How to hire a manufacturer

How to hire a manufacturer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step manufacturer hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a manufacturer, 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

   A manufacturer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, manufacturers 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 shows salaries for various types of manufacturers.

   Type of Manufacturer	Description	Hourly rate
   Manufacturer		$11-20
   Operations Team Leader	An operations team leader is an individual who manages teams, encouraging cooperation, productivity, and teamwork. Operations team leaders foster team unity and enhance the daily efficiency of the companies or any business establishment... Show more	$13-51
   Operation Supervisor	Operations supervisors manage a specific operations-related team or department. They ensure that all the agreed-upon key performance indicators are being met... Show more	$17-41

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Assembly Line
   • Basic Math
   • Work Ethic
   • Power Saws
   • Ladders
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • Safety Procedures
   • Assembly Process
   • Customer Orders
   • ISO
   • Eye Coordination
   • GMP
   • CNC
   • Tape Measure

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the flow of each pallet to ensure the group is able to produce the quality product.
   • Use of CNC machines for the manufacturing and quality control of hot tubs.
   • Mask and prepare airplane fuel and air filters to be prime and paint.
   • Inspect, inventory, mask and unmask all unpaint and paint parts for helicopters.
   • Improve on ISO and training standards by implementing work instructions on computer interface rather than paper.
   • Assemble dashboards and trunks (car parts) for Honda using drills, and other equipment.

   More manufacturer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the manufacturer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A manufacturer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a manufacturer in New Mexico may be lower than in Wyoming, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level manufacturer. Additionally, a manufacturer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average manufacturer salary

   $15.49hourly

   $32,213 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level manufacturer salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 18, 2026

   Average manufacturer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	North Dakota	$43,040	$21
   2	Massachusetts	$41,730	$20
   3	Minnesota	$39,330	$19
   4	Maine	$38,529	$19
   5	Wisconsin	$37,290	$18
   6	Washington	$36,372	$17
   7	Colorado	$35,721	$17
   8	Kansas	$34,727	$17
   9	California	$34,439	$17
   10	Illinois	$33,654	$16
   11	Montana	$33,365	$16
   12	Iowa	$33,196	$16
   13	Oregon	$33,046	$16
   14	Arizona	$33,040	$16
   15	Michigan	$32,166	$15
   16	Ohio	$31,685	$15
   17	Pennsylvania	$31,495	$15
   18	Mississippi	$31,253	$15
   19	Idaho	$30,701	$15
   20	North Carolina	$27,965	$13

   Average manufacturer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	ABB	$43,548	$20.94	48
   2	FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA	$42,014	$20.20	3
   3	Sierra Pacific Industries	$41,803	$20.10	2
   4	PepsiCo	$40,880	$19.65	7
   5	Vertex Pharmaceuticals	$40,496	$19.47
   6	Applied Materials	$40,495	$19.47
   7	Amy's Kitchen	$39,759	$19.11	2
   8	Grede	$39,597	$19.04	1
   9	Minnesota State Fair	$39,435	$18.96
   10	Church & Dwight Co.	$39,199	$18.85	2
   11	Pentair	$39,117	$18.81	4
   12	Lam Research	$38,928	$18.72
   13	Thor Motor Coach Inc	$38,878	$18.69	5
   14	Nucor	$38,654	$18.58	39
   15	Republic Steel	$38,599	$18.56
   16	FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies	$38,516	$18.52	1
   17	Steelcase	$38,504	$18.51
   18	Cardinal Health	$38,432	$18.48	14
   19	Volvo Trucks	$38,395	$18.46
   20	Teledyne Technologies Incorporated	$38,340	$18.43

4. Writing a manufacturer job description

   A good manufacturer 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 manufacturer job description:

   Manufacturer job description example

   Rate of Pay: 16 per hour

   2nd shift only

   Top 10 Reasons to work for Stratosphere Quality:

   Free Training

   No Experience Necessary!

   Vacation Time

   Start accruing PTO on Day One

   Benefits

   Medical Benefits, Life Insurance, & 401k all after 60 days

   Advancement Opportunities

   After just 90 days of Employment

   Referral Program

   Earn $200 per referral!

   SQ Rocs and President's Club

   Be rewarded for your hard work

   Shutdown Savings

   Save wages for a rainy day

   Reimbursement Program

   New Equipment On Us!

   New Tech

   Learn and Work with our newest Technology Platforms

   Travel Opportunities

   Customer sites from coast to coast

   Quality Inspector Job Summary

   Quality Inspectors perform various sorting, inspection, production, and data capture. Quality Inspectors work in partnership with our customers to contain and improve quality issues the most efficient way possible. Stratosphere Quality's vision is to be the Leading Global Provider of Premium Inspection and Quality Assurance Services.

   We create an atmosphere where we recognize the individual, work together to solve problems, and foster an environment for employee growth.

   Quality Inspectors work in manufacturing plants, warehouses or other locations where our customers parts are being produced or stored. The location may vary day to day depending on the needs of our customers. Stratosphere Quality teams work collectively to ensure that we are responsive, accountable, and accurate in all aspects of our work. It's important and our people are key to our continued success.

   Quality Inspector Job Responsibilities & Duties

   • Performs various sorting, inspection, production, and data entry
   • Reads and follows work instructions, work rules and directions
   • Maintains organization and cleanliness of work area
   • Uses inspection, measuring and test equipment as required
   • Completes required training classes
   • Follows all employee policies and other duties as assigned

   Quality Inspector Job Qualifications & Skills

   • Flexibility and adaptability
   • Positive attitude and self-motivated
   • Detail orientated- employment screening includes a criminal background check.

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5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with manufacturer 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 to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 manufacturer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the manufacturer 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.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new manufacturer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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