How to hire a pack out operator

How to hire a pack out operator, step by step

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

What does a pack out operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the pack out operator you need to hire. Certain pack out 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 pack out 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 pack out operator that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of pack out operator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Pack Out Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Pack Out Operator		$12-20
   Inspector Packer	An inspector packer is an employee who works in the warehouse to stack and pile goods into their correct containers and prepare them for shipment using various equipment. Inspector packers must ensure that the packing of goods follows a specific set of instructions while inspecting the boxes are damage free... Show more	$12-18
   Lead Operator/Machine Operator	A Lead Operator or an Industrial Machinery Mechanic is responsible for creating, installing, and repairing different types of machinery. This person does the adjustment and maintenance of machines as well as the industrial production and distribution of types of equipment and other systems... Show more	$13-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pallets
   • Safety Procedures
   • Quality Standards
   • Pallet Jack
   • Basic Math
   • Quality Checks
   • Math
   • Safety Regulations
   • GMP
   • RF
   • FDA
   • Quality Products
   • Assembly Line
   • HACCP

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Clean and sanitize equipment in accordance to GMP standards.
   • Maintain safety GMP practices while meeting and exceeding production goals also quality.
   • Carry out various ongoing duties to comply with OSCEA and FDA standards, maintain a safe and sterile work environment
   • Calculate dimensions and tolerances using knowledge of mathematics and measuring instruments.
   • Perform repair and preventive maintenance on machinery including cleaning, oiling and adjusting.

   More pack out operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your pack out operator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A pack out operator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, pack out operators' average salary in wyoming is 49% less than in wisconsin.
   • Seniority. Entry-level pack out operators earn 40% less than senior-level pack out operators.
   • Certifications. A pack out operator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a pack out operator's salary.

   Average pack out operator salary

   $15.97hourly

   $33,217 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level pack out operator salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average pack out operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Wisconsin	$41,910	$20
   2	Minnesota	$36,135	$17
   3	Oregon	$36,064	$17
   4	Idaho	$35,921	$17
   5	Ohio	$34,803	$17
   6	Missouri	$34,546	$17
   7	Pennsylvania	$34,297	$16
   8	Massachusetts	$34,259	$16
   9	Michigan	$33,959	$16
   10	Delaware	$33,430	$16
   11	California	$32,854	$16
   12	Nevada	$32,681	$16
   13	Utah	$31,894	$15
   14	Florida	$31,744	$15
   15	New Jersey	$31,578	$15
   16	Arizona	$31,546	$15
   17	Kentucky	$31,174	$15
   18	Georgia	$30,892	$15
   19	Mississippi	$30,691	$15
   20	Tennessee	$30,500	$15

   Average pack out operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Dairy Farmers of America	$45,493	$21.87	161
   2	Foster Farms	$42,534	$20.45	13
   3	Land O'Lakes	$41,563	$19.98	64
   4	Cargill	$39,165	$18.83	69
   5	Ardent Mills	$38,553	$18.54	7
   6	Ocean Spray Cranberries	$38,453	$18.49	8
   7	United States Gypsum Company Inc	$37,698	$18.12
   8	Oil-Dri Corporation of America	$36,367	$17.48	5
   9	Atkore International	$36,293	$17.45	15
   10	Westinghouse Appliances Australia	$36,245	$17.43
   11	US Foods	$35,829	$17.23	18
   12	USG	$35,726	$17.18	13
   13	Ensign-Bickford Industries	$35,568	$17.10	3
   14	On Demand Technologies	$35,454	$17.05	1
   15	Softpath System	$34,130	$16.41
   16	UTEX Industries	$33,886	$16.29	3
   17	Nature's Path Foods	$33,790	$16.25
   18	BASF	$33,074	$15.90	6
   19	Lactalis	$33,026	$15.88	30
   20	Evenflo	$32,925	$15.83

4. Writing a pack out operator job description

   A pack out 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. Below, you can find an example of a pack out operator job description:

   Pack out operator job description example

   Monday - Friday, some Saturdays10:00 pm - 6:30 am$12.00 per hour ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

   • Responsible for safe operation of his workplace within the shift
   • Follows safe performance of all jobs of their areas within the shift
   • Ensures in-time safety issues communication to the shift manager/ packaging lead
   • Is authorized to stop any works in the factory if they may cause risk or hazard to people, plant, and product safety
   • Responsible for hygiene and environment conditions of their area within the shift
   • Complies with hygiene norms, procedures, and instructions implementation within the factory.
   • Communicates issues in case of product contamination to the packaging lead/shift manager
   • Responsible for product quality and technological standards conformity of their area during the shift
   • Executes all quality controls and reporting necessary to his workplace.
   • Ensures in-time communication of quality problems and their possible solutions to the packaging lead/ shift manager
   • Collaborates with quality in product disposition in case of deviation.
   • Responsible to be at the assigned workplace on time every shift. Responsible of operating his area of responsibility and keeping a clean safe environment.
   • Communicates with team members to assure smooth startups, process performance, product changeovers, shift handover.
   • Contributes to the creation and functioning of the united and well-trained shift team.
   • Responsible for conducting him/herself with morals and ethics.
   • Create the atmosphere of trust, teamwork, mutual respect
   • Start, stop, run at standard rates Packaging equipment.
   • Maintain and clean the packaging area.
   • Support Maintenance during planned and unplanned downtimes. Build product according to specification, troubleshoot issues when they arise and escalate if necessary.

   JOB REQUIREMENTS

   • Climb ladders and bins
   • Maneuver in tight spaces
   • Ability to lift 50+ lbs. repetitively
   • Differentiate between colors
   • High school diploma or equivalent preferred

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right pack out operator for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with pack out 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 pack out operator

   Once you've found the pack out 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 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 a pack out operator?