How to hire a production line worker

How to hire a production line worker, step by step

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

What does a production line worker do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a production line worker, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect production line worker also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents production line worker salaries for various positions.

   Type of Production Line Worker	Description	Hourly rate
   Production Line Worker		$11-16
   Woodworking Shop Hand	A woodworking shop hand is responsible for assisting woodwork tasks, creating high-quality products, and inspecting the items thoroughly before packaging and releasing for delivery. Woodworking shop hands maintain clean and safe construction tools and equipment, perform repairs as needed, and disposing of defective items that may affect operational efficiency... Show more	$12-18
   Line Operator	A line operator is responsible for assisting in warehouse and factory operations, usually assigned on doing heavy works for the production. Line operators' duties include operating manufacturing machines and equipment, placing products on the appropriate shelves, checking supplies and inventories, loading orders for shipments, inspecting products for any defects, labeling products accurately, adhering to the safety procedures to prevent product contamination, and observing sanitary regulations... Show more	$12-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Assembly Line
   • Pallet Jack
   • Safety Guidelines
   • Machine Operators
   • Quality Checks
   • Safety Procedures
   • Quality Standards
   • Production Line Issues
   • Inspect Products
   • Production Line Equipment
   • Safety Policies
   • Quality Products
   • Hand-Held Tools
   • Safety Standards

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and instruct workers in the art of food preparation as culinary team leader.
   • Inspect food and area to be up to code with FDA.
   • Build all size windows for different companies.
   • Wear appropriate PPE for the job being perform.
   • Maintain sanitized workspaces, remaining compliant with local, state and FDA guidelines.
   • Train new employees the procedures and protocol of the company and USDA guidelines.

   More production line worker duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, production line workers' average salary in new mexico is 45% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level production line workers earn 34% less than senior-level production line workers.
   • Certifications. A production line worker 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 production line worker's salary.

   Average production line worker salary

   $13.87hourly

   $28,844 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level production line worker salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 13, 2026

   Average production line worker salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$39,540	$19
   2	New Hampshire	$35,475	$17
   3	Minnesota	$33,674	$16
   4	Massachusetts	$33,402	$16
   5	Idaho	$32,834	$16
   6	California	$32,008	$15
   7	Illinois	$31,929	$15
   8	Missouri	$30,719	$15
   9	Kentucky	$29,865	$14
   10	Arizona	$29,307	$14
   11	Pennsylvania	$29,032	$14
   12	Maryland	$29,008	$14
   13	Tennessee	$28,664	$14
   14	Virginia	$26,461	$13
   15	New Jersey	$26,417	$13
   16	Arkansas	$26,123	$13
   17	Alabama	$25,878	$12
   18	North Carolina	$25,211	$12
   19	Texas	$25,098	$12
   20	Florida	$23,957	$12

   Average production line worker salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Anomatic	$40,827	$19.63	3
   2	Rich Products	$40,622	$19.53	37
   3	Structural Component Systems	$36,127	$17.37	2
   4	Greif	$34,395	$16.54	56
   5	Magna International	$34,184	$16.43	39
   6	Campbell Soup	$33,535	$16.12	15
   7	WestRock	$33,386	$16.05	81
   8	International Paper	$33,286	$16.00	73
   9	themgsgroup	$33,131	$15.93
   10	Avantor	$32,029	$15.40	3
   11	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$31,600	$15.19	133
   12	nLIGHT	$31,278	$15.04	1
   13	Tyson Foods	$31,257	$15.03	79
   14	Remedy Intelligent Staffing	$31,222	$15.01
   15	Global Technical Recruiters	$30,822	$14.82
   16	Mega Force Staffing	$30,700	$14.76	31
   17	Nation Pizza	$30,645	$14.73
   18	Adams Extract & Spice	$30,356	$14.59
   19	Gage Personnel	$30,352	$14.59	1
   20	Basic American Foods	$30,328	$14.58	3

4. Writing a production line worker job description

   A job description for a production line worker 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 production line worker job description:

   Production line worker job description example

   Type: Contract to Hire Job #44683 We are looking for reliable Production Line Workers for manufacturing operations in Charleroi, PA RESPONSABILITIES:
   Performs a wide range of duties involved with preparing and packaging food products.
   Follow all company policies and safety protocols (GMP, FDA, OSHA).
   Maintain a steady pace and adjust as needed to match production speed requirements. REQUIREMENTS:
   Ability to stand for extended periods of time.
   Ability to work successfully in a team environment.
   Ability to perform repetitive movements.
   Occasionally required to walk, bend, stoop, push or crouch to handle product. SHIFTS AND PAY: 1st Shift. Monday – Friday. 6:00 am – 3:00 pm. $15.00 / hour 2nd Shift Monday – Friday 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm $18.00 / hour Resource is an Equal Opportunity Employer EEO AA M/F/Vet/Disability and a drug free workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veterans’ status, or any other characteristics protected by law. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Resource complies with the laws and regulations outlined in the following EEO is The Law poster Apply Now The post Production Line Worker appeared first on Resource Employment Solutions. Company DescriptionAbout Us
   We are solutions-driven. As a supplier, our focus is to get your orders completed. As a provider, our focus is to get people jobs they appreciate and want to go to. When everyone’s happy - we all win.
   That's part of our difference. As opposed to other staffing services and recruiting companies - we focus on people, dependability, and service. Resource' services are custom tailored to your specific needs. We can fill from one to hundreds of skilled or non-skilled jobs to suit your workforce needs.
   Our Commitment to Excellence
   Resource Employment Solutions understands the challenges employers face in today's competitive market. Safety, service, and savings are all equally important factors in achieving your bottom-line goals. Resource is committing to saving companies money without sacrificing service.
   We are a national provider of staffing and recruitment services. Resource has concentrated "hubs" of business throughout the nation, with a focus on organic growth. Our localized understanding of the market gives us the advantage of reaching who we need, when we need them. Our experienced team of recruiters are prepared to fill your order 24/7.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right production line worker for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your production line worker job on Zippia to find and recruit production line worker candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit production line workers, 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 line worker

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

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new production line worker. 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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