How to hire a plate maker

How to hire a plate maker, step by step

Here's a step-by-step plate maker hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a plate maker job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new plate maker
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your plate maker 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 plate maker 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a plate maker 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 plate maker that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of plate makers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Plate Maker	Description	Hourly rate
   Plate Maker		$10-34
   Scanner	A scanner is responsible for producing digital copies of files and documents for company records and operational needs. Scanners often work within an office industry, assisting office personnel with paperwork by scanning documents through paper machines and equipment... Show more	$11-17

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Creo
   • Flexo
   • Quality Plates
   • Plate Material
   • ISO
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Kodak
   • Offset Printing
   • General Maintenance
   • Color Proofs
   • CTP
   • RAN
   • Quality Checks
   • Customer Specifications

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate and maintain laser plate-making equipment such as Creo Trendsetters and Kodak Magnus VLF.
   • Retain records for ISO audit.
   • Retrieve files from CTP server.
   • Set up jobs and run jobs on Autologic platemaker.
   • Monitor completion of plates for quality control distribution to the pressroom.
   • Pack lids on production line and make plates on plate-maker for flexo printing.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, plate makers' average salary in wyoming is 58% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level plate makers earn 69% less than senior-level plate makers.
   • Certifications. A plate maker 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 plate maker's salary.

   Average plate maker salary

   $40,483yearly

   $19.46 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level plate maker salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a plate maker job description

   A job description for a plate maker 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 plate maker job description:

   Plate maker job description example

   Our Culture is 1st and foremost one of collaboration and teamwork. We hold ourselves to high professional, ethical and fairness standards. We have zero tolerance for anything less. We are a very diverse workforce that we celebrate as well, we reward good performance through our recognition program, our advancement opportunities and our pay structures.

   We welcome you to consider being part of this great team.

   
   

   PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

   · Assures proper plates are made per the daily schedule.

   · Review Docket and ensure files match the docket.

   · Make necessary plates using the process provided.

   · Properly identify the plates, ensure they are marked correctly and match the proof.

   · Ensure daily, weekly and monthly maintenance on Flex laser is complete.

   · Maintain a clean, organized work environment.

   · Monitor department supplies and inform supervisor of any potential situations that could cause production delays.

   
   

   SECONDARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

   · When time allows help in the Rotary Screen Dept., stripping and coating rotary screens

   
   

   Requirements:

   EDUCATION: Required: High School Diploma or Equivalent

   EXPERIENCE:

   · Preferred, but will train.

   PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

   · Must be able to lift 30-50 lbs.

   · Must be able to remove, replace and transport a 55-gallon barrel of AV Solve via barrel dolly.

   · Prolonged hours of standing and lifting

   · Work extra hours as needed and mandatory Saturdays

   SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

   Required: Computer Skills, mathematical skills

   Disclaimer The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in this position.

   
   
   

   PI193934183

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5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit plate makers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   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 plate maker

   Once you've found the plate maker 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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