How to hire a metal sorter

How to hire a metal sorter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step metal sorter hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the metal sorter you need to hire. Certain metal sorter 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?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect metal sorter also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of metal sorters.

   Type of Metal Sorter	Description	Hourly rate
   Metal Sorter		$10-18
   Sorter	A sorter is responsible for categorizing items after the production process. Sorters duties include utilizing factory equipment to sort products efficiently, monitor and exclude defective items, maintain a clean and organized production area, assist in loading and unloading items, perform repairs on malfunctioning equipment, and examine inventories requesting necessary supplies, and adhering to the safety protocols and regulatory procedures... Show more	$11-18

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Stainless Steel
   • Sort Metals
   • Non-Ferrous Metals
   • Torches
   • Unload Trucks

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate a forklift and other equipment such as shears, blow torches, chop see, and shaker tables.
   • Manufacture extruded aluminum evaporator coils, condenser coils, and other products for heat transfer applications.
   • Process mail using automate mail processing equipment or manual methods of sortation and distribution.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, metal sorters' average salary in florida is 30% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level metal sorters earn 42% less than senior-level metal sorters.
   • Certifications. A metal sorter 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 metal sorter's salary.

   Average metal sorter salary

   $14.18hourly

   $29,488 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level metal sorter salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

4. Writing a metal sorter job description

   A metal sorter 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 metal sorter job description:

   Metal sorter job description example

   it's what's inside that counts
   
   _______________________________
   
   There's more to CMC than our steel products and the buildings, structures, and roads they go into. At CMC, it's the people inside our recycling centers, fabrication plants, steel mills and offices that make us who we are as a company. Our success comes from finding, retaining, and supporting the highest quality talent by offering:
   
   * Competitive compensation
   * Advancement opportunities
   * Training
   * Paid time off
   * Low-cost medical, dental, vision
   * Company-paid life and disability
   * Company matching 401(k) plan
   * Employee stock purchase plan
   
   Why This Job
   
   CMC provides an excellent opportunity to learn the steel industry and grow in your career. Whether you will spend your day in an office cubicle, operating a crane or running the melt shop at one of our mills, at CMC, you'll get the training and support from your team that you need to excel in your role and reach your full potential.
   
   What You'll Do
   
   * Maintains work area and equipment in a clean orderly condition and follows safety regulations
   * Operates production equipment in accordance with established procedures and guidelines
   * Participates in the CMC Safety Programs and proactively upholds the CMC Safety Culture
   * Any other tasks as assigned by supervisor
   
   What You'll Need
   
   * Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
   * Ability to work in all weather conditions
   * Experience with metal sorting a plus but not required; to include the ability to distinguish between different metals and/or other materials for grading purposes and recognizing safety hazards
   * Must be able to frequently lift 25 lbs or more to include carrying or pushing objects up to 100ft
   * Must be able to perform the physical task of the job assigned; to include climbing, bending, stooping, kneeling, and crouching
   * Must be able to stand for significant lengths of time in an industrial environment with exposure to all elements of weather
   
   Your Education
   
   * High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent experience preferred
   
   We are Commercial Metals Company, a Fortune 500 company with a family feel that's already part of your life. Our steel products have been supporting structures in more than 20 countries for over 100 years. And the secret to our success? We've built our legacy by assembling a team of innovators and doers to tackle some of the most challenging problems facing our world over the last 100 years - but we're just getting started.
   
   If you're ready to reimagine ways to make the steel industry more sustainable, reinforce the bridges and roadways connecting our communities, and do meaningful work, you're ready to join CMC. Apply today and start moving your career - and our world - forward.
   
   CMC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, citizenship, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, or other status protected by federal, state or local law.
   
   Current Employee? Click here to apply.
   
   Current Employees Apply
   
   Click here to apply.
   
   Nearest Major Market: Dallas
   
   Nearest Secondary Market: Fort Worth

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find metal sorters 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 metal sorter job on Zippia to find and recruit metal sorter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit metal sorters, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up 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 metal sorter

   Once you have selected a candidate for the metal sorter 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 metal sorter. 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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