How to hire a maintainer operator

How to hire a maintainer operator, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your maintainer operator 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 maintainer operator 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 maintainer operator 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 maintainer operator that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of maintainer operators.

   Type of Maintainer Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Maintainer Operator		$15-39
   Operator	Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them... Show more	$12-25
   Systems Operator	Systems operators often act as the front liners whose primary job is to ensure the reliable delivery of electricity service to consumers and businesses. They are responsible for overseeing and managing the power grid and controlling electricity flow through transmission lines... Show more	$13-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • DOD
   • PMCS
   • Hand Tools
   • Secret Security Clearance
   • MOS
   • Technical Manuals
   • Preventive Maintenance Checks
   • Troubleshoot
   • Power Generators
   • Combat
   • Computer System
   • Network Operations
   • NCO
   • Test Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead basic reconnaissance operations and report enemy movements to commanding officers.
   • Install and operate manual switchboards.
   • Assist with daily log and encryption accountability duties.
   • Train to setup transmitters, receivers, cable modems, and UHF antennas.
   • Utilize CISCO routers, high speed MUX equipment, programme and modify UNIX switch database.
   • Operate and maintaining fiber, copper, CAT5 cable, VOIP phone, and internet infrastructure via Cisco.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your maintainer operator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A maintainer operator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, maintainer operators' average salary in wyoming is 17% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level maintainer operators 60% less than senior-level maintainer operators.
   • Certifications. A maintainer operator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a maintainer operator's salary.

   Average maintainer operator salary

   $52,620yearly

   $25.30 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level maintainer operator salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing a maintainer operator job description

   A job description for a maintainer operator role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a maintainer operator job description:

   Maintainer operator job description example

   Description (Overview)
   
   Starting Pay: $21.25 / hour or more, depending on experience
   
   Additional $2.00 shift differential from 3pm - 6am
   
   Shift: 2nd shift
   
   Hours: 2:30pm-12:30am
   
   This is a full-time position within our manufacturing facility with opportunities for advancement!
   
   Who we are!
   
   Schwan's Company, a U.S. affiliate of the global lifestyle company CJ CheilJedang Corporation, is a leading U.S. manufacturer and marketer of quality foods offered through retail-grocery and food-service channels. Its many popular brands include Red Baron , Tony's , Big Daddy's , Villa Prima™ and Freschetta pizza; Mrs. Smith's and Edwards desserts; and Pagoda Asian-style snacks. To learn more about Schwan's, visit www.schwanscompany.com.
   
   What we want to do for you:
   
   We offer eligible employees competitive pay and comprehensive benefits package designed to assist employees and their families with their financial security, health and well-being.
   
   * Health, Life, Dental and Vision Plans
   * Two weeks paid vacation for new hires
   * 401k with company match
   
   What we are looking for:
   
   Here at Schwan's Company, we put a high priority on having safe, clean, and healthy workspaces. And we want individuals that take that seriously.
   
   * Ability to operate multiple machines safely with minimal supervision and obtain necessary production specifications
   * Proficient communication and problem solving skills to pass on information to co-workers and to relay information to and from all employee levels including management
   * High School Diploma or equivalent and 3-5 years of related experience
   * Candidates receiving offers of employment will be required to complete a post-offer, pre-placement background check and drug screen
   
   Responsibilities:
   
   * Responsible for the operation of multiple pieces of manufacturing equipment ranging from simple to more difficult complexity
   * Responsible for set up and pre-running of the equipment to ensure proper production startup
   * Control of line speeds, batch formula, production rates, starting and stopping equipment, and overall product elegance and safety
   * Responsible for light maintenance repairs and preventative maintenance of all equipment and assisting maintenance in keeping all equipment and facility in good repair and regularly serviced
   * Responsible for various quality checks
   * Completes all required paperwork (for example: downtime HACCP etc. utilizing SAP SOP's Safety operation training as appropriate)
   * The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required, including but not limited to bump cap, safety glasses/goggles, ear plugs, hair and beard nets, gloves and safety shoes or rubber boots
   * May be responsible for disassembling, disconnecting, cleaning, operating, and reassembling and reconnecting lines and equipment
   * Responsible to conduct yourself in a manner consistent with company mission values code of ethics policies and other standards of conduct
   * Hours may change based on production schedule (some overtime and weekend work may be required)
   
   The employing subsidiaries of Schwan's Company are Equal Employment Opportunity Employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, age, race, color, religion, gender, vet status, national origin or other protected class.
   
   Job Type: Full-time Business Unit: Req #: 22-1292
   
   Apply Now Quick Apply

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find maintainer operators for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with maintainer operator 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.

   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 maintainer operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the maintainer operator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize 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.

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