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How to hire a plant technician

Plant technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring plant technicians in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a plant technician is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new plant technician to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a plant technician, step by step

To hire a plant technician, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a plant technician:

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

What does a plant technician do?

A plant technician is in charge of overseeing plant operations, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Their responsibilities include installing and upgrading machines and equipment, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing systems, implementing solutions to vulnerable or problem areas, and developing strategies to optimize plant operations. They must also perform regular maintenance checks, conducting corrective measures and adjustments as needed. Furthermore, a plant technician must provide technical support to employees, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Learn more about the specifics of what a plant technician does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your plant technician 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 technician 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?

    Hiring the perfect plant technician 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.

    This list presents plant technician salaries for various positions.

    Type of Plant TechnicianDescriptionHourly rate
    Plant TechnicianGeneral maintenance and repair workers fix and maintain machines, mechanical equipment, and buildings. They paint, repair flooring, and work on plumbing, electrical, and air-conditioning and heating systems.$14-32
    Operations And Maintenance TechnicianOperations and maintenance technicians are skilled professionals who are responsible for conducting preventive maintenance of all equipment used in the operation of an organization. These technicians are required to ensure that their facilities are always operational by performing inspections and documenting the operating conditions of their equipment... Show more$18-35
    Service And Repair TechnicianService and repair technicians install, maintains, or repair equipment and often travel to customer's location to provide service and maintenance. They are also known as field service technicians who have technical knowledge and skills to be able to install and conduct product testing or demo to properly instruct customers on the proper usage of the product... Show more$13-28
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Preventive Maintenance
    • Ladders
    • Data Collection
    • Electrical Troubleshooting
    • Troubleshoot
    • Math
    • Plant Operations
    • Routine Maintenance
    • Plant Equipment
    • Perform Routine Maintenance
    • Asphalt
    • Safety Procedures
    • Control Systems
    • Hand Tools
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage documentation on all USDA and HACCP forms.
    • Perform and manage routine building maintenance tasks, including carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and general maintenance.
    • Maintain numerous automate scripts to assist in managing Linux systems.
    • Used spectrophotometers, pH meters, and centrifuges.
    • Experience working with extruders, film manufacturing and processing.
    • Follow all company safety rules and good manufacturing practices (GMP's )
    More plant technician duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, plant technicians' average salary in florida is 46% less than in alaska.
    • Seniority. Entry-level plant technicians 54% less than senior-level plant technicians.
    • Certifications. A plant technician 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 technician's salary.

    Average plant technician salary

    $46,164yearly

    $22.19 hourly rate

    Entry-level plant technician salary
    $31,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 29, 2026

    Average plant technician salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Washington$63,115$30
    2District of Columbia$54,423$26
    3Minnesota$54,314$26
    4Pennsylvania$53,024$25
    5California$52,062$25
    6Massachusetts$51,209$25
    7Virginia$48,096$23
    8New York$47,634$23
    9Illinois$47,400$23
    10Ohio$46,744$22
    11Maryland$46,732$22
    12Delaware$46,376$22
    13Colorado$46,075$22
    14Arizona$45,031$22
    15Alabama$44,724$22
    16Iowa$43,945$21
    17West Virginia$43,835$21
    18Texas$39,420$19
    19Oklahoma$38,490$19
    20South Carolina$36,967$18

    Average plant technician salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1BP America Inc$89,317$42.9413
    2Energy Northwest$67,693$32.54
    3Jacobs Engineering Group$67,425$32.42
    4National Grid plc$64,647$31.08
    5Gillette$62,147$29.88
    6Kemp Technologies$60,433$29.0515
    7Airgas$60,016$28.85101
    8Coty$59,677$28.69
    9Johnson & Johnson$58,547$28.1515
    10AVANGRID$57,441$27.62
    11Praxair$56,655$27.24
    12Student Conservation Association$56,282$27.067
    13Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs$55,584$26.72
    14OHL USA$54,202$26.06
    15B&G Foods$53,798$25.866
    16J.R. Simplot$53,683$25.812
    17Enel Green Power$52,508$25.24
    18DTE Energy$52,191$25.0920
    19Talen Energy$51,951$24.9815
    20Levi, Ray & Shoup$51,868$24.944
  4. Writing a plant technician job description

    A plant technician 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 a plant technician job description:

    Plant technician job description example

    • Three (3) years previous mechanical experience with heavy equipment and/or rock crushing equipment.
    • Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals and write routine reports and correspondence.
    • Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure.
    • Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
    • Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness in completing work. Monitors own work to ensure quality
    • Strives to complete work in timely manner.
    • Treats others with respect and consideration.

    • Must maintain a safe driving record and have a valid driver’s license. CDL beneficial.

    • This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

    • Majority of experience in public works maintenance, crushing and/or construction industry, heavy equipment dealers or maintenance facilities.
    • Requires general knowledge of diesel or gas engines, electrical, electronic, hydraulic, mechanical, pneumatic systems and components.
    • Remove and install parts, disassemble and assemble components, and test and adjust assemblies with minimal supervision.
    • General knowledge of basic hand tools, air tools, precision measuring tools and instruments.

    • Must pass a drug screen and criminal background check.


    EDUCATION:
    • High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

    • Technical school helpful.

    • Welding certificate helpful.


    PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
    • Regularly required to stand, walk, climb or balance.

    • Regularly use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.

    • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

    • Ability to tolerate working outdoors in all environmental and weather related conditions.

    • Regularly exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals; occasionally exposed to electrical shock and vibration.

    • Must be able to lift 50 pounds minimum and up to 75 pounds.


    We are an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including age, sex, color, race, creed, national origin, religious persuasion, marital status, political belief, or disability that does not prohibit performance of essential job functions.


    Federal Law prohibits the employment of unauthorized aliens. All persons hired must submit satisfactory proof of employment authorization and identity (valid driver’s license. Birth certificate, Green Card, etc.) with in three days of being hired. Failure to submit such proof within the required time shall result in immediate termination.

  5. Post your job

    To find the right plant technician 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 technicians they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit plant technicians 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 technician job on Zippia to find and recruit plant technician 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 technicians, 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 technician

    Once you've decided on a perfect plant technician 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 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 technician. 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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How much does it cost to hire a plant technician?

There are different types of costs for hiring plant technicians. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new plant technician employee.

The median annual salary for plant technicians is $46,164 in the US. However, the cost of plant technician hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a plant technician for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $14 and $32 an hour.

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