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How to hire a mill supervisor

Mill supervisor hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring mill supervisors in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a mill supervisor is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new mill supervisor to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a mill supervisor, step by step

To hire a mill supervisor, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a mill supervisor:

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

    First, determine the employments status of the mill supervisor you need to hire. Certain mill supervisor 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?

    A mill supervisor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, mill supervisors 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 mill supervisor salaries for various roles:

    Type of Mill SupervisorDescriptionHourly rate
    Mill Supervisor$17-39
    Quality Assurance SupervisorA quality assurance supervisor oversees and leads the quality control operations within a manufacturing plant or similar establishment. They are primarily responsible for crafting and implementing policies that prioritize the efficiency of products or services, supervising and evaluating the performances of the workforce, and setting standards and procedures that align not just with the goals of the company, but the national and international level of production standards... Show more$22-45
    Shift Production SupervisorA shift production supervisor is in charge of overseeing business operations, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies to reach production standards and production targets, supervising and assessing staff performance, delegating tasks, managing schedules, and prioritizing customer satisfaction... Show more$10-25
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Payroll
    • Safety Procedures
    • OSHA
    • Customer Satisfaction
    • CNC
    • Mill Operations
    • MSHA
    • Inventory Control
    • Performance Reviews
    • Product Quality
    • Production Schedules
    • Direct Supervision
    • Extrusion
    • Mill Equipment
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Schedule and prioritize jobs, managing inventories to meet customer demand using FIFO manufacturing disciplines.
    • Load lathe with programs and proper specs, same with ban see and CNC.
    • Set up and operate CNC machinery as required.
    • Schedule all Extruders to efficiently meet customer shipping dates.
    • Develop end user documentation and training material for modify and newly develop loan modification software for SQL team.
    • Involve in implementing a new ERP system (Dejawint) with real time labor tracking.
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, mill supervisors' average salary in florida is 49% less than in wyoming.
    • Seniority. Entry-level mill supervisors 56% less than senior-level mill supervisors.
    • Certifications. A mill supervisor 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 supervisor's salary.

    Average mill supervisor salary

    $54,669yearly

    $26.28 hourly rate

    Entry-level mill supervisor salary
    $36,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 29, 2025
  4. Writing a mill supervisor job description

    A job description for a mill supervisor 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 mill supervisor job description:

    Mill supervisor job description example

    Besse Forest Products Group , headquartered in Gladstone, MI, is one of the leading producers of hardwood lumber, veneer, and plywood in North America operating four sawmills, one lumber concentration yard, three veneer mills, one plywood plant, and employs over 350 people.

    We are currently seeking a Hardwood Mill Supervisor for our mill located in Gladstone, Michigan.

    SUMMARY

    The Hardwood Mill Supervisor is responsible for overseeing mill production, maintenance, employee safety, and maximizing company profits.

    Key Responsibilities:

    • Inspect hardwood products to verify conformance to specifications and grade
    • Verify, correct, setup, and adjust woodworking machinery as needed
    • Interpret company policies and procedures to workers and enforce same
    • Communicate with other supervisors and management to achieve company standard and production requirements.
    • Suggest changes in working conditions and use of equipment to increase efficiency
    • Initiate or suggest plans to motivate workers to achieve company standards and goals
    • Analyze and resolve work problems or assist workers in solving work problems
    • Have a working knowledge of all woodworking equipment used and activities performed by employees
    • Model company core values
    • Maintain a safe work environment

    Requirements:

    • College degree or prior supervisory experience preferred in lumber or veneer industry
    • Comprehensive knowledge of lumber or veneer mill machine centers
    • Knowledge or hardwood lumber or veneer grading is preferred
    • Excellent problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills
    • Ability and desire to advance to higher level of supervision

    Besse Forest Products Group offers an excellent benefits and compensation package which includes: paid holidays, paid vacation, health insurance, prescription drug plan, flex spending account, 401(k) with employer contribution, and life insurance.

  5. Post your job

    To find mill supervisors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any mill supervisors they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level mill supervisors with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your mill supervisor job on Zippia to find and recruit mill supervisor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit mill supervisors, 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 mill supervisor

    Once you've decided on a perfect mill supervisor 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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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How much does it cost to hire a mill supervisor?

Recruiting mill supervisors involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $54,669 per year for a mill supervisor, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for mill supervisors in the US typically range between $17 and $39 an hour.

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