communicate issues verbally and in written form
   • Some knowledge of inspection gauges and equipment

   Benefits Include:

   ·Wages starting at $19.50*

   *$2.00 Attendance Bonus*

   · 1st Shift Positions

   · 4 Day - 10 hour Shifts

   · Paid Holidays

   · Paid Time Off

   · 401(k) with Employer Contribution

   · Health Insurance beginning at $15.29/week

   · Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

   · Life Insurance

   · Prescription Drug Insurance

   · Short Term Disability Insurance

   · Opportunity to advance to a higher paying position

   NEW PAY RATE *

   An Equal Opportunity Employer

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit lathe operators, 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.

   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 lathe operator

   Once you've selected the best lathe 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.

   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.

   To prepare for the new lathe operator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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