How to hire a Lift Operator

How to hire a lift operator, step by step

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

What does a Lift Operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a lift operator, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine Employee vs Contractor Status

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

   Yes

   No

   A lift operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, 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.

   Here's a comparison of lift operator salaries for various roles:

   Type Of Lift Operator	Description	Hourly Rate
   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	$12-18
   Material Handler/Forklift Operator	A material handler and forklift operator is responsible for transporting and storing various kinds of goods, even including fragile or hazardous shipments. The duties and location will vary depending on the line of work or industry involved... Show More	$13-21
   Machine Operator/Forklift Operator	A machine operator/forklift operator is responsible for operating industrial trucks to move merchandise around the warehouse facilities and other assigned areas. Machine operators/forklift operators also assist with inventory tasks by scanning orders and ensuring the correct merchandise for shipment... Show More	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Pallets
   • Fork-Lift
   • Electric Pallet Jack
   • Safety Rules
   • Power Saws
   • Load Trucks
   • Safety Procedures
   • Quality Standards
   • Customer Service
   • Forklift Equipment
   • RF Scanner
   • Empty Pallets
   • Safety Regulations
   • Forklift Operation

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Use automate systems and RF units to pull, put away and load customer product, in addition to managing inventory
   • Use AS400 to take yarn out of inventory.
   • Load and unload ship cargo using wenches or other hoisting devices.
   • Check forklift for problems such as fluid levels, tires and forks.
   • Load and unload trucks with as sit down with slip sheet and double forks attachment practicing a safe environment.
   • Record inventory and reroute misplaced pallets at rack locations to the correct location

   More Lift Operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your lift operator job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A lift operator salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a lift operator in Oklahoma may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level lift operator usually earns less than a senior-level lift operator. Additionally, a lift operator with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average lift operator salary

   $15.53hourly

   $32,309 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level lift operator salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated May 21, 2025

   Average lift operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	California	$35,747	$17
   2	Washington	$35,133	$17
   3	New Jersey	$33,705	$16
   4	Pennsylvania	$33,490	$16
   5	Oregon	$33,305	$16
   6	Nevada	$33,243	$16
   7	New York	$33,044	$16
   8	Minnesota	$32,829	$16
   9	Wisconsin	$32,412	$16
   10	Florida	$31,849	$15
   11	Ohio	$31,799	$15
   12	Illinois	$31,669	$15
   13	New Mexico	$31,392	$15
   14	Kentucky	$31,385	$15
   15	Utah	$31,214	$15
   16	Texas	$30,756	$15
   17	Arizona	$30,544	$15
   18	Indiana	$29,922	$14
   19	Georgia	$29,660	$14
   20	Mississippi	$29,005	$14

   Average lift operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	BD	$45,835	$22.04	15
   2	Blue Diamond Growers	$45,267	$21.76	4
   3	Kloeckner Metals	$42,258	$20.32	3
   4	United Natural Foods	$41,433	$19.92	11
   5	Steris	$41,380	$19.89	23
   6	ABB	$40,374	$19.41	20
   7	Manhasset Bay Yacht Club	$38,811	$18.66
   8	Boise Cascade	$38,026	$18.28	25
   9	Land O'Lakes	$37,801	$18.17	35
   10	Keurig Dr Pepper	$37,599	$18.08	39
   11	Pactiv	$37,552	$18.05	85
   12	International Paper	$37,526	$18.04	30
   13	WestRock	$37,175	$17.87	69
   14	Johnsonville	$37,109	$17.84
   15	Atkore International	$37,006	$17.79	38
   16	Waste Connections	$36,998	$17.79	15
   17	JELD-WEN	$36,965	$17.77	4
   18	Hormel Foods	$36,848	$17.72	25
   19	Ashley HomeStore	$36,606	$17.60	3
   20	US Foods	$36,513	$17.55	41

4. Writing a Lift Operator Job Description

   A good lift 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 lift operator job description:

   Lift Operator job description example

   Finding a job that fits your lifestyle isn’t always easy. That’s where Kelly® Professional & Industrial comes in. We’re seeking a Fork Lift Operator to work at a Fortune 500 company that provides integrated technologies, products and services across the full continuum of care.

   Job Summary

   Receiving

   • Unloads pallets and cases from inbound trailers and/or containers manually

   and/or using MHE to include manual pallet jack, motorized pallet jack, sit down

   or standup forklift, and standing reach truck.

   • Accurately counts, verifies, and receives product using radio frequency (RF)

   equipment and/or Voice Pick Technology; documents variances.

   Put Away

   • Moves cases of product from the inbound dock to storage locations in the

   warehouse using a standing reach truck or stock picker.

   Replenishment

   • Moves pallets and/or cases from reserve location to pick location using a

   standing reach truck, stock picker, or sit down forklift.

   LUM Picking

   • Selects products and quantities as directed by Voice Pick Technology and/or RF

   scanner and places items into totes on conveyor belt; removes empty cartons

   from pick module as needed.

   Bulk Picking

   • Selects bulk items from warehouse racking using a stock picker and Voice Pick

   Technology and/or RF scanner.

   • Operates a forklift and picks items as high as 35 feet in the air.

   • Builds pallets and delivers them to designated area for shipping.

   Sortation

   • Prepares sortation area by setting up pallets and carts for product.

   • Moves cartons and totes from conveyor belts and/or rollers and places on

   pallets and/or carts according to assigned batch.

   Loading

   • Uses RF scanner to ensure that totes, pallets, and carts are loaded correctly onto

   trucks for customer delivery.

   • Uses sit down forklift, electric or manual pallet jack to load pallets.

   General requirements for all functions

   • Operates various MHE and follows general sequencing and process procedures.

   • Maintains a safe and clean work environment.

   • Follows safety policies and procedures and corrects or communicates hazards

   to management.

   • Places incoming merchandise into inventory.

   • Conducts physical inventories as required.

   • Counts and performs basic math calculations.

   • Maintains productivity and quality standards.

   • Performs additional duties as directed.

   EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

   • General knowledge of a variety of basic topics (math, reading, basic accounting,

   typing, etc.)

   • Prior experience working in a warehouse/distribution center a plus.

   • Warehouse/Operations certification a plus
   
   What happens next
   Once you apply, you’ll proceed to next steps if your skills and experience look like a good fit. But don’t worry—even if this position doesn’t work out, you’re still in our network. That means all of our recruiters will have access to your profile, expanding your opportunities even more.
   Helping you discover what’s next in your career is what we’re all about, so let’s get to work.

   
   Apply today!

   Company DescriptionWhat happens next? Once you apply, you’ll proceed to next steps if your skills and experience look like a good fit. But don’t worry—even if this position doesn’t work out, you’re still in our network. That means all our recruiters will have access to your profile, expanding your opportunities even more.

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

   To find lift operators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any lift operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level lift operators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your lift operator job on Zippia to find and recruit lift 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 lift 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.

   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 lift operator

   Once you've decided on a perfect 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.

   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.

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