How to hire a process operator

How to hire a process operator, step by step

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

What does a process operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

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

   Type of Process Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Process Operator	A Process Operator supervises and coordinates the full production process of a manufacturing plant or other industrial facility. They monitor equipment and increase the quality, efficiency, and safety of the manufacturing plant.	$13-23
   Manufacturing Operator	A manufacturing operator is primarily responsible for overseeing and controlling the performance of machines and equipment, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around monitoring production operations, conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the accuracy and quality of machinery, performing corrective measures and adjustments as needed, and assessing the quality of finished products, all while adhering to deadlines and goals... Show more	$12-20
   Utility Operator	Utility Operators are skilled employees who work with different machines, fixtures, and equipment. They operate a number of machines related to the maintenance of office facilities... Show more	$13-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Procedures
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Team-Oriented Environment
   • Ladders
   • Customer Service
   • Data Entry
   • Basic Math
   • Safety Rules
   • GMP
   • Math
   • Good Communication
   • Distillation
   • CIP
   • Quality Products

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage distillation process to determine product specification compliance, and prepare unit for shutdown or turnaround process.
   • Climb ladders to inspect manholes, check temps, sometimes gather samples for lab analysis.
   • Demonstrate ability to perform basic math (add, subtract, multiply, divide, ratios, weights & measures).
   • Control product temperatures and monitor gauges.
   • Review FHA files for completeness and compliance.
   • Use of ladders, stairs, heavy lifting and temperature extremes.

   More process operator duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, process operators' average salary in nevada is 42% less than in wyoming.
   • Seniority. Entry-level process operators earn 40% less than senior-level process operators.
   • Certifications. A process 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 process operator's salary.

   Average process operator salary

   $37,996yearly

   $18.27 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level process operator salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average process operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	North Dakota	$49,504	$24
   2	Maine	$45,449	$22
   3	Massachusetts	$43,969	$21
   4	Wisconsin	$43,874	$21
   5	New York	$42,613	$20
   6	Minnesota	$41,792	$20
   7	Indiana	$41,719	$20
   8	Missouri	$41,476	$20
   9	Washington	$40,846	$20
   10	Nebraska	$40,655	$20
   11	Iowa	$40,644	$20
   12	Colorado	$40,459	$19
   13	Oregon	$39,780	$19
   14	Michigan	$39,009	$19
   15	Arkansas	$38,347	$18
   16	Utah	$37,470	$18
   17	Texas	$36,444	$18
   18	Ohio	$36,357	$17
   19	Georgia	$36,184	$17
   20	Arizona	$36,070	$17

   Average process operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	BWX Technologies	$48,345	$23.24	9
   2	Nestlé	$47,258	$22.72	93
   3	Lifeway Kefir	$45,852	$22.04	11
   4	Dairy Farmers of America	$45,792	$22.02	138
   5	fairlife	$45,587	$21.92	15
   6	Wells Enterprises	$45,385	$21.82	8
   7	Clean Harbors	$44,344	$21.32	51
   8	J.R. Simplot	$44,190	$21.25
   9	Land O'Lakes	$43,847	$21.08	63
   10	Fidelity National Information Solutions	$43,714	$21.02	16
   11	Eastman	$43,375	$20.85
   12	Schreiber Foods	$43,347	$20.84	26
   13	Leprino Foods	$43,305	$20.82
   14	Ken's Foods	$43,252	$20.79
   15	Bunge	$43,138	$20.74	16
   16	Reckitt Benckiser	$43,055	$20.70	9
   17	Westinghouse Appliances Australia	$43,054	$20.70	6
   18	Xerox	$42,961	$20.65	10
   19	Big River Resources	$42,848	$20.60	5
   20	Mars	$42,848	$20.60	12

4. Writing a process operator job description

   A process operator 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 process operator job description:

   Process operator job description example

   First Quality was founded in 1989 and in nearly 3 decades, has grown to be a global, privately-held company with over 4,000 team members. Its corporate offices are located in Great Neck, New York with manufacturing facilities and offices in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Georgia and Canada. First Quality is a diversified family of companies manufacturing consumer products ranging from Absorbent Hygiene (adult incontinence, feminine care and baby diapers), Tissue (bath and towel), and Industrial (print and packaging materials), serving institutional and retail markets throughout the world. First Quality focuses on private label and branded product lines.
   
   Our core philosophy is built on a proud culture driven by safety and quality respect, humility, integrity, customer focus and teamwork. With state of the art manufacturing technologies and processes and visionary leadership, First Quality is positioned to continue significant growth in the coming years. We are looking for Process Operators for Converting for our world class manufacturing facility in Lock Haven, PA.
   
   As a Process operator you will have responsibilities that include, equipment operation, troubleshooting equipment and process inefficiencies, correcting process and quality defects, loading raw materials, performing quality checks and reporting, process improvement investigations, meeting production goals and maintaining housekeeping standards. Process Operators will assist their team to ensure safety, quality, customer service, housekeeping and records are maintained to our highest standards, as well as following necessary GMP and ISO regulations/guidelines.
   Primary Responsibilities:
   Loading and unloading raw materials (poly, corrugate, chemical and glue totes, pallets, etc...) Check each raw material and finished good tag for accuracy and scan into the system for tracking and quality.Machine housekeeping Efficiently and safely operate machines, responding to all issues with a sense of urgency and attention to detail.Investigate and troubleshoot all machine, quality and process inefficiencies and defects.Continuously improve and demonstrate job skill depth and knowledge Manage and attend to raw material demands.Learn and abide by First Quality and the Department's work standards, safety standards and company policy.Taking initiative to continuously improve the manufacturing process and machine's efficiency.Conduct product grade line and machine change overs.Interface with the machines via computers and HMI control panels.Perform routine quality checks of the process and product and record results into the software system.
   
   Physical Requirements:
   Constant standing during a 12 hour shift Ability to work night shift (6:42pm - 7:00am) Occasional lifting/carrying boxes and items up to 50lbs.Constant light grasping and occasional strong grasping.Constant repetitive use of foot and hand controls.Daily housekeeping and organizing work areas.
   
   The ideal candidate should possess the following:
   High school diploma or equivalent.Respectable character and core values.Strong mechanical skills.Ability to operate a forklift.Ability to work in a fast paced environment.Ability to work in a team orientated environment.
   First Quality is committed to protecting information under the care of First Quality Enterprises commensurate with leading industry standards and applicable regulations. As such, First Quality provides at least annual training regarding data privacy and security to employees who, as a result of their role specifications, may come in to contact with sensitive data.First Quality is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit process operators, 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 process operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the process 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.

   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 process operator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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