How to hire an oven operator

How to hire an oven operator, step by step

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

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The oven operator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

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   Hiring the perfect oven 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 oven operators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Oven Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Oven Operator	Food and tobacco processing workers operate equipment that mixes, cooks, or processes ingredients used in the manufacture of food and tobacco products.	$12-20
   Manufacturing Operator	A manufacturing operator is primarily responsible for overseeing and controlling the performance of machines and equipment, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around monitoring production operations, conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the accuracy and quality of machinery, performing corrective measures and adjustments as needed, and assessing the quality of finished products, all while adhering to deadlines and goals... Show more	$12-20
   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:

   • Safety Procedures
   • Food Safety
   • Safety Rules
   • Product Specifications
   • GMP
   • HACCP
   • PPE
   • Production Schedules
   • Quality Products
   • Quality Checks
   • Hoists
   • Production Data
   • Safety Guidelines
   • Equipment Operation

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Use automate systems and RF units to pull, put away and load customer product, in addition to managing inventory
   • Execute GMP and QC procedures ensuring QA objectives.
   • Maintain QCCP log sheets as per QA protocol.
   • Utilize HACCP systems and GMPs to create sanitary product.
   • Follow all company and OSHA require safety policies and procedures.
   • Receive safety training on all equipment and machines by OSHA certify trainers.

   More oven operator duties

3. Make a budget

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

   $16.47hourly

   $34,253 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level oven operator salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average oven operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$39,857	$19
   2	Michigan	$38,995	$19
   3	Rhode Island	$38,822	$19
   4	Massachusetts	$38,683	$19
   5	Illinois	$38,089	$18
   6	Ohio	$37,973	$18
   7	Iowa	$37,622	$18
   8	Minnesota	$37,590	$18
   9	Kansas	$36,793	$18
   10	Texas	$36,587	$18
   11	Pennsylvania	$35,754	$17
   12	Arkansas	$35,547	$17
   13	Wisconsin	$35,091	$17
   14	Utah	$34,453	$17
   15	Alabama	$32,988	$16
   16	Missouri	$32,231	$16
   17	Florida	$32,123	$15
   18	Idaho	$31,125	$15
   19	Georgia	$31,037	$15
   20	Indiana	$30,948	$15

   Average oven operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Marzetti	$43,367	$20.85
   2	Cargill	$41,622	$20.01	65
   3	ABB	$40,839	$19.63	43
   4	Post Holdings	$40,465	$19.45	48
   5	Rich Products	$40,379	$19.41	9
   6	Bimbo Bakeries	$40,154	$19.30
   7	Flowers Foods	$39,873	$19.17	14
   8	Lunds & Byerlys	$39,581	$19.03	5
   9	Aspen Aerogels	$37,330	$17.95
   10	Eaton	$37,209	$17.89	46
   11	Hormel Foods	$36,094	$17.35	5
   12	Michael Foods	$34,926	$16.79
   13	LAUNCH Technical Workforce Solutions	$34,820	$16.74
   14	Workforce Strategies, Inc.	$34,610	$16.64	7
   15	Hearthside Food Solutions	$34,353	$16.52
   16	Builders FirstSource	$34,119	$16.40	4
   17	Aerotek	$34,068	$16.38	502
   18	Integrated Services	$34,000	$16.35	6
   19	Buddig	$33,859	$16.28
   20	ManpowerGroup	$33,800	$16.25	166

4. Writing an oven operator job description

   An oven 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 an oven operator job description:

   Oven operator job description example

   Are you a night owl looking for a sweet new job? Doherty Staffing Solutions is currently partnering with a Dianne's Fine Desserts, a leading dessert production company in Le Center, MN. We are seeking candidates for Night Oven Operators on 3rd shift. Compensation for these temp-to-hire opportunities is $19.00 per hour. Interested? Get more details below!

   Company Description
   Dianne's Fine Desserts has been serving up inspiring, mouth-watering and memorable desserts for over 40 years. This company is a leading provider of premium frozen thaw-and-serve desserts to the foodservice and in-store retail industries. Their product line includes cheesecakes, layer cakes, pies and tarts, brownies/bars and individual minis and specialty desserts.

   Night Oven Operator Main Responsibilities:

   • Bake products according to established standards (i.e. time, baking temperature, and internal temperature)
   • Maximize oven use to ensure oven is loaded to capacity and filled at all times if product is available
   • Manual loading and unloading of ovens
   • Monitor the operation of ovens and notify the Maintenance Supervisor or Lead when problems are detected
   • Ensure racks used are labeled properly with the correct product information

   Night Oven Operator Key Requirements:

   • 6 months of related food production work experience
   • Must be able to stand for the full 10-hour shift
   • Must be able to lift 40+ pounds with or without reasonable accommodations
   • Must be willing to work overtime if needed

   Enjoy a SWEET career and weekly paychecks in this role! Click APPLY NOW to complete our mobile-friendly, online application. For questions or further information on the Night Oven Operator jobs, please call our on-site Recruitment Team directly at .

   Referrals wanted; earn unlimited $100 rewards!
   Download our mobile app for iOS & Android devices

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right oven operator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with oven operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit oven operators who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your oven operator job on Zippia to find and recruit oven operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with oven 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.

   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 oven operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the oven operator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   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 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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