How to hire a mixer operator

How to hire a mixer operator, step by step

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

What does a mixer operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the mixer operator you need to hire. Certain mixer operator 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 mixer operator 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of mixer operators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Mixer Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Mixer Operator		$13-21
   Mixer	In general, a mixer prepares dry chemicals and raw materials and combines them for use in safety boot manufacturing. Mixers provide training to work with chemicals under the regulations set by OSHA... Show more	$12-20
   Production Operator	A production operator is responsible for handling and monitoring manufacturing machines in a factory or similar establishment, ensuring that everything is running smoothly and according to schedule. Aside from assisting with the processing and packaging of goods, a production operator must also conduct necessary inspections to the machine or equipment that they are using to make sure that it is in good condition and is safe to use... Show more	$12-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Math
   • Food Safety
   • Cleanliness
   • Production Schedules
   • Basic Math
   • Mixers
   • Safety Rules
   • Quality Standards
   • GMP
   • Safety Procedures
   • CIP
   • PPE
   • Product Quality
   • Quality Checks

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Ensure HACCP, PPE, GMP's and specific procedures are followed at all times.
   • Follow instructions for tank preparation, and PPE.
   • Train to work with chemicals under OSHA regulations.
   • Unload trucks, charm testing, CIP milk tankers, computer.
   • Work in coordination with QA in testing lots of finish goods in qualifying products.
   • Ensure that food products are processes and prepare by following standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

   More mixer operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your mixer operator job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A mixer operator 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 mixer operator in Georgia may be lower than in Maine, and an entry-level mixer operator usually earns less than a senior-level mixer operator. Additionally, a mixer operator 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 mixer operator salary

   $36,250yearly

   $17.43 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level mixer operator salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average mixer operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Illinois	$44,192	$21
   2	Minnesota	$41,155	$20
   3	Ohio	$40,204	$19
   4	Wisconsin	$39,458	$19
   5	Iowa	$39,349	$19
   6	New York	$39,259	$19
   7	Michigan	$37,970	$18
   8	California	$34,422	$17
   9	South Carolina	$34,282	$16
   10	Washington	$32,668	$16
   11	Nebraska	$32,464	$16
   12	North Carolina	$32,325	$16
   13	Utah	$31,800	$15
   14	Florida	$29,062	$14
   15	Texas	$28,043	$13

   Average mixer operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	H.B. Fuller	$44,680	$21.48	19
   2	Kemps	$44,268	$21.28	6
   3	Dairy Farmers of America	$43,411	$20.87	134
   4	Ventura Foods	$43,192	$20.77	8
   5	Rich Products	$42,897	$20.62	11
   6	McCormick & Company	$42,493	$20.43	1
   7	Axalta	$42,209	$20.29	2
   8	Post Holdings	$41,808	$20.10	44
   9	Nation Pizza	$41,628	$20.01
   10	Land O'Lakes	$41,301	$19.86	65
   11	Vanee Foods	$41,280	$19.85
   12	Flowers Foods	$41,236	$19.82	19
   13	Bimbo Bakeries	$41,053	$19.74
   14	Fortune Brands Home & Security	$40,929	$19.68	4
   15	Henkel	$40,801	$19.62	51
   16	Hormel Foods	$40,596	$19.52	5
   17	Sherwin-Williams	$40,575	$19.51	53
   18	Conagra Brands	$40,492	$19.47	12
   19	Hughes	$40,431	$19.44	8
   20	Cargill	$40,171	$19.31	60

4. Writing a mixer operator job description

   A good mixer 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 mixer operator job description:

   Mixer operator job description example

   2nd shift

   Essential Functions

   · Assemble and stage all equipment to correct specification for product being produced

   · Disassemble all equipment for cleaning when required

   · Measure specified amounts of ingredients into food contact containers to be dumped into carts, slurry kettles or mixers

   · Annotate the added and/or weighed ingredients on “Raw Ingredient Worksheet” or respective document

   · Open and lift bags/boxes of ingredients and dump into carts, slurry kettle or grinder

   · Push carts full of product onto dumper, scale or cooler

   · Operate control panel to mixers, dumpers and Stephan micro cutter

   · Monitor batch to ensure correct temperature and weight to properly mix the product

   · Obtain sample from each batch of product for Quality Control to evaluate

   · Monitor equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation

   · Notify management immediately of any issues that may arise

   · Responsible for maintaining excellent quality, sanitation, safety and production standards

   · Maintain accurate paperwork documentation at all time

   · Any other activities as directed by a supervisor and/or manager

   Qualifications

   · High School Diploma or equivalent preferred but not required

   · 3-5 years previous experience – preferably in canning operation or other food experience

   · Ability to read, write and communicate in English

   Company DescriptionVanee Foods produces a variety of canned food items for the foodservice industry. Its products include corned beef hash, sloppy joe, boned chicken with broth, macaroni and cheese, beef taco filling, chili sauce, dumplings with broth, clam chowder and gravies. Vanee distributes its foods through a network of food brokers and wholesalers throughout the United States. Vanee Foods was established in 1950 and is located in Berkeley, Ill. The company has an 80,000 square foot canning operation, 180,000 square foot soup base, high-speed canning plant and a 130,000 square foot distribution facility.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find mixer 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 mixer operator job on Zippia to find and recruit mixer operator 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 mixer operators, 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.

   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 mixer operator

   Once you've found the mixer operator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   To prepare for the new mixer 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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How much does it cost to hire a mixer operator?