How to hire a Machine Builder

How to hire a machine builder, step by step

Here's a step-by-step machine builder hiring guide:

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

What does a Machine Builder do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The machine builder 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 machine builder 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 machine builders.

   Type Of Machine Builder	Description	Hourly Rate
   Machine Builder	Assemblers and fabricators assemble finished products and the parts that go into them. They use tools, machines, and their hands to make engines, computers, aircraft, ships, boats, toys, electronic devices, control panels, and more.	$14-23
   Assembling Machine Operator	An assembling machine operator's role is to ensure the efficiency of assembly machines by setting or positioning the necessary components according to their sequence. Moreover, they must monitor the materials that the device produces, implement corrective measures if necessary, make sure that the machine is in good condition to maintain a safe working environment, and coordinate with the managers or supervisors should there be any issues... Show More	$11-18
   Builder	Builders are responsible for managing, coordinating, and working on the construction. They are also responsible for repairing and maintaining commercial and residential buildings... Show More	$11-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • CNC
   • Mechanical Assembly
   • Assembly Blueprints
   • Mechanical Drawings
   • MIG
   • Electrical Components
   • Drill Press
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Manual Lathes
   • Debug
   • Machine Shop
   • PLC
   • Customer Specifications

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Work with grinders, band see, drill press and MIG welder on a daily basis.
   • Install water manifolds and float switches.
   • Run and operate all manual mills, lathes and grinders.
   • Machine parts for new construction and repair jobs on cranes.
   • Condition, rework, TIG weld vibratory and centrifugal feeder bowls.
   • Operate CNC mills and grinders, operate shaft presses and pin presses.

   More Machine Builder duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, machine builders' average salary in florida is 38% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level machine builders earn 37% less than senior-level machine builders.
   • Certifications. A machine builder 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 machine builder's salary.

   Average machine builder salary

   $39,658yearly

   $19.07 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level machine builder salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated May 21, 2025

   Average machine builder salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	Iowa	$42,635	$21
   2	Michigan	$42,532	$20
   3	Minnesota	$42,475	$20
   4	Illinois	$41,207	$20
   5	California	$40,403	$19
   6	Ohio	$39,331	$19
   7	South Carolina	$38,905	$19
   8	Wisconsin	$38,499	$19
   9	New York	$38,134	$18
   10	Connecticut	$36,687	$18
   11	Colorado	$35,589	$17
   12	Tennessee	$35,060	$17
   13	North Carolina	$33,710	$16
   14	Florida	$29,715	$14

   Average machine builder salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	Corning Incorporated	$45,550	$21.90	2
   2	Barry-Wehmiller	$43,679	$21.00	11
   3	Koch Industries	$42,533	$20.45
   4	Mestek	$42,081	$20.23
   5	Allied Moulded Products	$41,811	$20.10
   6	Snap-on Tools	$40,715	$19.57
   7	L3Harris	$40,653	$19.54
   8	GED	$40,130	$19.29
   9	Bradley-Morris	$39,889	$19.18
   10	Kelly Services	$39,704	$19.09	106
   11	Oetiker Group	$39,307	$18.90
   12	Spark Talent Acquisition	$39,301	$18.89
   13	ManpowerGroup	$39,276	$18.88	158
   14	Koops Automation Systems	$39,258	$18.87	1
   15	The Wood Company	$39,256	$18.87	5
   16	TOX Pressotechnik	$39,256	$18.87
   17	North Metro Fire	$39,256	$18.87
   18	Venteon	$39,220	$18.86	3
   19	Evoqua Water Technologies	$39,214	$18.85
   20	ITW	$39,142	$18.82	42

4. Writing a Machine Builder Job Description

   A machine builder 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 a machine builder job description:

   Machine Builder job description example

   Industrial Automation Machine Builder Technician Machine builder experience is required Travel up to 50% including international travel Nights and weekends required Pay up to $35 per hour Must be a United States citizen or Green Card holder No remote Full-time Permanent W-2 employee Full benefits No relocation Pewaukee, Wisconsin area This employee-oriented, family-oriented, customer-oriented, custom industrial automation certified systems integration company is hiring a full time, permanent Industrial Automation Machine Builder Technician. They seek out employees that love technology and technology here is on the leading edge. Employees are never bored here as every project is custom and unique. Products are created that have never been created before. Creativity and continuous learning are valued and promoted. The employees here are very creative and they put a lot of R&D into projects. They have a strong corporate culture and employees are not viewed as a number. Management makes work/life balance a priority. Engineers get to see their unique projects being built on the shop floor. There are advancement opportunities and this could grow into management, if that is of interest. Duties and responsibilities of the successful candidate will include the following:

   • Reading and interpreting engineering prints and electrical schematics
   • Building installing and troubleshooting industrial automation machines and equipment
   • Working weekends and nights as needed
   • Traveling up to 50% including international travel
   • Wiring electrical panels

   The background of the successful candidate must include the following:

   • One or more years of machine building experience
   • One or more years reading and interpreting electrical schematics
   • One or more years of reading and interpreting engineering drawings
   • Possess your own tools
   • Possess the ability to work nights and weekends
   • Possess the ability to travel up to 50% including international travel
   • Possess a solid work history
   • Being a US citizen or green card holder
   • Having a residence within a 45 minute drive

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit machine builders, 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.

   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 machine builder

   Once you've found the machine builder 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 machine builder?