How to hire an operator trainee

How to hire an operator trainee, step by step

Here's a step-by-step operator trainee hiring guide:

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

What does an operator trainee do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an operator trainee, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or 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 an operator trainee 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 an operator trainee that fits the bill.

   This list presents operator trainee salaries for various positions.

   Type of Operator Trainee	Description	Hourly rate
   Operator Trainee		$13-21
   Handle Machine Operator	A handle machine operator is responsible for operating production machines, conducting preventive maintenance, and ensuring optimal performance to prevent delays in orders or project deliverables. Handle machine operators analyze schematics and blueprints, inspect components for inconsistencies, replace defective parts, and upgrade systems as needed for higher operational efficiency... Show more	$11-17
   Pack Machine Operator	A pack machine operator is an employee who is responsible for operating and maintaining packaging machines to prepare industrial and consumer products for storage or shipment. Pack machine operators observe machine operations to ensure quality and conformity of filled or packaged products are up to standards... Show more	$13-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Hand Tools
   • CDL
   • DOT
   • Minor Maintenance
   • Hazardous Materials
   • OSHA
   • Inventory Control
   • PowerPoint
   • Production Equipment
   • Safety Procedures
   • Data Entry
   • Troubleshoot
   • Process Control

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
   • Operate valves, pumps and extruders.
   • Work oilfield operations as a Jr.
   • Perform LOTO on process equipment and piping.
   • Work with PLC technician on solving PLC issues.
   • Assist crew workers with laying asphalt and smoothing asphalt out.

   More operator trainee duties

3. Make a budget

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

   $36,978yearly

   $17.78 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level operator trainee salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average operator trainee salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Connecticut	$40,539	$19
   2	North Carolina	$40,521	$19
   3	Pennsylvania	$40,215	$19
   4	Texas	$39,925	$19
   5	California	$39,799	$19
   6	Colorado	$39,163	$19
   7	Missouri	$38,754	$19
   8	Indiana	$38,542	$19
   9	North Dakota	$38,212	$18
   10	Wisconsin	$38,015	$18
   11	Illinois	$37,193	$18
   12	Georgia	$36,754	$18
   13	Delaware	$36,687	$18
   14	Massachusetts	$36,349	$17
   15	Ohio	$36,275	$17
   16	Idaho	$36,215	$17
   17	Florida	$35,909	$17
   18	New Mexico	$35,288	$17
   19	Utah	$34,944	$17
   20	New York	$34,939	$17

   Average operator trainee salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	IBM	$57,656	$27.72	3
   2	Halliburton	$48,611	$23.37	8
   3	NorthWestern Energy	$44,129	$21.22	4
   4	JBS USA	$44,085	$21.19	21
   5	Aqua	$43,637	$20.98	6
   6	New York State Restaurant Association	$43,493	$20.91
   7	Calpine	$43,289	$20.81	3
   8	Southern California Edison	$42,959	$20.65
   9	Schreiber Foods	$42,726	$20.54	12
   10	Freeport-McMoRan	$42,640	$20.50	35
   11	Tetra Technologies	$42,606	$20.48
   12	Salt River Project	$42,138	$20.26
   13	Dominion Energy	$42,072	$20.23
   14	City of Boulder	$41,934	$20.16
   15	Energy Transfer	$41,675	$20.04	10
   16	City of Georgetown	$41,443	$19.92
   17	Bunge	$41,429	$19.92	16
   18	Woodard & Curran	$41,322	$19.87	21
   19	Coconino Community College	$41,106	$19.76
   20	Gilbert Chamber of Commerce	$40,911	$19.67

4. Writing an operator trainee job description

   A good operator trainee 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 an operator trainee job description:

   Operator trainee job description example

   Are you inspired by “what's next”? So are we.
   
   When you join the Albemarle team, you contribute to a better tomorrow. You will play a role in powering many of the world's largest and most critical industries, from energy and communications to transportation and electronics. We are putting innovation to work to improve people's lives and we want YOU to be a part of it.
   
   Job Description
   
   Lithium Hydroxide Operator Trainee
   A lithium hydroxide operator trainee is responsible for maintaining safe and efficient operation day-to-day operation of the Lithium Hydroxide plant. The operator will work a Dupont schedule, which consists of a 24 hour rotating schedule. The operator will be a part of team of 4 people.
   Primary Responsibilities:
   Safety
   Develop and foster a safe work environment in and around the facility as we continue on our Journey to Zero.Can understand and implement how to incorporate the life-saving rules into day-to-day operation.Contribute to daily tailgate meetings.Strong hazard recognition abilities.Demonstrate safe work practices including the usage of PPE.Able to wear the correct PPE per the provided chemical matrix.Able to pass a respiratory fit test.Write Safe Work Permits.Must be willing to serve and train on the Emergency Response Team.
   Quality
   Develop and foster an environment where any team member can stop the process if a quality parameter is at risk.Ability to read department SOPs and execute as requested.Package finished product to our final specifications without exception.Monitor in process analytical and make necessary changes to perform additional work.Maintain and promote the expectation of Quality expected in the department.
   Department:
   Support the department in its pursuit to hit daily, monthly and yearly production goals.Maintain a clean plant, completing daily wash-downs and housekeeping as required.Identify and bring safety, quality and productivity improvements to management to drive continuous improvement.Experience with heavy machinery such as forklifts and tractors.Understanding of PFDs, P&IDs, and basic chemical manufacturing equipment.Ability to identify equipment based on P&IDs and locate that piece of equipment in the field.Basic understanding of Microsoft Office products, SAP, and Albemarle intranet resources.Contribute to department KPI tracking and action plan.Ability to troubleshoot, and drive issues to a solution.Physically active. Able to work on your feet for 12 hours, spanning multiple floors. Able to lift 50 lbs at one time.Train and pass the TRB (Training Review Board) within 6 months of hire date. This includes a written and a field test along with questions from the Training review board.Make rounds per rounds checklist checking tank levels, pressures, perform flushes etc.Monitor the use and inventory raw materials and packaging materials.Perform light mechanical work. Changing valves, gaskets, checking fluids in equipment etc.Perform LOTO on equipment.Operate the plant using the DCS.Perform Operational PM's per the maintenance schedule and SOP's.
   Requirements
   High School Diploma or GED5 years chemical experience preferred.Willing to work over time to cover vacation and call outs.
   Choose to unlock your full POTENTIAL. Apply today.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit operators trainee, 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 operator trainee

   Once you've selected the best operator trainee 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 also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been 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 an operator trainee?