How to hire a production line operator

How to hire a production line operator, step by step

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

What does a production line operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the production line operator you need to hire. Certain production line operator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A production line operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, production line 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 production line operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Production Line Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Production Line Operator		$12-20
   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
   Filler Operator	A filler operator works with the packaging end of a production line. The filler's task is to fill containers with the required number of products before packaging and shipping... Show more	$14-22

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Basic Math
   • Math
   • Quality Standards
   • Safety Guidelines
   • Quality Checks
   • Quality Products
   • Production Line Equipment
   • Safety Procedures
   • Machine Operation
   • Customer Specifications
   • RF
   • Safety Policies
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Safety Regulations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Experience following procedures and managing GMP documentation.
   • Use require PPE proper ears, eyes and hands protection.
   • Document readouts, troubleshoot defects via oscilloscope and analog measurements, and report test analysis.
   • Pick up unopenedcarcasses hang back by USDA and properly open and rehung on the lines for USDAreinspection.

   More production line operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your production line operator job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A production line operator salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a production line operator in Kentucky may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level production line operator usually earns less than a senior-level production line operator. Additionally, a production line operator with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average production line operator salary

   $15.99hourly

   $33,261 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level production line operator salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average production line operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Minnesota	$41,144	$20
   2	Wisconsin	$39,583	$19
   3	New York	$39,343	$19
   4	Ohio	$36,561	$18
   5	Utah	$35,066	$17
   6	California	$34,040	$16
   7	Iowa	$34,017	$16
   8	Indiana	$33,969	$16
   9	Illinois	$33,787	$16
   10	Oklahoma	$29,586	$14
   11	Tennessee	$27,797	$13
   12	North Carolina	$26,766	$13
   13	Georgia	$26,068	$13
   14	Arkansas	$23,928	$12
   15	Florida	$23,903	$11

   Average production line operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Dairy Farmers of America	$44,524	$21.41	168
   2	Nestlé	$43,281	$20.81	108
   3	Quality Pork International	$42,783	$20.57	1
   4	Steel Dynamics	$42,494	$20.43	13
   5	Talking Rain	$42,386	$20.38	1
   6	Land O'Lakes	$41,599	$20.00	56
   7	Adams Extract & Spice	$40,966	$19.70
   8	Hearthside Food Solutions	$40,094	$19.28	1
   9	Wausau Window and Wall Systems	$39,600	$19.04
   10	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$39,411	$18.95	362
   11	Siemens	$39,237	$18.86	25
   12	Textron	$38,103	$18.32	23
   13	Crown Holdings	$38,005	$18.27	25
   14	Paragon Films	$37,605	$18.08	3
   15	Butterball	$37,563	$18.06	19
   16	Stratas Foods	$37,423	$17.99	23
   17	Avantor	$35,761	$17.19	2
   18	ITW	$35,288	$16.97	83
   19	Dura-Line	$35,112	$16.88
   20	TPI	$34,322	$16.50	16

4. Writing a production line operator job description

   A good production line operator 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 line operator job description:

   Production line operator job description example

   Production Line Operator
   $2000 sign on bonus!

   
   A snap shot of some of the exciting things you will do:
   

   • Track the performance of equipment and monitor the results/output of product
   • Respond to occasional non-standard situations related to the equipment
   • Ensure at the start of shift that all equipment is set up to specifications
   • Complete changeover procedures
   • Adhere to HAACP guidelines, SQF, Good Manufacturing Practices, following all sanitation and process procedures
   • Meet production output goals
   • Report mechanical problems to the maintenance department
   • Correctly complete paperwork

   
   What we have to offer you:

   • Career development opportunities
   • 401K with company match (available after 6 months)
   • Health Insurance - medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage (available after 30 days)
   • Flexible Spending Account
   • Company Paid Life, Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
   • Generous paid vacation and sick leave
   • EAP (Employee Assistance Program) Access
   • Safety Shoe & Eyeglass vouchers
   • Free coffee/Hot beverages
     

   What you will bring:
   

   • High School Diploma or GED
   • Ability to follow oral and written instructions
   • Candidate must be comfortable with repetitive movement in a manufacturing environment
   • Ability to read, write, and understand basic math, including the use of a calculator
   • Must have a reliable mode of transportation

   
   Covid-19 Vaccination:
   Greenleaf Foods is committed to ensuring the health and safety of all our employees. As part of this commitment, we require all employees to be fully vaccinated, and provide proof hereof. Accommodations will be considered in accordance with our Vaccination Policy and applicable laws.
   

   Who we are:
   Established in 2018, Greenleaf Foods is a leading consumer plant-based protein company committed to shaping the future of plant-based eating. Our portfolio of plant-based protein brands includes Lightlife Foods and Field Roast Grain Meat Co. Our brands feature more than 50 products and represent a leading market position in the plant-based protein category.
   
   Greenleaf Foods is headquartered outside of Chicago in Elmhurst, IL with operations in Seattle, WA; Turners Falls, MA ; and Indianapolis, IN. Our 500 associates embrace a strong, values-based culture and take pride in doing what’s right for our consumers, customers, and communities. We thrive in an engaging, open, and fast-paced environment.
   
   Greenleaf Foods is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting production line operators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 production line operator

   Once you've decided on a perfect production line operator 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.

   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 production line 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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