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How to hire a production specialist

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

  • There are a total of 27,526 production specialists in the US, and there are currently 76,288 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a production specialist is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per production specialist on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Indianapolis, IN, has the highest demand for production specialists, with 16 job openings.

How to hire a production specialist, step by step

To hire a production specialist, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a production specialist:

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

What does a production specialist do?

Production specialists are responsible for planning and managing the production activities of a company based on job orders. They provide support to the operations department and collaborate with supervisors to create production plans and identity workflow requirements. Other responsibilities may include managing existing workflow, organizing job training to the production team, and monitoring and reporting job status to customers. Production specialists are also expected to respond to customer concerns and inquiries, ensure the timely delivery of products, and ensure that products meet quality standards.

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

    Before you post your production specialist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a production specialist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A production specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, production specialists 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.

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

    Type of Production SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Production Specialist$11-35
    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
    Line Up WorkerThe Responsibilities of a Line-Up Worker varies upon the organization or industry. Still, most of the tasks revolve around doing manual work such as loading and unloading heavy shipments, operating various devices and machines of different sizes, assist in maintenance and assembling, and coordinating with teammates and reporting to supervisors... Show more$9-17
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Food Handling
    • Customer Service
    • Preventative Maintenance
    • Math
    • Production Process
    • Production Equipment
    • Employee Training
    • Basic Math
    • Safety Procedures
    • Safety Standards
    • Ladders
    • Troubleshoot
    • HTML
    • Quality Standards
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage and refine the metadata system for a photography database -communicate with customers over e-mail with regards to advertisement proofs
    • Labele individual components assuring accuracy in order to meet GMP and FDA guidelines.
    • Host and handle VIP lists and Facebook marketing, assist production crew during shows ,
    • Produce and cast several videos for the main Facebook page that reach millions of views.
    • Review and modify BOM's, assembly prints, and schematics prior to release to production.
    • Work in conjunction with engineering team on ECO's B.O.M's to identify and resolve material shortages.
    More production specialist duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, production specialists' average salary in arkansas is 54% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level production specialists 67% less than senior-level production specialists.
    • Certifications. A production specialist 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 specialist's salary.

    Average production specialist salary

    $42,090yearly

    $20.24 hourly rate

    Entry-level production specialist salary
    $24,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 16, 2026

    Average production specialist salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$67,824$33
    2New York$56,609$27
    3Maryland$50,109$24
    4District of Columbia$47,379$23
    5Oregon$45,826$22
    6Texas$44,783$22
    7Arizona$44,358$21
    8North Dakota$42,376$20
    9Washington$41,291$20
    10Utah$38,668$19
    11Tennessee$35,924$17
    12Illinois$35,646$17
    13Florida$35,550$17
    14North Carolina$35,514$17
    15Maine$35,415$17
    16Indiana$33,795$16
    17Kentucky$33,679$16
    18Minnesota$33,662$16
    19Colorado$33,614$16
    20Georgia$32,997$16

    Average production specialist salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Apple$126,578$60.8514
    2Citi$120,891$58.126
    3Texas Instruments$119,050$57.242
    4Altice USA$118,413$56.93
    5Amdocs$106,037$50.98
    6Moody's$102,440$49.25
    7Regeneron$97,345$46.801
    8Zoetis$93,895$45.1416
    9IBM$89,773$43.166
    10Planar Systems$88,872$42.73
    11Florida Power & Light$67,198$32.31
    12Softpath System$64,215$30.87
    13Schlumberger$63,806$30.682
    14NBCUniversal$63,622$30.5916
    15Crowe$61,790$29.71
    16Accenture$60,037$28.8619
    17University of Southern California$57,889$27.831
    18Merkle$55,730$26.79
    19Practicing Law Institute$54,230$26.07
    20Baker Hughes, a GE$53,919$25.92
  4. Writing a production specialist job description

    A job description for a production specialist 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 specialist job description:

    Production specialist job description example

    The VM Production Specialist is responsible for the Construction, Installation, Finish, Transportation and Management of all Visual elements that support store marketing presentations, events, pop-up shops, store design prototypes, and special projects.

    A day in the life...• Cabinetry / Fine Woodworking Experience• Full proficiency in all major power tool use.• Understanding of Personal and Equipment Safety requirements.• Ability to work safely in a high production environment.• Plan, Facilitate/or execute projects, including owning entire project as assigned.• Research and resolve issues using appropriate resources.• Creative Problem Solving• Ability to lift 50 lbs, climb 12' ladders, and wear respirator as required.• Ability to drive delivery vehicles, current driver's license.• Meet deadlines as outlined by Production Manager.• Assist in all aspects of production work.• Ability to Travel and work flexible schedules.

    You own this is you have...• Experience in Visual Merchandising/Cabinetry/Woodworking. • Knowledge of basic/advanced building techniques.• Ability to read Technical drawings• Proficiency in all basic Computer Software, including MS Office.• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively.• Ability to build strong relationships with in-store teams, regional/corporate merchants andstore/general managers• Demonstrated analysis and problem-solving skills• Clear and effective written and verbal communication and strong interpersonal skills
    We've got you covered...

    Our employees are our most important asset and that's reflected in our benefits. Nordstrom is proud to offer a variety of benefits to support employees and their families, including:

    + Medical/Vision, Dental, Retirement and Paid Time Away

    + Life Insurance and Disability

    + Merchandise Discount and EAP Resources

    A few more important points...

    The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive. There may be additional duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this job.

    Nordstrom will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.

    Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation should contact the nearest Nordstrom location, which can be identified at www.nordstrom.com .

    © 2022 Nordstrom, Inc

    Current Nordstrom employees: To apply, log into Workday, click the Careers button and then click Find Jobs.
  5. Post your job

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

    Recruiting production specialists 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.

    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 specialist

    Once you have selected a candidate for the production specialist 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 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.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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 specialist?

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

You can expect to pay around $42,090 per year for a production specialist, 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 specialists in the US typically range between $11 and $35 an hour.

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