How to hire a manufacturing worker

How to hire a manufacturing worker, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a manufacturing worker, 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 manufacturing worker's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, manufacturing workers 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.

   Here's a comparison of manufacturing worker salaries for various roles:

   Type of Manufacturing Worker	Description	Hourly rate
   Manufacturing Worker		$11-18
   Woodworking Shop Hand	A woodworking shop hand is responsible for assisting woodwork tasks, creating high-quality products, and inspecting the items thoroughly before packaging and releasing for delivery. Woodworking shop hands maintain clean and safe construction tools and equipment, perform repairs as needed, and disposing of defective items that may affect operational efficiency... Show more	$12-18
   Production Internship	A production internship is a program for a college student who works as a support person and seeks experience in the film or television set. An intern will research topics using various sources such as the internet, assist production staff in developing relevant stories for the television, film, and social media and run errands for a particular project... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Quality Checks
   • Pallets
   • GMP
   • Machine Operators
   • Safety Guidelines
   • CNC Machines
   • Production Process
   • Clean Environment
   • Production Equipment
   • RAN
   • Windows
   • Customer Orders
   • Customer Specifications
   • Extrusion

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Prepare material to load into furnaces including cleaning, crushing-machines, shovels, rakes, or sprayers.
   • Scrape accumulations of metal oxides from floors, molds, and crucibles, and sift and store them for reclamation.
   • Incorporate forklift and bobcat use.
   • Ready and break down crucibles before and after pours.
   • Operate a bobcat skitsteer to load sand into the mixer for prep.
   • Skim or pour dross, slag, or impurities from molten metal.

   More manufacturing worker duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, manufacturing workers' average salary in new mexico is 40% less than in oregon.
   • Seniority. Entry-level manufacturing workers earn 37% less than senior-level manufacturing workers.
   • Certifications. A manufacturing worker 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 manufacturing worker's salary.

   Average manufacturing worker salary

   $14.90hourly

   $31,001 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level manufacturing worker salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average manufacturing worker salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$33,755	$16
   2	Arizona	$33,227	$16
   3	Ohio	$33,168	$16
   4	Idaho	$31,833	$15
   5	Michigan	$30,201	$15
   6	Indiana	$30,186	$15
   7	Pennsylvania	$30,003	$14
   8	Iowa	$29,174	$14
   9	Tennessee	$29,000	$14
   10	Arkansas	$28,850	$14
   11	North Carolina	$27,250	$13
   12	Texas	$27,221	$13
   13	Oklahoma	$26,840	$13
   14	Alabama	$24,425	$12

   Average manufacturing worker salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	General Electric	$41,404	$19.91	187
   2	WestRock	$37,630	$18.09	19
   3	Schneider Electric Industrial Services	$37,610	$18.08	16
   4	AAON	$37,224	$17.90	19
   5	Amy's Kitchen	$37,150	$17.86	10
   6	Keymark	$35,936	$17.28	1
   7	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$35,498	$17.07	83
   8	Shaw Industries	$34,078	$16.38	10
   9	Volt Systems LLC	$33,159	$15.94
   10	LSI	$32,962	$15.85	1
   11	Remedy Intelligent Staffing	$32,735	$15.74
   12	Sun Chemical	$32,632	$15.69
   13	Mohawk Industries	$32,571	$15.66	12
   14	Nestlé	$31,804	$15.29	12
   15	All American Shutters	$31,601	$15.19
   16	Pratt Industries	$31,473	$15.13	7
   17	The Aerospace Corporation	$31,430	$15.11	1
   18	Cree	$31,222	$15.01	8
   19	Elwood Staffing	$31,019	$14.91
   20	Staffmark	$30,754	$14.79

4. Writing a manufacturing worker job description

   A job description for a manufacturing worker 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 manufacturing worker job description:

   Manufacturing worker job description example

   We are a customer focused custom manufacturer of quality food products to exacting standards that delight our customer and their consumers.
   
   The people of CTI Foods are our #1 ingredient that drive us to be the best custom food and culinary solutions team that has seven food processing facilities and over 1,800 employees from California, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
   
   We are a company that "Thinks Big and Acts Small." Employees are treated like family. In order to succeed, it takes every person working together, being nimble, and executing at the highest levels. It is our responsibility to provide you every opportunity and resource to achieve that success.
   Make an impact from day ONE at CTI Foods!
   
   Job Overview
   
   We are currently seeking Production Associates to join our team 1st & 2nd Shift Entry Level Positions. Pay is $16.50-$18.00 DAYS - $17.00-$18.50 NIGHTS depending on shift and position. Apply NOW!
   
   We are located at 22303 HWY 95 Wilder, ID 83676
   
   Responsible for the safe production and quality of food through the operation, maintenance and sanitation of food production and packaging equipment. May perform the following tasks including lifting, stacking, dumping, pushing and pulling of boxes. Adhere to all GMP, HACCP, safety, regulatory, and company policies and procedures.
   
   Responsibilities
   
   Follow all company Safety Rules and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP's) and adhere to JSA guidelines. Follow all SOP's (standard operating procedures) for the operation of the equipment used Produce high quality products in a safe and healthful manner Set up machinery ensuring all production materials are available Operate and monitor equipment and replenish materials as needed Follow specific machine operating procedures and make adjustments as necessary Follow daily set up and/or shutdown procedures Any other duties assigned by your supervisor or team leader
   
   Qualifications
   
   No experience needed Analytical and numerical skills: ability to perform mathematical calculations (add, subtract, multiply, divide) in different units of measurement Ability to follow written and oral instructions Ability to lift heavy equipment, to bend, and to stand or walk for long periods of time Willingness to work in shifts (late or early hours, weekends, and overtime if necessary) Wear Personal Protective Equipment as required Must be able to work in cold or hot environment Must be able to stand during work shift Shift hours and days off subject to change COVID Vaccination preferred.
   Great benefits, 401K, time off, etc.!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right manufacturing worker 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 manufacturing workers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit manufacturing workers 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 manufacturing worker job on Zippia to find and recruit manufacturing worker 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 workers, 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. 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 manufacturing worker

   Once you've decided on a perfect manufacturing worker 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.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new manufacturing worker. 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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