How to hire a production mechanic

How to hire a production mechanic, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the production mechanic you need to hire. Certain production mechanic 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

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

   The following list breaks down different types of production mechanics and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Production Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Production Mechanic	Industrial machinery mechanics and maintenance workers maintain and repair factory equipment and other industrial machinery, such as conveying systems, production machinery, and packaging equipment. Millwrights install, dismantle, repair, reassemble, and move machinery in factories, power plants, and construction sites.	$16-31
   Industrial Maintenance/Electrician	An industrial maintenance/electrician specializes in installing and maintaining electrical systems in different establishments. Responsibilities usually include performing inspections to assess electrical damages on systems, understanding blueprints, troubleshooting problems, replacing or fixing components, and conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure that electrical systems function smoothly and efficiently... Show more	$21-35
   Industrial Maintenance Technician	An industrial maintenance technician is responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing commercial and industrial machinery in a building or a manufacturing plant. You will perform typical duties that include ensuring all machines function properly through preventative maintenance service, conducting tests to ensure production machinery functions properly, and performing safety checks and routine maintenance... Show more	$18-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Production Equipment
   • Hand Tools
   • Preventive Maintenance
   • GMP
   • Production Machines
   • Quality Checks
   • Mechanical Equipment
   • Parts Inventory
   • Cranes
   • PLC
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • Control Systems
   • Industrial Maintenance
   • Grinders

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Accomplish final operational checkout for conformance to customer specifications of prototype and new electronic systems including system installation on new airframes.
   • Perform preventive maintenance and repair of semi-automate equipment, PLC control assembly lines as per OSHA and FDA guidelines.
   • Limit PLC troubleshooting duties (but willing to learn).
   • Check tolerances with linear gauges, micrometers, and calipers.
   • Operate computing equipment to perform job tasks (e.g., upload/download programs, create/edit CNC or PLC programs).
   • Work with various gauges and measuring devices such as micrometers, calipers, optical comparators, toolmakers microscope, etc.

   More production mechanic duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, production mechanics' average salary in alabama is 37% less than in west virginia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level production mechanics 47% less than senior-level production mechanics.
   • Certifications. A production mechanic 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 production mechanic's salary.

   Average production mechanic salary

   $48,907yearly

   $23.51 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level production mechanic salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average production mechanic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Ohio	$58,308	$28
   2	Maryland	$57,730	$28
   3	New York	$56,875	$27
   4	New Jersey	$55,838	$27
   5	Illinois	$53,663	$26
   6	Minnesota	$51,667	$25
   7	Indiana	$51,423	$25
   8	Wisconsin	$51,065	$25
   9	Pennsylvania	$49,486	$24
   10	North Carolina	$47,627	$23
   11	Virginia	$47,370	$23
   12	Georgia	$47,146	$23
   13	Connecticut	$46,845	$23
   14	Delaware	$46,091	$22
   15	New Hampshire	$45,368	$22
   16	Massachusetts	$45,364	$22
   17	Iowa	$44,785	$22
   18	Texas	$43,249	$21
   19	Nevada	$41,890	$20
   20	Florida	$40,068	$19

   Average production mechanic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Anheuser-Busch	$79,887	$38.41	14
   2	TTX	$76,107	$36.59	2
   3	T.D. Williamson	$73,752	$35.46	2
   4	Estée Lauder	$69,035	$33.19	6
   5	American Water	$68,828	$33.09	4
   6	Zoetis	$66,584	$32.01	1
   7	Nestlé	$62,855	$30.22	76
   8	Altria	$62,347	$29.97
   9	Red Gold	$60,374	$29.03	3
   10	General Electric	$59,729	$28.72	31
   11	Silgan Holdings	$59,503	$28.61	1
   12	General Mills	$59,012	$28.37	7
   13	CyberCoders	$58,591	$28.17	1
   14	Lactalis	$57,726	$27.75	16
   15	Silgan Containers	$57,184	$27.49	40
   16	Ball	$56,289	$27.06	17
   17	Broadridge	$54,826	$26.36	11
   18	Alstom	$52,777	$25.37	8
   19	Americold	$52,234	$25.11	2
   20	Cott	$52,193	$25.09

4. Writing a production mechanic job description

   A production mechanic 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 production mechanic job description:

   Production mechanic job description example

   Seneca Tank is an international supplier of new and used petroleum tank trucks, transports, and truck tank parts, with more than 40 years of experience. We also operate an ASME certified repair and DOT service facility supported by a million-dollar parts inventory. Our company prides itself on its family environment and focus on safety.
   
   Under the direction of the Production Manager-New Builds, the incumbent is responsible for building fluid delivery systems for lube vans, liquid bulk tank trucks and trailers, which includes both fabricating and assembling components used in the building process. The incumbent is also responsible for repairing fluid delivery systems.
   Essential Job Functions: Install fluid delivery systems on lube vans, petroleum tank trucks and trailers (40%) Fabricate components of fluid delivery systems such as meter shelf plates, support brackets, and piping, which involves cutting, bending, welding, and attaching metal and aluminum materials(30%) Read job orders to determine work to be performed per customer request (10%) Assemble ready-made and fabricated components to build fluid delivery systems (10%) Repair fluid delivery systems by replacing malfunctioning parts (10%)
   Competencies: Working knowledge of the proper use, maintenance, and repair of tools used on the job, including hand, electric, pneumatic, gas-welding/cutting tools Skill to properly operate all tools used in the performance of essential job functions, such as hand/power tools and metal brakes/band saws, with accuracy. Skill to repair machines or systems using the needed tools Skill to determine the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job Familiarity with safety standards common to motor vehicle repair work environments Ability to read and comprehend instructions, procedures, policies, and regulations such as those found in work orders, work process protocols, and safety manuals Ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules Ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong with a tank/chassis unit or component, or a tool utilized in performing work Trouble shooting skill to determine the cause of operating errors and decide what to do about them Ability to read, write, speak and understand English Analytical thinking Attention to detail Time management skills Working knowledge of arithmetic and its application Able to work well with others
   Physical Demands Include: Ability to lift/carry up to 50 lbs. frequently and over 100 lbs. often
   Special Conditions of Employment: Job holder is required to provide their own work tools.
   Upon receiving a conditional offer of employment, job candidates are required to pass a pre-employment physical and drug-screen.
   Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent One year of experience building or repairing diesel, gas, or hydraulic equipment utilizing hand, electric, and pneumatic tools We offer: Competitive pay Daytime Schedules: Monday Friday, 7:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Excellent benefits, including health/life/dental/disability insurance, paid vacation, 401(k), and free uniforms Climate controlled shop
   
   To apply for this opening, click the "Apply Now" button below.
   Seneca Tank is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.
   Seneca Tank is a drug-free workplace. Post-offer drug screening is required.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit production mechanics, 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 mechanic

   Once you've found the production mechanic 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.

   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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new production mechanic. 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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