How to hire a plant control operator

How to hire a plant control operator, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

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

   Here's a comparison of plant control operator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Plant Control Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Plant Control Operator	Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers control the systems that generate and distribute electric power.	$17-31
   Power Plant Operator	A power plant operator is primarily in charge of controlling and maintaining machinery that generates and distributes electricity. Their responsibilities typically include monitoring charts and sensors, gathering and analyzing data, detecting errors and inconsistencies, maintaining daily logs and records of all progress, and performing adjustments as needed... Show more	$16-32
   Control Room Operator	A control room operator is a professional who works in the control room of a power plant to monitor the operations of the plant as well as ensures that everything is properly working. By using computer controls, control room operators must monitor and maintain plant equipment and indicators for proper operation... Show more	$14-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Control Room
   • Plant Operations
   • Financial Analysis
   • Financial Performance
   • ERP
   • Gas Plant
   • Financial Statements
   • Fixed Assets
   • Sarbanes-Oxley
   • Balance Sheet
   • Variance Analysis
   • Payroll
   • GAAP
   • Internal Audit

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Coordinate and manage annual physical inventory as well as inventory valuation in accordance with Canadian GAAP.
   • Implement Sarbanes-Oxley compliance with no significant gaps.
   • Administer compliance of Sarbanes-Oxley requirements at plant level.
   • Lead operations finance team to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting and costing consistent with internal policy and SOX requirements.
   • Lead operations finance team to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting and costing consistent with internal policy and SOX requirements.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, plant control operators' average salary in florida is 32% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level plant control operators earn 45% less than senior-level plant control operators.
   • Certifications. A plant control 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 plant control operator's salary.

   Average plant control operator salary

   $49,393yearly

   $23.75 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level plant control operator salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing a plant control operator job description

   A good plant control 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 plant control operator job description:

   Plant control operator job description example

   $3K sign-on bonus offered for new employees in this position. This job pays between $24.78 to $31.88 per hour.
   Arcosa Lightweight is searching for a Control Process Operator (Burner) for our Boulder, CO plant. In this role you will support a positive safety culture and support activities and staff within a 24/7 aggregate environment that is regulated by MSHA safety standards. As a Control Process Operator (Burner) you will maintain production through proper temperature, process speed and components. Arcosa Lightweight is a leading producer and distributor in the Western and Southwestern U.S. of lightweight and natural aggregates, including expanded shale and clay, crushed stone, sand and gravel, asphalt rock, and other products. What You'll Do: • Comply with all industry safety rules, procedures and applicable government regulations • Operate equipment including, but not limited to the Kilns, Coolers and Finish screens. • Monitor all equipment in the plant, such as temperatures, pressures and amp gauges interpreting gauges, charts and instruments to make adjustments as necessary. • Operate kilns by making necessary adjustments to the rate of fuel flow, speed, draft and other process variables. • Coordinate activities of operating personnel. Has the authority to assign routine and non-routine work. • Answer incoming calls in a professional and courteous manner and direct calls as needed. • Collect and run process samples with various instruments and devices. • Work in cooperation with Lab personnel in the effort to produce quality products. This may include cross training and running samples with Lab personnel to effectively learn the chemistry of clinker and cement products and by-products. • Account for personnel and equipment safety, production rates, emissions and other process variables as assigned. • Maintain accurate records of the kilns and their auxiliary equipment. • Make decisions, troubleshoot problems and assist the Production Manager. • Be involved in Safety committee initiatives. • Perform other tasks as assigned by Lead Operator and the Production Manager What You'll Need: • Prompt, regular and predictable attendance • The ability to stand, stoop, bend, lift, walk, climb stairs, ladders and catwalks up to 60 feet as required and lift weights up to 60 pounds. • The ability to work in a varied outdoor environment (cold, hot, dry, dusty, rainy). • Ability to multi-task and make sound decisions in a very fast paced and demanding environment. • Computer knowledge of Windows, Excel, Microsoft and Wonderware Applications, and ability to learn new software. • Strong basic mathematics skills: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. • High School Diploma or equivalent, Related bachelor's degree is a plus. • Experience in cement production and knowledge of the kiln process is preferred. Local site Incentive Plan targeted at 5% Our Benefits Include: • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
   • Life Insurance
   • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
   • 401K with Employer Match
   • Paid vacation and sick time
   • 11 paid company holidays
   • Tuition Reimbursement
   • Health & Wellness Programs
   • Flexible Spending Accounts
   • Employee Discount Programs
   • Professional Training & Development Programs
   • Career Advancement Opportunities - We like to promote from within!

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5. Post your job

   To find the right plant control 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 plant control operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit plant control 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 plant control operator job on Zippia to find and recruit plant control operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting plant control operators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 plant control operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the plant control 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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