How to hire a line manager

How to hire a line manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step line manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a line manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new line manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a line manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a line manager, 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 line manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, line managers 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 line managers.

   Type of Line Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Line Manager	Top executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.	$12-55
   General Manager Of Operations	General managers of operations are employed to oversee the overall operations of businesses. Their responsibilities include the improvement of the efficiency of the operations and overall management... Show more	$23-79
   Operations Manager, District	A district operations manager is a managerial professional who manages the daily operations of stores within the assigned district as well as provides support to managers in ensuring quality and budget performance. The district operations manager must work with the store management to create and implement action plans to address deficiencies discovered during a store audit... Show more	$29-51

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Client Facing
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Service Line
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Direct Reports
   • Process Improvement
   • Performance Reviews
   • ISO
   • Business Development
   • Human Resources
   • QA
   • Management System
   • Performance Management
   • Corrective Action

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead the team in successfully meeting FDA and GMP requirements.
   • Manage project developing integration and process flows for fab expansion doubling the area and moving to a larger wafer.
   • Manage team of database administrators, database technicians and systems administrators responsible for maintaining all production, development and QA systems.
   • Define and enforce GMP's to subordinates.
   • Train in FDA standards for food industry.
   • Establish and measure KPI's ensuring all departments maintain the highest levels of performance.

   More line manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your line manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A line manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, line managers' average salary in arkansas is 63% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level line managers earn 77% less than senior-level line managers.
   • Certifications. A line manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a line manager's salary.

   Average line manager salary

   $56,406yearly

   $27.12 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level line manager salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average line manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$102,511	$49
   2	California	$93,613	$45
   3	Massachusetts	$90,821	$44
   4	New York	$85,061	$41
   5	Washington	$80,172	$39
   6	North Carolina	$74,269	$36
   7	Pennsylvania	$73,891	$36
   8	Nevada	$72,794	$35
   9	Virginia	$71,876	$35
   10	Colorado	$65,645	$32
   11	Georgia	$62,444	$30
   12	Texas	$61,201	$29
   13	Alabama	$60,266	$29
   14	Arizona	$60,117	$29
   15	Louisiana	$56,972	$27
   16	Utah	$55,701	$27
   17	Ohio	$54,841	$26
   18	Illinois	$50,503	$24
   19	Minnesota	$47,680	$23
   20	Missouri	$47,492	$23

   Average line manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Microsoft	$152,037	$73.09	80
   2	Intel	$132,730	$63.81	5
   3	Gillette	$125,308	$60.24
   4	Amgen	$124,668	$59.94	27
   5	LSI	$120,865	$58.11	5
   6	Akamai Technologies	$120,175	$57.78
   7	Constellation Energy Partners	$119,949	$57.67	9
   8	IBM	$118,581	$57.01	7
   9	Rivian	$118,141	$56.80
   10	The Vanguard Group	$114,475	$55.04	2
   11	BWX Technologies	$111,202	$53.46	19
   12	Chubb	$110,199	$52.98	2
   13	Northrop Grumman	$107,524	$51.69	37
   14	Volvo Trucks	$107,345	$51.61	7
   15	Entegris	$107,002	$51.44
   16	Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.	$103,536	$49.78	82
   17	QuintilesIMS	$101,866	$48.97	9
   18	Sutter Health	$101,385	$48.74	8
   19	U.S. Bank	$101,377	$48.74	27
   20	M&T Bank	$101,264	$48.68	17

4. Writing a line manager job description

   A good line manager 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 line manager job description:

   Line manager job description example

   • Ability to pass a pre-employment drug screen.
   • Ability to pass up to a 10-year background check.
   • Must be at least 18 years of age.
   • Must have authorization to work in the United States as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986.
   • Must complete ramp and SIDA training to obtain airport authority identification security.

   Experience:

   
   Four+ years of relevant experience. Must be open minded and ready to work as part of a detail-oriented team.

   Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

   • Excellent customer service skills.
   • Strong work ethic.
   • Ability to work in a team oriented environment.

   Preferred Qualifications

   Education:

   
   High School diploma or GED.

   Experience:

   
   Six+ years of relevant experience.
   Relevant supervisory experience.

   Ability to apply creative solutions that have a positive impact on results.

   Working Conditions

   Work Schedule:

   
   You will need to have flexibility to work a variety of shifts, including nights, weekends, holidays and overtime. We operate in a shift bid environment.

   Work Environment:

   
   Must be able to be alert to moving vehicles or aircraft and use radio equipment.
   Enjoy the outdoors on a daily basis (sun, rain, sleet or snow!) May be exposed to a wide variety of weather conditions, jet and machinery noises, fumes, dirt and dust for extended periods.

   Physical Demands/Requirements:

   
   Must be able to lift / carry / push / pull and move items of 70 pounds and/or more on a regular basis and repetitively lift weights of 40 to 50 pounds on raised surfaces.
   Must be able to walk, climb, bend, kneel, crawl, and stoop on a frequent basis and for extended periods.
   Must be able to work in cramped or high places.

   Must be able to carry heavy items up and down jet way stairs.

   Unifi is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit line managers, 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 line manager

   Once you've found the line manager 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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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 line manager?