How to hire a mill control operator

How to hire a mill control operator, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your mill control operator 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 mill control operator 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a mill control operator to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a mill control operator that fits the bill.

   This list presents mill control operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Mill Control Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Mill Control Operator	Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate machines that cut, shape, and form metal and plastic materials or pieces.	$14-24
   Head Operator	A head operator performs varied duties and responsibilities for an organization. These include striving to achieve the highest safety level with company safety policies and procedures, implementing new CRM platforms for various agents and channels, examining and monitoring the use of the new CRM, and overseeing business case analysis... Show more	$37-116
   Set-Up Operator	A machine set-up operator operates machinery such as grinders, bores, and mills. They prepare machines to be used by organizing tools, setting valve directions, sharpening tools as needed, positioning tools, and conducting regular maintenance.	$13-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CNC
   • Reconciliations
   • Journal Entries
   • Internal Controls
   • Paper Mill
   • GAAP
   • Financial Statements
   • Financial Analysis

   Responsibilities:

   • Coordinate and manage annual physical inventory as well as inventory valuation in accordance with Canadian GAAP.
   • Reorganize the mill's books to follow GAAP.
   • Operate okuma lathes, operate horizontal machining center
   • Monitor and maintain audio and video transmissions according to the program/commercial schedule and in compliance with technical specifications and FCC guidelines.
   • Work on parsing the XML files using DOM/SAX parsers.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, mill control operators' average salary in kentucky is 26% less than in oregon.
   • Seniority. Entry-level mill control operators 40% less than senior-level mill control operators.
   • Certifications. A mill control 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 mill control operator's salary.

   Average mill control operator salary

   $39,206yearly

   $18.85 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level mill control operator salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a mill control operator job description

   A good mill control operator 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 mill control operator job description:

   Mill control operator job description example

   Job DescriptionDescription:

   Pellet Mill Operation and Dryer Regulation 100%

   • Operate and adjust four pellet mills, and regular dryer inlet and outlet temperatures per specifications, overseeing and monitoring bin levels. 50%
   • Regulate material mix to obtain the optimal pellet moisture and pellet density ratio, keeping pellet moisture under specified limits per compacted cubic foot by communicating the ratio of fresh and old sawdust and wet and dry shavings 15%
   • Troubleshooting equipment malfunctions, spot fires, and hot bearings 5%
   • Maintain pellet mill feed rates and adjust or change pellet mill rolls/dies accordingly 5%
   • Complete a daily report detailing temperature readings, dried material moisture, and perform density checks per specifications, and the average for the day, total mill hours, natural gas hours and estimate tonnage 20%
   • Additional accountabilities as required 5%

   
   

   Requirements:

   • High School diploma or GED required
   • One to two years production experience in an industrial setting highly preferred
   • Requires working knowledge of all aspects of the production process
   • Must be able to pass the company forklift certification
   • Must be able to lift up to 80 lbs waist high and stand for up to 12 hours per day
   • Requires ability to use catwalks and climb ladders that connect catwalks up to 60 feet high and according to safety standards
   • Requires mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills
   • Requires the ability to do simple math calculations

   Benefits:

   • Annual Bonus
   • Pellet purchase program
   • 2 weeks paid time off + 2 floating holidays
   • Full benefits – Medical, Vision & Dental
   • 401k plan with 100% match up to 5% of employee contributions with 100% immediate vesting
   • Lignetics SWAG gear to include an annual pair of work boots & other PPE

   
   

   Job Type : Full time

   Shift Schedule: Day shift

   Salary : $17 - $20 / hr

   
   

   ** Pre-employment background check and drug screen required.

   
   
   

   PI193974369

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit mill control operators, 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 mill control operator

   Once you've selected the best mill control 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 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.

   To prepare for the new mill control operator 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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