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How to hire a maintenance equipment operator

Maintenance equipment operator hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring maintenance equipment operators in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a maintenance equipment operator is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new maintenance equipment operator to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a maintenance equipment operator, step by step

To hire a maintenance equipment operator, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a maintenance equipment operator:

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

    First, determine the employments status of the maintenance equipment operator you need to hire. Certain maintenance equipment operator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A maintenance equipment operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, maintenance equipment operators 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 presents maintenance equipment operator salaries for various positions.

    Type of Maintenance Equipment OperatorDescriptionHourly rate
    Maintenance Equipment Operator$13-22
    OperatorOperators 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
    Labour OperatorLabor operators typically drive, maneuver the heavy machinery used to construct buildings, bridges, roads, and other structures. Their tasks and duties include cleaning and maintaining construction equipment, reporting faulty mechanism to supervisors, driving and operating equipment, and ensuring that the standards for safety are met... Show more$12-20
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • CDL
    • Asphalt
    • Hand Tools
    • Dump Truck
    • Mowing
    • Loaders
    • End Loaders
    • Perform Routine Maintenance
    • GRASS
    • Shovels
    • Maintenance Equipment
    • Routine Maintenance
    • Rakes
    • Cranes
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Certify in structural steel (ICC/AWS), concrete (ACI) and soils.
    • See operator, run a mower with a fecon head.
    • Perform job functions all under company safety guidelines and dot regulations.
    • Operate side boom and forklifts.
    • Pull side dump lowboy, belly dump, and pup trailers.
    • Move equipment with lowboy and dovetail trailers to and from job sites.
    More maintenance equipment operator duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, maintenance equipment operators' average salary in south carolina is 41% less than in pennsylvania.
    • Seniority. Entry-level maintenance equipment operators 40% less than senior-level maintenance equipment operators.
    • Certifications. A maintenance equipment 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 maintenance equipment operator's salary.

    Average maintenance equipment operator salary

    $36,428yearly

    $17.51 hourly rate

    Entry-level maintenance equipment operator salary
    $28,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 18, 2025

    Average maintenance equipment operator salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$43,601$21
    2Illinois$43,185$21
    3Washington$42,864$21
    4Arizona$42,348$20
    5Oregon$41,937$20
    6Montana$41,477$20
    7Utah$39,825$19
    8Massachusetts$38,456$18
    9Colorado$37,941$18
    10Missouri$37,127$18
    11New Jersey$35,527$17
    12New York$34,828$17
    13Georgia$30,266$15
    14Texas$29,443$14
    15Florida$27,906$13
    16South Carolina$26,511$13

    Average maintenance equipment operator salary by company

  4. Writing a maintenance equipment operator job description

    A maintenance equipment operator 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 maintenance equipment operator job description:

    Maintenance equipment operator job description example

    Full Job Description: Maintains Sand bunkers. Maintains and cuts grass on Tees, Fairways, Roughs, Greens, and fringes. Operates equipment such as walking/riding Greens, Tee, Fairway, Rough mowers, Bunker rakes, utility carts, rollers, blowers, tractors, backhoes, skid steers, a variety of powered and non powered hand tools. Observes all company safety practices and standards of conduct. Participates in all company required training and meetings. Performs other required tasks as needed. Comes to work on time and with a good attitude daily. Benefits available for full time positions.

    Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
    • Adhere to all of the various written mandatory standards of operations, policies and procedures, manuals, memos, oral instructions, etc., all of which go to make up the essential functions of the job.
    • Servicing of golf courses which include changing pin placements, tee markers, trash removal, and making the golf course presentable daily.
    • Mowing of green, tees, slopes, collars, rough, and fairway areas with the appropriate piece of equipment.
    • Prepare sand bunkers for daily play by using appropriate equipment and procedures.
    • Wash off, fill with fuel (if applicable), and return all equipment to their proper storage areas.
    • Assist other Members of staff whenever necessary to help expedite the completion of a task.
    • Knowledge of safe and efficient mechanical operation of motorized equipment.

    Job Requirements:
    • Minimum 1 year golf course experience.
    • High school degree preferred.

    Physical Demands:
    The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
    • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk.
    • The employee frequently is required to talk or hear.
    • The employee is occasionally required to stand; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
    • The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
    • Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

    Job Type: Full-time and Part-Time positions available.

    Pay: $13.00 - $16.00 per hour.

    Benefits:
    • Great pay and benefits.
    • All employees enjoy daily employee meals, access to the fitness center , golf privileges w/reciprocal opportunities, annual holiday fund, and access to Oasis Advantage discounts and amenities.

    Full-time Employees are awarded:
    • Yearly Paid Time Off.
    • Insurance Benefits: health, dental, vision, life insurance, etc.
    • 401 k.


    About Plantation Golf and Country Club:

    Located on Florida's west coast in beautiful Venice, Plantation Golf & Country Club has held a unique position among Southwest Florida country clubs for over 30 years with its atmosphere of relaxation, enjoyment, and community. Our private club welcomes new members with warmth and hospitality.Plantation Golf & Country Club is proud to offer the finest in golf, tennis, social facilities, and personalized service to its members and their guests. The Bermuda style emphasized here at Plantation is most prevalent in the beautiful Clubhouse complex at the center of the property. Housed here are the casual, formal, and banquet dining facilities, lounge, and administration. The golf, tennis, and fitness centers along with the Junior Olympic pool are nearby.We offer two 18-hole championship golf courses, Bobcat and Panther, designed by leading golf course architect, Ron Garl. The Bobcat has consistently been ranked among Florida's top 50 courses by Golfweek Magazine. PGCC has been hosting the LPGA Qualifying Event since 1988. Our Club also has 12 Har-Tru tennis courts with five lit for night play.

  5. Post your job

    To find the right maintenance equipment operator 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 maintenance equipment operators they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit maintenance equipment operators 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 maintenance equipment operator job on Zippia to find and attract quality maintenance equipment operator candidates.
    • Use niche websites such as constructionjobs.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting maintenance equipment operators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    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 maintenance equipment operator

    Once you've selected the best maintenance equipment operator 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.

    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.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new maintenance equipment 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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How much does it cost to hire a maintenance equipment operator?

Recruiting maintenance equipment operators involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

The median annual salary for maintenance equipment operators is $36,428 in the US. However, the cost of maintenance equipment operator hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a maintenance equipment operator for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $13 and $22 an hour.

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