How to hire a machine operator assistant

How to hire a machine operator assistant, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your machine operator assistant 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 machine operator assistant 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?

   Yes

   No

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

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

   Type of Machine Operator Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Machine Operator Assistant		$12-20
   Pack Out Operator	A pack out operator is a manufacturing or packaging operation employee responsible for the final packaging of goods prior to shipping. Pack out operators come in at the last stage of the manufacturing process to ensure readiness... Show more	$12-20
   Cell Operator	A Cell Operator is someone who handles a production cell in a company or factory. This position ensures that a cell unit of the production functions properly and efficiently... Show more	$14-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Machine Operators
   • Quality Checks
   • Basic Math
   • Tape Measure
   • Quality Standards
   • Safety Procedures
   • Production Process
   • Math
   • Safety Rules
   • CNC
   • Safety Regulations
   • Pallet Jack
   • Hoists
   • Troubleshoot

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Place logs on the running deck with the JCB to be run through the debarking machine.
   • Attach various stencils and labels using labeler machine.
   • Ensure that starch compound are mixed properly and on correct setting periodically.
   • Job require a lot of knowledge of CNC machines, blueprint reading, and metal work.
   • Record statistics on ISO documentation, and coordinate with machine technicians and electrical technicians to keep machines operating at maximum efficiency.
   • Overlook daily operations of single/twin screw extruders and packaging of finish product.

   More machine operator assistant duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, machine operators assistant' average salary in wyoming is 51% less than in north dakota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level machine operators assistant earn 36% less than senior-level machine operators assistant.
   • Certifications. A machine operator assistant 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 operator assistant's salary.

   Average machine operator assistant salary

   $16.55hourly

   $34,414 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level machine operator assistant salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average machine operator assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	North Dakota	$43,103	$21
   2	Washington	$39,615	$19
   3	Minnesota	$39,058	$19
   4	California	$38,781	$19
   5	Missouri	$38,339	$18
   6	Oregon	$37,034	$18
   7	Wisconsin	$36,668	$18
   8	Michigan	$36,263	$17
   9	Colorado	$36,071	$17
   10	Illinois	$35,567	$17
   11	Connecticut	$35,340	$17
   12	Ohio	$34,439	$17
   13	Indiana	$33,516	$16
   14	Texas	$32,791	$16
   15	Arizona	$32,426	$16
   16	Tennessee	$31,017	$15
   17	Georgia	$30,878	$15
   18	Virginia	$30,225	$15
   19	North Carolina	$28,350	$14

   Average machine operator assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	CPI Card Group	$42,778	$20.57	6
   2	Halliburton	$42,451	$20.41	7
   3	Brigham and Women's Hospital	$41,653	$20.03	10
   4	Olympic Steel	$41,444	$19.93	10
   5	AT&T	$41,020	$19.72
   6	Amcor	$40,792	$19.61	112
   7	AstenJohnson	$40,436	$19.44	4
   8	San Diego College of Continuing Education	$40,198	$19.33
   9	Alro Steel	$39,878	$19.17	15
   10	Tilsner Carton	$39,209	$18.85
   11	Reyes Holdings	$38,858	$18.68	5
   12	International Paper	$38,809	$18.66	23
   13	Kingspan Group	$38,785	$18.65	2
   14	Johns Manville	$38,602	$18.56	10
   15	Donaldson	$38,333	$18.43	9
   16	Bosch USA	$38,247	$18.39	6
   17	Meta	$37,519	$18.04	6
   18	MeadWestvaco	$37,405	$17.98
   19	Packaging Corporation of America	$37,250	$17.91	42
   20	New French Bakery	$37,165	$17.87

4. Writing a machine operator assistant job description

   A machine operator assistant 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 operator assistant job description:

   Machine operator assistant job description example

   NOW OFFERING A $500 SIGN ON BONUS!! Prinsco is now offering a $200 bonus after 30 days of employment and another $300 after 90 days of employment!
   
   Prinsco has an opportunity for motivated Production / Manufacturing Assistants in Fargo, ND on all shifts! We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package that includes health, dental, vision & life insurance, retirement savings with 401k match and much more. This position starts at $17.50. 1st shift is 7AM to 3PM. 2nd shift is 3PM-11PM (with a $2/hr differential) and 3rd shift is 11PM-7AM (with a $3/hr differential)
   This is a great opportunity to learn and grow in a safe manufacturing environment, including:
   Roll plastic pipe onto coiling machine, tie with twine and transport rolls/bundles to assigned staging area.
   Verify that finished goods meet Prinsco s quality standards, identifying and reporting defects or improper machine operations immediately.
   Assist other employees and cross-train in various production procedures and items.
   
   Cultural Expectations:
   Demonstrate a commitment to high personal and professional ethical standards, and align decisions with Prinsco Values, including giving recognition to those that you see living out our values.
   Build and maintain open, honest working relationships with others, to set goals, resolve problems and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
   
   We require the following qualifications:
   A high school diploma or general education degree (GED) required with a minimum of six months of manufacturing or production (Prinsco preferred) experience.
   Effective communication skills with the ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out various instructions.
   Ability to work in a loud noise environment; lift up to 25 pounds consistently and 75 pounds occasionally; use hands and reach with hands/arms, stand, walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl for up to 2/3 of the workday; and good distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more), peripheral vision and depth perception.
   
   DISCLAIMER: This job description reflects management s assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right machine operator assistant 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 operators assistant they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit machine operators assistant 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 operator assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit machine operator assistant 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 machine operators assistant, 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 operator assistant

   Once you've found the machine operator assistant 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.

   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 machine operator assistant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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