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How to hire a production helper

Production helper hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring production helpers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a production helper 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 production helper to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a production helper, step by step

To hire a production helper, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a production helper, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step production helper hiring guide:

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

What does a production helper do?

Production helpers must have a knowledge of production processes, physical fitness, computer literacy, and attention to safety, teamwork, and time management in order to be successful. Those who choose this career path will be called on to carry out factory floor tasks, supply materials, hold tools, clean their respective work areas and equipment, load and run various machines, as well as make minor adjustments and repairs.

Learn more about the specifics of what a production helper does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The production helper 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?

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

    This list shows salaries for various types of production helpers.

    Type of Production HelperDescriptionHourly rate
    Production Helper$12-18
    Assembly Line WorkerAssembly 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
    Generator WorkerA Generator Worker is in charge of operating generator systems on a daily basis, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include performing installations and adjustments, understanding blueprints and schematics, and performing regular maintenance checks to ensure efficiency... Show more$12-19
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Cranes
    • Hand Tools
    • Production Process
    • Cleanliness
    • Pallets
    • Food Handling
    • Safety Procedures
    • PPE
    • Machine Operators
    • Dollies
    • Safety Guidelines
    • Food Safety
    • GMP
    • Production Equipment
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage and instruct workers in the art of food preparation as culinary team leader.
    • Set up wire to be run.
    • Used safety ppe and follow safety quidelines.
    • Promote to the extrusion department as an assistant press operator.
    • Weld wire together to be run through furnace and keep a watch on it.
    • Unclamp and hoist full reels from braiding, winding, and other fabricating machines, using power hoists.
    More production helper duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the production helper job description is a good way to get more applicants. A production helper salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a production helper in Virginia may be lower than in North Dakota, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level production helper. Additionally, a production helper with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average production helper salary

    $15.54hourly

    $32,333 yearly

    Entry-level production helper salary
    $26,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 29, 2026

    Average production helper salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Wisconsin$38,914$19
    2Nevada$37,817$18
    3California$37,441$18
    4Arizona$34,750$17
    5Utah$34,716$17
    6Indiana$34,599$17
    7Florida$30,517$15
    8Tennessee$30,325$15
    9South Carolina$28,531$14
    10Texas$27,476$13

    Average production helper salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Baker Boy$39,163$18.83
    2OMNOVA Solutions$39,094$18.803
    3Quality Aluminum Products$38,679$18.601
    4Igloo Coolers$38,652$18.581
    5Schreiber Foods$38,131$18.337
    6Flowers Foods$37,941$18.2423
    7Bernatello's Foods$37,724$18.14
    8Indiana Packers$37,601$18.0810
    9H.B. Fuller$36,691$17.6424
    10Andersen$36,596$17.59
    11Alamo Group$36,580$17.599
    12J.R. Simplot$36,386$17.498
    13CertainTeed$36,347$17.47
    14AZZ$36,308$17.4611
    15Hiawatha Homes$36,286$17.45
    16ADM$36,203$17.4181
    17Precision Strip$36,141$17.3822
    18Campbell Soup$36,042$17.3310
    19International Paper$35,268$16.96103
    20Teknor Apex$35,189$16.923
  4. Writing a production helper job description

    A good production helper job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a production helper job description:

    Production helper job description example

    PAY RATE: $17.00HR
    BILL RATE: $24.80HR
    1ST SHIFT 7AM-3PM (M-F) SCHEDULE TO GET ORIENTATED TO THE PLANT AND THEN WILL BE TRANSITIONED TO A 12 HOUR SCHEDULE

    NO INTERVIEWS REQUIRED

    We are a 12 hour shift operation and the first two weeks are to evaluate fit and transition to the 12 hour schedule. All these positions can be temp to perm which would require the individual to move on to the 12 hour schedule.

    Updating details around the 12 hour schedule:
    The schedule is a 2/2/3 rotating schedule on over weekend. 36 and 48 hour work weeks.
    ******************************************************************************

    Manually move freight, stock, or other materials or perform other unskilled general labor. Education/Experience - Previous experience preferred Skills and Competencies - Analytical and problem solving ability - Team player and detail oriented - Knowledge of relevant equipment policies and procedures Major Job Duties and Responsibilities: - May attach identifying tags to containers, or mark them with identifying information - May read work orders or receive oral instructions to determine work assignments and material and equipment needs - May record numbers of units handled and moved, using daily production sheets or work tickets - May move freight, stock, and other materials to and from storage and production areas, loading docks, delivery vehicles, ships, and containers, by hand or using trucks, tractors, and other equipment - May sort cargo - before loading and unloading - May assemble product containers and crates, using hand tools and precut lumber - May load and unload ship cargo, using winches and other hoisting devices - May pack containers and re-pack damaged containers - May carry needed tools and supplies from storage or trucks, and return them after use WestRock does not permit any Contract Employee to operate motor vehicles. 3-5 years of experience.

  5. Post your job

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

    To successfully recruit production helpers, 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.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 production helper

    Once you've selected the best production helper 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 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.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new production helper. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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How much does it cost to hire a production helper?

Hiring a production helper comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting production helpers involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of production helper recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

Production helpers earn a median yearly salary is $32,333 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find production helpers for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $12 and $18.

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