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How to hire a lead operator

Lead operator hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring lead operators in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a lead operator is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new lead operator to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a lead operator, step by step

To hire a lead operator, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a lead operator, you should follow these steps:

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

What does a lead operator do?

Lead operators are responsible for the direction and supervision of the day-to-day activities in facilities. As machine operators, they control machines and take charge of industrial operations. They handle and move objects, monitor processes, and inspect materials, structures, and equipment. Also, they may serve as mentors for the new production employees concerning occupational health and safety. They must be skilled in safety procedures, heavy equipment, preventive maintenance, and other things related to machine operations.

Learn more about the specifics of what a lead operator does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your lead operator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a lead operator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

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

    This list shows salaries for various types of lead operators.

    Type of Lead OperatorDescriptionHourly rate
    Lead Operator$25-68
    Shop LeadA shop lead is responsible for overseeing their crew. They ensure the safety of their crew by giving regular training... Show more$13-38
    Working SupervisorA working supervisor is responsible for overseeing the daily performance of employees. Depending on the business, company, or organization, a working supervisor's primary job is to orchestrate coordinated teamwork... Show more$15-35
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • HR
    • Process Improvement
    • Project Management
    • Continuous Improvement
    • Safety Procedures
    • Patients
    • Logistics
    • Shared Services
    • Provide Management
    • Math
    • Excellent Interpersonal
    • Inventory Management
    • PowerPoint
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Plan, organize, and lead Kaizen activities as well as managed the cost reduction activities from idea to implementation.
    • Contact potential REO listing brokers achieving the highest return call rate.
    • Create UAT scripts and utilize statistical process controls to manage loan process quality and ensure consistency.
    • Achieve goals in various metrics, from sales to plan, payroll, additional services, print center.
    • Manage and organize incoming records and publications for use on SharePoint.
    • Need method to proactively manage the business improving cross-functional collaboration & KPI visibility.
    More lead operator duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    Average lead operator salary

    $88,429yearly

    $42.51 hourly rate

    Entry-level lead operator salary
    $54,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 20, 2025

    Average lead operator salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$123,759$60
    2New Jersey$115,239$55
    3Connecticut$108,287$52
    4Massachusetts$107,264$52
    5District of Columbia$99,115$48
    6Nevada$98,903$48
    7New York$97,877$47
    8Maine$94,080$45
    9Arizona$92,659$45
    10Washington$88,894$43
    11Texas$88,564$43
    12Pennsylvania$86,352$42
    13Hawaii$81,174$39
    14Virginia$79,011$38
    15Maryland$76,745$37
    16North Carolina$76,504$37
    17Florida$75,188$36
    18Colorado$74,802$36
    19Georgia$74,791$36
    20Minnesota$74,274$36

    Average lead operator salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Meta$165,622$79.636
    2Google$159,066$76.4744
    3ZS$157,207$75.582
    4Apple$142,967$68.7321
    5Microsoft$142,750$68.6314
    6eBay$142,723$68.623
    7Chevron$137,840$66.273
    8Cloudflare$134,879$64.852
    9Marathon Oil$132,364$63.64
    10Pinterest$128,055$61.561
    11Lyft$126,563$60.855
    12Neuralink IT Solutions$126,030$60.591
    13Genentech$124,568$59.8917
    14UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital$124,290$59.75
    15Citi$124,086$59.663
    16Uber Technologies$123,875$59.563
    17Pandora$122,765$59.02
    18Amd$122,597$58.944
    19Tishman$122,455$58.87
    20Hess$121,996$58.65
  4. Writing a lead operator job description

    A good lead 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 lead operator job description:

    Lead operator job description example

    $300 Sign on bonus (after 90 days employed and in good standing) Work with your friends! $300 Referral bonus (after 90 days employed and in good standing)

    Supervisors and Managers – Come see what Applegreen Starbucks is brewing!

    A great is waiting with Competitive Pay and Great Benefits.

    EARN $19/hr. PLUS TIPS ($2-4/hr additional on average but not guaranteed) PLUS Free Meal Daily!

    This job contributes to Applegreen Starbucks success by assisting the store manager in executing store operations during scheduled shifts. This job deploys associates and delegates tasks so that baristas can create and maintain the Starbucks Experience

    for customers.

