How to hire a relief operator

How to hire a relief operator, step by step

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

What does a relief operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The relief operator 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?

   Yes

   No

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

   Here's a comparison of relief operator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Relief Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Relief Operator		$17-24
   Production Line Operator	Production line operators must have strong reading skills and a knowledge base for loading and unloading, quality control, and starting and stopping of production lines. Those who choose this career will be expected to assist in assembling and manufacturing machines, foodstuffs, and products... Show more	$12-20
   Manufacturing Operator	A manufacturing operator is primarily responsible for overseeing and controlling the performance of machines and equipment, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around monitoring production operations, conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the accuracy and quality of machinery, performing corrective measures and adjustments as needed, and assessing the quality of finished products, all while adhering to deadlines and goals... Show more	$12-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Food Safety
   • CIP
   • PPE
   • Quality Checks
   • Basic Math
   • CDL
   • Safety Procedures
   • GMP
   • Lockout Tagout
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Production Floor
   • Quality Standards
   • Machine Operators
   • Safety Regulations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Run and maintain production machinery while following all company GMP's and safety policies.
   • Utilize chemicals for clean-ups, always following MSDS instructions and wearing proper PPE at all times.
   • Perform work in specialize chemical/acid resistant PPE with SCBA, chemical resistant heat suits, inline air and escape packs.
   • Maintain technical data/records for mechanical/electrical repair and adjustments to assure product conformance with SPC specifications.
   • Perform routine verification of equipment when unloading autoclaves and setting up aseptic filling machines.

   More relief operator duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, relief operators' average salary in wyoming is 48% less than in kansas.
   • Seniority. Entry-level relief operators 28% less than senior-level relief operators.
   • Certifications. A relief operator 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 relief operator's salary.

   Average relief operator salary

   $42,693yearly

   $20.53 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level relief operator salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

   Average relief operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Kansas	$51,937	$25
   2	Wisconsin	$49,192	$24
   3	Minnesota	$48,400	$23
   4	Oregon	$46,619	$22
   5	Illinois	$45,722	$22
   6	North Dakota	$45,008	$22
   7	Maryland	$44,523	$21
   8	Colorado	$44,129	$21
   9	Pennsylvania	$43,487	$21
   10	Indiana	$42,690	$21
   11	California	$42,480	$20
   12	Massachusetts	$41,138	$20
   13	Utah	$40,593	$20
   14	New Mexico	$40,250	$19
   15	Georgia	$40,063	$19
   16	Arkansas	$39,343	$19
   17	Florida	$38,254	$18
   18	Montana	$38,129	$18
   19	North Carolina	$36,744	$18

   Average relief operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Nestlé	$49,591	$23.84	85
   2	Reckitt Benckiser	$49,203	$23.66	14
   3	Seneca Foods	$48,511	$23.32	12
   4	Wells Enterprises	$48,424	$23.28	9
   5	Kemps	$48,213	$23.18	6
   6	Ranger Energy Services	$47,672	$22.92	4
   7	Schreiber Foods	$47,652	$22.91	20
   8	HollyFrontier	$47,606	$22.89
   9	Dairy Farmers of America	$47,304	$22.74	167
   10	Foster Farms	$46,987	$22.59	13
   11	Mars	$46,264	$22.24	24
   12	Land O'Lakes	$45,516	$21.88	65
   13	Ferrara Candy	$45,465	$21.86	6
   14	Rich Products	$45,310	$21.78	8
   15	PepsiCo	$45,201	$21.73	14
   16	Shaw Industries	$44,566	$21.43	6
   17	Post Holdings	$44,530	$21.41	64
   18	Bunge	$44,003	$21.16	17
   19	Cass-Clay® Creamery	$43,781	$21.05	1
   20	Lassonde Pappas & Co	$43,717	$21.02	10

4. Writing a relief operator job description

   A relief operator 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 relief operator job description:

   Relief operator job description example

   Must be able to communicate well with others and understand team concept.Must understand and follow all SOP's and GMP's for producing quality product.
   
   Must be able to assemble and operate high speed equipment, including but not limited to: Robot, Descrambler, Palletizer, Filler, Labeler, Casepacker and bottle changes on all dressing lines.Must be able to assist the Operators in all duties such as clearing jams, stacking off, climbing, machine faults, loading of materials, checking code dates, etc.Responsible for recording of specific information in CDC.Responsible for adhering to Quality Assurance standards and WinSPC - computerized weight control.Must be able to follow and understand production schedule.Responsible for minor repairs and adjustments of each machine center while relieving for breaks.Assist filler operator with all change-over aspects.Responsible for staging changeover parts prior to changeover and returning changeover parts to changeover parts cart.Able to lift up to 50 pounds.Must follow all OSHA and Plant safety rules.Will perform duties as assigned by Supervisor or Team Leader
   Our Benefits:
   
   We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role:
   Health: Medical, dental and vision insurance, company-paid life, accident and disability insurance Wealth: great pay, incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan Growth: online courses, virtual and classroom development experiences Balance: paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role)
   
   Our Company:
   
   Conagra Brands is one of North America's leading branded food companies. We have a rich heritage of making great food, and a team that's passionate about innovation and growth. Conagra offers choices for every occasion through iconic brands, such as Birds Eye , Marie Callender's , Banquet , Healthy Choice , Slim Jim , Reddi-wip , and Vlasic , and emerging brands, including Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP , Duke's , Earth Balance , Gardein , and Frontera .
   We pride ourselves on having the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in the food industry. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.
   
   Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right relief operator 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 relief operator job on Zippia to find and recruit relief operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit relief operators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 relief operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the relief operator 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.

   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.

   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 relief operator?