How to hire a mold machine operator

How to hire a mold machine operator, step by step

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

What does a mold machine operator do?

Post a mold machine operator job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a mold machine 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 mold machine operator that fits the bill.

   This list presents mold machine operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Mold Machine Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Mold Machine Operator	Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate machines that cut, shape, and form metal and plastic materials or pieces.	$12-19
   Assembly Operator	In a manufacturing setting, an assembly operator is in charge of assembling materials using hands or tools. Their responsibilities include following assembly guidelines, packing items in containers and boxes, operating tools and equipment, and developing strategies to optimize operations... Show more	$12-18
   Operator	Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them... Show more	$12-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Minor Maintenance
   • Quality Checks
   • Hand Tools
   • Troubleshoot
   • Safety Rules
   • Grinders
   • Math
   • Quality Standards
   • Production Reports
   • Dexterity
   • Support Equipment
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • PPE
   • Product Specifications

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Require molding expect rate of part producing and achieving ISO QualityStandards.
   • Used basic math skills to count parts throw out the day.
   • Set up and run over 100 parts per shift.
   • Die cast the cables for weed eaters, lawn mowers, and boats.
   • Inspect complete product to match QA requirements.
   • Set up and operate CNC chuck lathe and trill/tap centers.

   More mold machine operator duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, mold machine operators' average salary in florida is 42% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level mold machine operators 38% less than senior-level mold machine operators.
   • Certifications. A mold machine 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 mold machine operator's salary.

   Average mold machine operator salary

   $15.47hourly

   $32,186 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level mold machine operator salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average mold machine operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$38,459	$18
   2	Minnesota	$37,511	$18
   3	Maine	$35,586	$17
   4	Utah	$34,476	$17
   5	Colorado	$34,368	$17
   6	Wisconsin	$32,841	$16
   7	Nebraska	$32,776	$16
   8	Massachusetts	$32,532	$16
   9	Illinois	$31,960	$15
   10	New York	$31,412	$15
   11	Texas	$30,594	$15
   12	Michigan	$30,583	$15
   13	Virginia	$30,322	$15
   14	North Carolina	$30,272	$15
   15	Arkansas	$29,978	$14
   16	Indiana	$27,838	$13
   17	Georgia	$27,771	$13
   18	Tennessee	$25,669	$12
   19	South Carolina	$25,090	$12

   Average mold machine operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	BD	$41,312	$19.86	12
   2	Amcor	$40,547	$19.49	147
   3	Reyes Holdings	$39,805	$19.14	5
   4	Sonoco	$39,696	$19.08	7
   5	Haemonetics	$39,259	$18.87	1
   6	Neptune Technology Group	$39,223	$18.86
   7	Johnson Controls	$39,108	$18.80	15
   8	Biomerics	$38,232	$18.38	12
   9	Teledyne Technologies Incorporated	$38,063	$18.30	4
   10	Pactiv	$37,964	$18.25	20
   11	VisionCorp Rep	$37,538	$18.05	4
   12	Direct Source	$37,084	$17.83
   13	Barry Callebaut Group	$36,851	$17.72	8
   14	Charlotte Pipe and Foundry	$35,630	$17.13	3
   15	Mohawk Industries	$35,563	$17.10	18
   16	Flag	$35,103	$16.88
   17	PLS	$34,891	$16.77
   18	Berry Global	$34,628	$16.65
   19	Niagara Bottling	$34,239	$16.46	41
   20	Albertsons	$34,122	$16.40

4. Writing a mold machine operator job description

   A mold machine operator 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a mold machine operator job description:

   Mold machine operator job description example

   Overtime available-up to 60 hours $$$

   If interested please email or call

   JOB DUTIES:

   - Responsible for operating, troubleshooting, diagnosing and repairing filling and packing machine, batching equipment, and other plant equipment

   - Monitor all running equipment to assure normal running parameters, set points, etc.

   - Knowledge of equipment in bottle conveyors, man-lifts, pallet jacks, forklifts, package conveyors, line lube, water processing, electrical, case coders, bottle coders, and compressed air systems, etc.

   - Perform quality checks on products

   - Participate in execution of preventive, predictive and reactive maintenance on machinery

   - Perform changeovers to include changeover parts set-up, planning and improvement - Conduct cleaning of filling and packing machines and related equipment

   SHIFT:

   AM Shift Machine Operators (Production Techs): 2-2-3 schedule (5am-5pm)

   PM Shift Machine Operators (Production Techs): 2-2-3 schedule (5pm-5am) .50 cent shift differential on nights!

   AM Machine Operators- 5 days per week 3am-3pm

   PM Machine Operators- 5 days per week 3pm-3am

   PM Machine Operators- Monday-Saturday 5pm-5am

   About Aerotek:

   We know that a company's success starts with its employees. We also know that an individual's success starts with the right career opportunity. As a Best of Staffing Client and Talent leader, Aerotek's people-focused approach yields competitive advantage for our clients and rewarding careers for our contract employees. Since 1983, Aerotek has grown to become a leader in recruiting and staffing services. With more than 250 non-franchised offices, Aerotek's 8,000 internal employees serve more than 300,000 contract employees and 18,000 clients every year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in talent solutions. Learn more at

   The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with mold machine operator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of 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 mold machine operator

   Once you've found the mold machine 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.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new mold machine operator. 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a mold machine operator?