How to hire a plant production worker

How to hire a plant production worker, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your plant production worker 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 production worker 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 production worker's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, plant production workers 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 production worker salaries for various positions.

   Type of Plant Production Worker	Description	Hourly rate
   Plant Production Worker		$12-18
   Woodworking Shop Hand	A woodworking shop hand is responsible for assisting woodwork tasks, creating high-quality products, and inspecting the items thoroughly before packaging and releasing for delivery. Woodworking shop hands maintain clean and safe construction tools and equipment, perform repairs as needed, and disposing of defective items that may affect operational efficiency... Show more	$12-18
   Assembly Line Worker	Assembly line workers are factory or production floor employees who work on putting together company products. They are assigned to work on a specific part of the product... Show more	$10-16

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Policies
   • Plant Production
   • USDA
   • Production Equipment
   • Machine Operation
   • Quality Checks
   • Production Process
   • Raw Product
   • Assembly Line

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and instruct workers in the art of food preparation as culinary team leader.
   • Ensure that the plant are cleaned in accordance with USDA regulations.
   • Document readouts, troubleshoot defects via oscilloscope and analog measurements, and report test analysis.
   • Operate RF scanning equipment to account and inventory manufacture products.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your plant production worker job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A plant production worker can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, plant production workers' average salary in new mexico is 43% less than in north dakota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level plant production workers 34% less than senior-level plant production workers.
   • Certifications. A plant production worker with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a plant production worker's salary.

   Average plant production worker salary

   $15.10hourly

   $31,409 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level plant production worker salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average plant production worker salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Wisconsin	$37,850	$18
   2	Washington	$37,228	$18
   3	Iowa	$34,448	$17
   4	Missouri	$32,104	$15
   5	New Jersey	$31,901	$15
   6	New York	$31,810	$15
   7	Hawaii	$31,708	$15
   8	California	$31,636	$15
   9	Kansas	$31,540	$15
   10	Indiana	$30,714	$15
   11	Kentucky	$28,798	$14
   12	Georgia	$28,454	$14
   13	Texas	$27,204	$13
   14	Tennessee	$27,198	$13
   15	Michigan	$26,288	$13
   16	Alabama	$23,978	$12

   Average plant production worker salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Land O'Lakes	$39,024	$18.76	46
   2	Foster Farms	$38,629	$18.57	17
   3	Schreiber Foods	$38,559	$18.54	23
   4	MeadWestvaco	$37,929	$18.24
   5	WestRock	$37,094	$17.83	75
   6	JBS USA	$36,208	$17.41	56
   7	Hormel Foods	$36,155	$17.38	56
   8	A&S Kinard	$33,667	$16.19
   9	Raley's	$33,616	$16.16
   10	Albertsons	$33,078	$15.90	7
   11	Tyson Foods	$33,073	$15.90	51
   12	PalletOne	$32,759	$15.75
   13	The Hershey Company	$32,178	$15.47	17
   14	Arcosa	$31,433	$15.11	49
   15	Seaboard	$30,429	$14.63	4
   16	SFS intec, Inc.	$30,165	$14.50
   17	Kelly Services	$29,608	$14.23	100
   18	Wilcox Farms	$29,407	$14.14
   19	Aerotek	$29,384	$14.13	520
   20	ManpowerGroup	$29,069	$13.98	170

4. Writing a plant production worker job description

   A job description for a plant production worker role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a plant production worker job description:

   Plant production worker job description example

   We have implemented safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We are working to ensure social distancing guidelines are followed within our facility. Each day, temperature screens are performed for each employee and visitor before entering the facility. Face coverings are available to all team members and enhanced cleaning and sanitation is regularly performed.

   Pilgrim's wants YOU to join our hourly production team! Positions start at $13.50/hour and we are offering a $2500 sign-on bonus!

   Salary: $28,080-$30,160

   1 ^st shift starting pay rate: (13.50) Monday-Friday - Some weekend work required.

   2 ^nd & 3 ^rd shift starting pay rate: (13.50)+$1.00 shift differential. Monday-Friday-Some weekend work required.

   Perfect attendance incentive- $1 extra per hour for perfect attendance
   
   

   Benefits include:

   • Medical, dental and vision insurance
   • 401K contributions
   • Better Futures Program -2 Year Community College tuition paid for you or your dependents!
   • Opportunity to grow your career through our Supervisor Development Program

   
   JOB DESCRIPTION
   

   • Processes product using tools (to include knives), manual labor, and equipment provided in accordance with USDA and Pilgrim's Company product standards and procedures.
   • Process product according to operating procedures and quality/quantity expectations.
   • Observes equipment operation, notifying appropriate personnel of any malfunctions and/or safety issues/concerns.
   • Clean and organized work area.
   • Assist others with the skills and knowledge gained from the position.
   • Observes all company personnel, quality, safety, and food safety policies. Maintains a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner so that you work effectively and cooperatively with customers, clients, co-workers, and leadership teams.
   • Recognizes and acts on incidents and safety risks.
   • Consistently practices and enforces safe work habits and drives those habits throughout the organization.
   • Participates in process improvement and problem solving utilizing continuous improvement and rational thinking methodologies.
   • Follow all company animal welfare guidelines.
   • Other duties as directed.

   EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT : High school diploma or equivalent (GED) preferred.

   BASIC SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

   • Ability to comprehend simple instructions
   • Ability to apply common sense.
   • Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
   • Ability to work in cool temperatures (around 40 degrees)
   • Ability to stand and use hands for 8-11 hours per day
   • Ability to multitask and work quickly
   • Must be a team player and be willing to work close to other employees at some stations. (Less than 3 feet apart.)
   • Must have good communication skills.
   • Good hand and eye coordination required.
   • High School diploma or G.E.D. preferred.
   • Food or production experience preferred.

   
   EOE/Vets/Disability

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find plant production workers 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 production workers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level plant production workers 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 production worker job on Zippia to find and recruit plant production worker 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 production workers, 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 production worker

   Once you've selected the best plant production worker 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 important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new plant production worker. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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