    The Shift Supervisor is responsible for supervising the day-to-day activities of associates; providing excellent service to all customers through prompt and courteous service, and maintaining knowledge of all standards, recipes, operations, food safety and cleanliness standards, incompliance with all corporate standards. This position will interact with the public and coworkers in a friendly, enthusiastic and outgoing manner and encourage, through leadership and example, the highest level of sales and customer service performance by other associates. Other responsibilities include aiding in monitoring associate productivity; assigning responsibility for specified work and/or functional activities; and giving work directions and monitoring scheduling to ensure that all shifts are covered; performing all other responsibilities as directed by the business or as assigned by management.

    This is a non-exempt position and typically reports to the Store Manager / Assistant Store Manager. depending on local requirements.

    Essential Functions:

    • Supervises the day-to-day activities of team members and coordinates breaks for hourly associates

    • Operates cash register and voids transactions as needed while following all Applegreen cash handling policies and procedures, and maintains proper security of cash at all times

    • Coordinates with management for on-the-job training for new associates

    • Enforces safety guidelines and builds awareness about safety

    • Keeps management informed of area activities and any significant problems

    • Develops thorough knowledge of all products carried in the store(s) and ensure that all sales are posted to the appropriate category; assists in achieving sales results as required by branch and corporate standards

    • Resolves all customer complaints in a manner consistent with company policy, and with customer satisfaction in mind

    • Contributes to the overall display and presentation efforts within the store environment, including stocking/replenishing product, and general store housekeeping duties

    • Transfers supplies and equipment between storage and work areas by hand or use hand truck

    • Implements product rotation based on product code dates; orders product and participates in physical inventory counts as required

    • Completes opening, daily and closing procedures/checklists in accordance with company policies/procedures; assists with maintenance requisitions

    • Practices excellent food safety and sanitation practices and complies with HACCP standards

    Qualifications :

    • Requires a High School diploma or the equivalent (GED)

    • Requires a minimum of 6 months supervisory/lead experience

    • Requires the ability to speak, read and comprehend instructions, short correspondence, and policy documents, as well as converse comfortably with customers

    • Food and beverage, cash handling, and customer service experience preferred

    • Requires the ability to bend, twist, and stand to perform normal job functions

    • Requires the ability to lift and/or move up to 40 lbs

    • Frequently immerses hands in water and water diluted with chemical solutions

    Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)

    Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran (M/F/D/V)

    Drug Free Workplace (DFW)

    Benefits:

    We offer attractive benefits including:

    Great hourly rate plus tips

    Daily Meal Voucher - Free Food!

    401(k)

    Dental insurance

    Flexible schedule

    Health insurance

    Paid time off

    Vision insurance

    Referral Program $250

    Company Introduction

    Our story begins in 1971 along the cobblestone streets of Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market. It was here where Starbucks opened its first store, offering fresh-roasted coffee beans, tea and spices from around the world for our customers to take home. Our name was inspired by the classic tale, “Moby-***,” evoking the seafaring tradition of the early coffee traders.
    Ten years later, a young New Yorker named Howard Schultz would walk through these doors and become captivated with Starbucks coffee from his first sip. After joining the company in 1982, a different cobblestone road would lead him to another discovery. It was on a trip to Milan in 1983 that Howard first experienced Italy’s coffeehouses, and he returned to Seattle inspired to bring the warmth and artistry of its coffee culture to Starbucks. By 1987, we swapped our brown aprons for green ones and embarked on our next chapter as a coffeehouse.
    Starbucks would soon expand to Chicago and Vancouver, Canada and then on to California, Washington, D.C. and New York. By 1996, we would cross the Pacific to open our first store in Japan, followed by Europe in 1998 and China in 1999. Over the next two decades, we would grow to welcome millions of customers each week and become a part of the fabric of tens of thousands of neighborhoods all around the world. In everything we do, we are always dedicated to Our Mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time.

  5. Post your job

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

    During your first interview to recruit lead operators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 lead operator

    Once you've found the lead 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.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new lead 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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How much does it cost to hire a lead operator?

There are different types of costs for hiring lead operators. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new lead operator employee.

Lead operators earn a median yearly salary is $88,429 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find lead operators for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $25 and $68.

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