How to hire a manufacturing team member

How to hire a manufacturing team member, step by step

Here's a step-by-step manufacturing team member hiring guide:

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

What does a manufacturing team member do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your manufacturing team member 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 manufacturing team member 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

   A manufacturing team member's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, manufacturing team members 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 manufacturing team members.

   Type of Manufacturing Team Member	Description	Hourly rate
   Manufacturing Team Member	Assemblers and fabricators assemble finished products and the parts that go into them. They use tools, machines, and their hands to make engines, computers, aircraft, ships, boats, toys, electronic devices, control panels, and more.	$11-19
   Assembly Inspector	An assembly inspector is primarily in charge of inspecting products, usually furniture and fixtures, to ensure compliance with production standards. Their responsibilities typically include examining surfaces to identify any dents or damages, conducting measurements and assessments, marking identified issues, reviewing documentation, and maintaining records, producing detailed reports for teams and managers... Show more	$10-16
   Assembly Operator	In a manufacturing setting, an assembly operator is in charge of assembling materials using hands or tools. Their responsibilities include following assembly guidelines, packing items in containers and boxes, operating tools and equipment, and developing strategies to optimize operations... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Cleanliness
   • Guest Service
   • Safety Standards
   • Good Communication
   • Work Ethic
   • Windows
   • Food Handling
   • Food Preparation
   • Sales Floor
   • CPR
   • Reservations
   • Excellent Guest
   • Teamwork

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead the team by exemplify reliability through punctuality and personal integrity.
   • Perform preventative maintenance on hospital HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and medical gas systems.
   • Follow all safety procedures and use safety protection, clean work stations, restock following PPE guidelines.
   • Maintain cleanliness by clearing plates, wiping down tables, sweeping floors, clean windows, and wash dishes.
   • Check members in and out, create lesson plans and arts and crafts for kids, provide customer service.
   • Perform maintenance tasks to include welding, plumbing, light electrical, trim work, framing, flooring and installation.

   More manufacturing team member duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your manufacturing team member job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A manufacturing team member salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a manufacturing team member in Florida may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level manufacturing team member usually earns less than a senior-level manufacturing team member. Additionally, a manufacturing team member with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average manufacturing team member salary

   $14.91hourly

   $31,008 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level manufacturing team member salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 27, 2025

   Average manufacturing team member salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$37,097	$18
   2	New York	$35,246	$17
   3	Iowa	$35,006	$17
   4	Minnesota	$34,436	$17
   5	Pennsylvania	$34,004	$16
   6	Illinois	$32,517	$16
   7	Ohio	$32,354	$16
   8	California	$31,889	$15
   9	Mississippi	$31,837	$15
   10	Nebraska	$31,354	$15
   11	Indiana	$30,934	$15
   12	Missouri	$30,836	$15
   13	North Carolina	$30,381	$15
   14	District of Columbia	$30,126	$14
   15	Colorado	$30,046	$14
   16	Washington	$29,093	$14
   17	South Carolina	$28,983	$14
   18	Georgia	$28,338	$14
   19	Texas	$28,091	$14
   20	Arizona	$27,887	$13

   Average manufacturing team member salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Tata Group	$71,527	$34.39	1
   2	BD	$44,759	$21.52	6
   3	AT&T	$44,369	$21.33
   4	Raytheon Technologies	$44,195	$21.25
   5	Post Holdings	$43,142	$20.74	20
   6	PepsiCo	$42,892	$20.62	1
   7	KPMG LLP	$42,885	$20.62	4
   8	Cargill	$42,591	$20.48	1
   9	Barry-Wehmiller	$42,479	$20.42	3
   10	The Kraft Heinz Company	$41,234	$19.82	4
   11	Pella	$40,824	$19.63	6
   12	Peet's Coffee	$40,564	$19.50	1
   13	Rockwell Automation	$40,237	$19.34	6
   14	WestRock	$40,088	$19.27	32
   15	Ashley HomeStore	$39,872	$19.17	8
   16	MeadWestvaco	$39,383	$18.93
   17	Owens & Minor	$38,896	$18.70	7
   18	Target	$38,830	$18.67	5
   19	ALLIANCE DOOR PRODUCTS	$38,540	$18.53
   20	Land O'Lakes	$38,512	$18.52	2

4. Writing a manufacturing team member job description

   A manufacturing team member 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. Below, you can find an example of a manufacturing team member job description:

   Manufacturing team member job description example

   Join the world's best manufacturer of transmissions! We make automatic and hybrid transmissions for the Toyota Texas plant in San Antonio. We are hiring team members for our location-based in Cibolo Texas (30 min east of San Antonio and 20 min west of Seguin).

   New hires are eligible for Paid Time Off for Christmas and New Years Holiday!

   The following information is for your consideration:

   • We offer competitive wages with increases every 6 months

   • $.50 shift premium

   • Low-cost medical, dental, and vision benefits

   • On site cafeteria, clinic and gym!

   • $1,800 attendance bonus (See below for terms and conditions)

   • Milestone awards for hard working team members

   • Orientation hours are Monday-Friday 6:30 am-3:15 pm. After orientation, we will start the transition to either 1st shift (day): Monday-Friday 6:30am-3:15pm or 2nd Shift (night): 6:30pm-3:15am. After 4 weeks, we will rotate to the opposite shift. Overtime is available!

   Responsibilities:

   The Assembly Team Member is responsible for operating large-scale manufacturing equipment associated with the plant's machining and assembly operations in accordance with Company standards and operating procedures. He/she will be responsible for producing quality outputs necessary to manufacture Automatic Transmissions and Transmission accessories.

   Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

   • Follow standardized procedures to operate machinery used in the production process or use standardized procedures to assemble parts on an assembly line

   • Meet daily production quantity targets based upon assigned production schedule and manufacturing leadership request

   • Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with all manufacturing and safety guidelines, procedures and regulations

   • Perform manual dexterity work involving fingers, hands, and arms in repeated motion

   • Remove parts, machine attachments, or waste material from machines

   Education & Experience:

   • High school diploma or equivalent required. You must be at least 18 years old.

   • Any level of manufacturing and production/assembly experience is a plus, but we will also train you.

   Qualifications & Skills:

   • Active listening skills- You should be good at giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

   • Willing to learn a new skill

   • Able to stand for long periods of time

   • Able to walk long distance

   • Able to perform repetitive assembly work

   We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find manufacturing team members 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 manufacturing team member job on Zippia to find and recruit manufacturing team member 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 manufacturing team members, 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.

   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 manufacturing team member

   Once you've decided on a perfect manufacturing team member candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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.

   To prepare for the new manufacturing team member 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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How much does it cost to hire a manufacturing team member?