How to hire a machine cleaner

How to hire a machine cleaner, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a machine cleaner, 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

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

   Here's a comparison of machine cleaner salaries for various roles:

   Type of Machine Cleaner	Description	Hourly rate
   Machine Cleaner	Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.	$11-18
   Car Wash Attendant	As a car wash attendant, they wash and polish car exteriors and interiors. They often clean tires, dust, drying, applying soap solutions, vacuuming car interiors, scraping loose specks of dirt, cleaning seats, and removing the trash on a car... Show more	$11-18
   Car Washer	A car washer is responsible for cleaning and polishing cars, ensuring efficiency and customer satisfaction. Their tasks typically include vacuuming the interior parts such as seats and floors, discarding the trash, cleaning the windows and windshield from the inside and outside, applying soap solution to the car's exterior, scraping off dirt, and applying wax... Show more	$10-16

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Squeegees
   • Clean Machines
   • GMP
   • Production Equipment
   • Hoists
   • CNC
   • Machine Shop
   • Production Lines

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate a forklift for logistic, to manage and relocate BMW's fixture material.
   • Skil in operating hoists for components that weigh more than 35 pounds.
   • Apply knowledge in determining the condition of parts and equipment after cleaning, including the degree of cleanliness.
   • Task to maintain cleanliness and decontaminate nuclear equipment and facilities to an acceptable level.
   • Control & troubleshoot automate extrusion line adjusting speed & feed, monitoring temperature, & finish material specification per customers order.
   • Record statistics on ISO documentation, and coordinate with machine technicians and electrical technicians to keep machines operating at maximum efficiency.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, machine cleaners' average salary in louisiana is 43% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level machine cleaners earn 37% less than senior-level machine cleaners.
   • Certifications. A machine cleaner 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 cleaner's salary.

   Average machine cleaner salary

   $14.98hourly

   $31,150 yearly

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   Entry-level machine cleaner salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

4. Writing a machine cleaner job description

   A good machine cleaner 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 machine cleaner job description:

   Machine cleaner job description example

   Imagine...working for a company that knows that its people are the key to its success in the marketplace. A company in which achieving extraordinary results and having a stimulating work experience are part of the same process.
   
   We cultivate and embrace a diverse employee population. We recognize that people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives fuel our growth and enrich our global culture.
   
   We are looking for an individual who enjoys working in a fast-paced, team oriented environment, likes to be challenged, and values the opportunity to make a difference.
   HOURS:
   6:25 AM - 2:30 PM Saturday & Sunday2:55 PM - 11:00 PM Monday, Tuesday, Wednesdaymay be required to work other hours including weekends and holidays. Must be able to work overtime. Start and end times may be adjusted based on business needs.
   
   JOB DESCRIPTION:
   Cleans and sanitizes production or other plant equipment as assigned. Disassembles and re-assembles machinery. Maintain work areas in a neat and orderly fashion. Will be required to lift up to 50 lbs. and climb ladders without restriction.Will be required to clean overhead areas while using a boom and scissor lift. Will be required to perform confined space entry/work in outside storage silos.The Machine Cleaner must support all plant safety, quality, SAP, 5S, and continuous improvement initiatives. This support may include but is not limited to: serving in the role of 5S Leader, actively participating in all audits (i.e. Daily Sweep, Weekly Spot, etc.) and all aspects of team concepts, such as displaying a positive attitude, which are necessary to work collaboratively within a team environment. The person in this position must also perform other duties as assigned by his/her supervisor and/or manager.
   
   EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
   
   High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalency with a vocational or technical focus (Training in Industrial Technology or a related field preferred).
   
   SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
   
   This job will require the successful bidder to perform basic preventive maintenance on equipment, as well as other operator-driven reliability (odr) duties including, but not limited to, cleaning, inspecting, and lubricating as assigned by supervisor.
   
   Candidate selection will be based on ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation (as demonstrated by a passing score on the Physical Capacity Screening). Although seniority is a primary consideration for awarding regular hourly (i.e., non-Key Operator) positions, consideration will also be given to attendance record, safety record, disciplinary record, quality of work, peer relationships, job performance, previous work history and experience. Only candidates meeting eligibility criteria in all categories will be considered. The position will be awarded to the most senior qualified bidder who has successfully passed Physical Capacity Screening, if required for the position and if all other of the above criterion being considered are equal among candidates.
   
   Equal opportunity is provided to all candidates on the basis of individual qualifications without regard to race; sex; color; age; religion; national origin; disability; citizenship; sexual orientation; gender identity; status as a disabled, Vietnam Era, or other eligible veteran; or any other characteristic protected by law.
   
   The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity for employees and applicants in all aspects of the employment relationship, without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.
   
   In that regard, U.S. applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law. Click here for additional information.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right machine cleaner for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with machine cleaners they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit machine cleaners who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your machine cleaner job on Zippia to find and recruit machine cleaner candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with machine cleaner candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of 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 machine cleaner

   Once you've selected the best machine cleaner 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.

   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.

   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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