How to hire a process plant operator

How to hire a process plant operator, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The process plant operator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   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 process plant operator 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 process plant operator that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of process plant operator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Process Plant Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Process Plant Operator		$13-29
   Gas Controller	A gas controller operates pipelines to make sure that customers receive proper oil or gas flow requirements. Gas controllers typically work with oil and gas companies to prevent any unforeseen problems... Show more	$13-39
   Operator	Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them... Show more	$12-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Plant Operations
   • Plant Process
   • Minor Maintenance
   • Plant Equipment
   • OSHA
   • Continuous Operation
   • CO2
   • Computer System
   • Control Systems
   • Process Equipment
   • Dehydration
   • Distillation
   • DCS
   • Control Room

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage distillation process to determine product specification compliance, and prepare unit for shutdown or turnaround process.
   • Move to the assembly department building electrical panels, installing electrical panels, installing various electrical devices on new centrifuges.
   • Batch SCC, Shotcrete and other loads to client specifications.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, process plant operators' average salary in illinois is 38% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level process plant operators 55% less than senior-level process plant operators.
   • Certifications. A process plant operator 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 process plant operator's salary.

   Average process plant operator salary

   $41,902yearly

   $20.15 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level process plant operator salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing a process plant operator job description

   A process plant 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a process plant operator job description:

   Process plant operator job description example

   Oversees the daily operation of an assigned area of the production process within the plant. Working a 12-hour rotating shift schedule while maintaining a safe work environment. Monitors and maintains production quality and equipment, while supporting the policies, goals, and objectives of the Company.
   * Monitors and controls plant operations.
   * Reviews the operation of the plant constantly to monitor production and quality, anticipating and solving problems in a timely manner, and identifying opportunities for improvement.
   * Participates in projects that improve efficiency and/or reduce operating costs.
   * Documents and monitors process variables, sample data and routine tasks as required for postion, to ensure plant operations are maintained within operating parameters.
   * Participates in Quality Assurance/Quality Control program, interprets results, and takes appropriate action when required.
   * Communicates with all departments within the facility to ensure safe and efficient execution of daily plant activites.
   * Monitors and troubleshoot process issues and equipment.
   * Performs scheduled Operations Work Requests as requested by Supervisor or Plant Management.
   * Prepares equipment to ensure it is safe for maintenance/contractors to perform scheduled work.
   * Utilizes company safe work practices to ensure all work is performed safely.
   * Participates in safety, health, and environmental programs (LOTO-lock out tag out, Safe Work Permit, FSMA-Food Safety Modernization Act).
   * Participates in programs and procedures required to ensure plant cleanliness.
   * Monitors use and inventories of process chemicals and supplies.
   * Performs other duties as assigned to maintain a safe, reliable, and consistant operation.
   * This position is hourly nonexempt status, which means you are eligible for overtime pay.
   
   Please click on the following link to view what the Process Operator job involves on a day to day basis:Realistic Job Preview
   
   **Qualifications:**
   * High school diploma or GED required.
   * Associate Degree in Process Technology or equivalent preferred.
   * Experience in the operation of a dry-mill ethanol plant preferred.
   
   *About Valero Renewables - Mount Vernon*
   
   Valero Renewables-Mount Vernon is located about 20 miles west of Evansville, Indiana, in the far southwestern corner of the state on the Ohio River, the boundary with Kentucky. The bio-refinery sits on approximately 112 acres at the Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon and started ethanol production in December 2010. The facility uses a dry-grind production method and state-of-the-art technology to maintain industry-leading standards in production, safety, product quality and environmental stewardship. The Mount Vernon plant is designed to process about 38 million bushels of corn into 110 million gallons of denatured ethanol and 330,000 tons of distillers grains co-products each year.
   
   Valero's employees are the heart of its success, and there is a reason why the company is an employer of choice in the fuels manufacturing and marketing industry. It's not just the excellent benefits package, or the opportunities for personal growth, it's also the caring and committed culture of the organization that makes everyone feel like they're truly part of a team. For more information visit Valero.com.
   
   Valero is an EEO/AA Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected status including sexual orientation, gender identity, Women, Minorities, Individuals with Disabilities and protected Veterans.
   
   *LI-LP1
   
   **Job:** Operations/Skilled Crafts %26 Trades/Maintenance
   **Primary Location:** US-IN-Mount Vernon
   **Job Posting:** May 27, 2022, 8:41:41 PM
   **Unposting Date:** Ongoing

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5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit process plant 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 plant operator

   Once you've found the process plant operator 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new process plant operator. 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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