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How to hire a production sorter

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

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

How to hire a production sorter, step by step

To hire a production sorter, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a production sorter:

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

    The production sorter 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 sorter 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 sorter that fits the bill.

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

    Type of Production SorterDescriptionHourly rate
    Production SorterQuality control inspectors examine products and materials for defects or deviations from specifications.$11-16
    Mechanical InspectorMechanical inspectors are skilled professionals who are responsible for inspecting the electrical, mechanical, and other systems for commercial and residential buildings. These inspectors are required to inspect equipment such as boilers, HVAC systems, and elevators to ensure they are properly functioning... Show more$17-32
    Technical InspectorThe technical inspector is responsible for monitoring and ensuring operation meets standard. Skills required for this position include dexterity, math skills, and good physical strength... Show more$12-27
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Pallets
    • Safety Procedures
    • Assembly Line
    • Sales Floor
    • Dollies
    Responsibilities:
    • Execute production activities as directed by supervisor, including performing GMP cell culture of biologic products using closed-system device.
    • Process mail using automate mail processing equipment or manual methods of sortation and distribution.
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, production sorters' average salary in alabama is 50% less than in district of columbia.
    • Seniority. Entry-level production sorters 29% less than senior-level production sorters.
    • Certifications. A production sorter 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 sorter's salary.

    Average production sorter salary

    $14.02hourly

    $29,152 yearly

    Entry-level production sorter salary
    $24,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 15, 2025

    Average production sorter salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Washington$35,255$17
    2New York$34,252$16
    3Maryland$32,958$16
    4Illinois$31,784$15
    5Utah$30,722$15
    6Wisconsin$30,394$15
    7Pennsylvania$29,833$14
    8Missouri$29,322$14
    9Virginia$28,973$14
    10Nevada$28,561$14
    11Colorado$27,814$13
    12California$27,480$13
    13Texas$26,403$13
    14Florida$25,136$12

    Average production sorter salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1UniFirst$32,022$15.4088
    2Oldcastle Infrastructure$31,728$15.25170
    3Propak$29,492$14.1810
    4ManpowerGroup$28,665$13.78114
    5Adecco$28,324$13.62799
    6Staffmark$28,302$13.61
    7PeopleReady$28,248$13.5861
    8Dempsey Uniform & Linen Supply$28,171$13.5412
    9NEXTAFF$28,121$13.526
    10Superior Health Linens LLC$28,042$13.484
    11MAT Holdings$27,936$13.43
    12Florida Tile$27,735$13.33
    13Alsco, Inc.$27,678$13.3116
    14TERRA Staffing Group$27,655$13.30
    15Express Employment Indy South$27,579$13.2615
    16Randstad North America, Inc.$27,057$13.017
    17R.M. Schulte & Associates$25,395$12.21
    18Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake$23,944$11.515
  4. Writing a production sorter job description

    A good production sorter 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 sorter job description:

    Production sorter job description example

    PAY RATE - $13.25


    JOB SUMMARY:

    The Production Sorter prepares, sorts, tags, and hangs donations for the sales floor and assists customers while providing exceptional customer service. Employment is contingent on criminal background check.

    ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

    • Sort, price, tag and hang donated goods in preparation for stocking the sales floor
    • Ensures quality of merchandise and pre-sorts items for salvage
    • Meets daily production goals of at least 5 racks, 100 pieces per rack or team goal as approved
    • Performs daily and nightly recovery of sales floor
    • Assists customers by answering questions and providing excellent customer service
    • Maintains in compliance with safety and housekeeping practices and expectations
    • Maintains a professional and flexible attitude; Willing to take on different job responsibilities
    • Promotes the mission and values of Goodwill
    • Performs other duties as assigned

    EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

    • High School diploma or equivalent preferred
    • Prior retail, production, warehouse, material handling or customer service experience preferred

    CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

    • None

    QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

    To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

    • Ability to complete tasks and assignments with numerous interruptions and little direct supervision
    • Ability to communicate clearly in person and on the telephone
    • Ability to understand verbal instructions
    • Attention to detail and diligence to meet daily production goals
    • Commitment to team building and improvement processes

    P HYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

    Lifting up to 50 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. May be required to regularly stand for extended periods of time, walk, reach with hands/arms with full range of motion, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, push or pull. Regularly required to talk and hear. Frequently required to use hands and fingers to hold, handle and feel objects, knobs, keys and/or buttons.

    WORK ENVIRONMENT:
    Employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles and outside weather conditions. The noise level is usually moderate.

    REPORTS TO : Manager on duty

    EOE/MFDV



  5. Post your job

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

    Your first interview with production sorter candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of 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 production sorter

    Once you have selected a candidate for the production sorter position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the 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 sorter. 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 sorter?

Hiring a production sorter comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting production sorters 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 sorter recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $29,152 per year for a production sorter, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for production sorters in the US typically range between $11 and $16 an hour.

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