How to hire a plant engineer

How to hire a plant engineer, step by step

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

What does a plant engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your plant engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a plant engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A plant engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, plant engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents plant engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Plant Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Plant Engineer	Industrial production managers oversee the daily operations of manufacturing and related plants. They coordinate, plan, and direct the activities used to create a wide range of goods, such as cars, computer equipment, or paper products.	$32-62
   Engineering/Maintenance Manager	Engineering and maintenance managers are skilled executive professionals who manage the daily activities of the engineering department while directing the maintenance of all types of machinery in a manufacturing plant. These managers are required to develop preventive maintenance procedures and inspections for all manufacturing equipment so that they can reduce machine downtime... Show more	$36-62
   Industrial Engineer	An industrial engineer specializes in devising various systems to improve the workflow and the workforce in a manufacturing setting. One of their primary responsibilities is to understand all of the procedures in a manufacturing plant and develop strategies to resolve issues or improve production operations, such as designing a cost-efficient machine or system that will enhance the quality of goods and boost the productivity of workers... Show more	$28-46

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • HVAC
   • Project Management
   • Plant Operations
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Plant Maintenance
   • Plumbing
   • Technical Support
   • OSHA
   • Chemical Process
   • Plant Equipment
   • Sigma
   • Process Improvement
   • Process Engineering
   • Lean Manufacturing

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead work cells to become a team; Harmonize/unite/motivate assembly personnel using Kaizen approach.
   • Provide guidance and training on NFPA 70E guidelines & conduct short circuit analysis for high voltage circuits.
   • Develop company Wiki pages for API 610 cryogenic pumps, API 620 tanks, and chill water systems.
   • Manufacture SolidWorks design parts using 3D printing, sheet metal tools, welders, mill, and lathe.
   • Guide maintenance and techs in troubleshooting large RF and microwave batch driers utilizing both RF and microwave technology.
   • Utilize lean six sigma tools to drive $250k savings from scrap reduction and increase productivity in the core department.

   More plant engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the plant engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A plant engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a plant engineer in North Dakota may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level plant engineer. Additionally, a plant engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average plant engineer salary

   $93,949yearly

   $45.17 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level plant engineer salary

   $67,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average plant engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$108,262	$52
   2	Nevada	$105,956	$51
   3	Oregon	$100,026	$48
   4	Washington	$99,318	$48
   5	Arizona	$98,698	$47
   6	Texas	$94,653	$46
   7	Maryland	$92,778	$45
   8	Delaware	$92,511	$44
   9	North Carolina	$92,498	$44
   10	Pennsylvania	$92,364	$44
   11	New York	$91,810	$44
   12	New Jersey	$91,752	$44
   13	Oklahoma	$91,395	$44
   14	Louisiana	$91,359	$44
   15	Ohio	$91,218	$44
   16	Mississippi	$90,898	$44
   17	Kentucky	$90,381	$43
   18	Georgia	$90,302	$43
   19	Indiana	$90,232	$43
   20	Massachusetts	$89,967	$43

   Average plant engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Bunge	$134,744	$64.78
   2	Kaiser Permanente	$129,069	$62.05	11
   3	ASR Group	$125,226	$60.20	18
   4	Biogen	$121,513	$58.42
   5	Eli Lilly and Company	$118,018	$56.74	5
   6	Koch Industries	$117,302	$56.40	4
   7	Waters	$116,048	$55.79	8
   8	Southern California Edison	$115,824	$55.68
   9	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$115,335	$55.45	5
   10	Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc	$113,878	$54.75	1
   11	OMNOVA Solutions	$111,978	$53.84
   12	ICU Medical	$111,415	$53.56
   13	Calpine	$111,156	$53.44	8
   14	HP Hood	$110,380	$53.07	6
   15	San Luis Valley Health	$109,163	$52.48
   16	GCP Applied Technologies	$108,933	$52.37
   17	CyberCoders	$108,702	$52.26	5
   18	Bayer	$107,985	$51.92	4
   19	ATI Physical Therapy	$107,556	$51.71	6
   20	Metropolitan Utilities District	$106,442	$51.17

4. Writing a plant engineer job description

   A plant engineer 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 plant engineer job description:

   Plant engineer job description example

   The position is accountable for all of the Maintenance activities and personnel which include maintenance supervisors, shop floor mechanics, electricians, tool & die makers, an HVAC technician and parts clerk. Responsibilities include the safety, quality, productivity and moral of the associates along with maintaining facility systems at optimal performance utilizing preventive maintenance and effective repairs. Other demands involve managing spare parts inventory, maintaining regulatory compliance (Environmental, OSHA, NFPA, etc.), submitting capital requests, preparing supporting information for annual budgets and creating positive working relationships with other personnel in the plant.
   Primary Responsibilities for the Memphis area:
   Ensure the safety of all employees; lead a comprehensive safety program to prevent injuries. Comply with all federal, state, and local environmental and safety regulations (EPA, OSHA, etc.).Develop subordinates through education, training, and teamwork.Assist in preparation of annual plant operating budget. Meet or exceed plant productivity, cost, or other performance metric expectations as outlined by plant manager.Hire, train, direct and mentor staff and all plant employees with diverse language, cultural and educational background.Lead maintenance department in continuous improvement initiatives, such as SPS and Maintenance Excellence.Coordinate maintenance scheduling to meet production demands, to manage overtime, and to reduce costs.Ensure employees complete required quality and safety checks and audits.Identify, propose, and implement capital projects to improve operational performance.Ensure preventive maintenance program is implemented and maintained.Coordinate plant equipment maintenance and repair.
   Develop positive working relationships with others in the organization to influence total safety philosophy in the company's on-going operations.
   
   Key Decisions
   Providing necessary preventative maintenance and equipment reliability resources to maximize output while controlling costs Safety, productivity and quality issues Employee hiring, training and development
   
   Potential Challenges
   Managing a large 24/7 operation to deliver consistent results Replacing skilled labor that are expected to retire over the next few years Driving productivity improvements around output & scrap while reducing recurring defects
   We'd love to hear from you if:
   You have a 4 year degree
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find plant engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any plant engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level plant engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit plant engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect plant engineer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with 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 plant engineer?