How to hire a sanitizer

How to hire a sanitizer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step sanitizer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a sanitizer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new sanitizer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a sanitizer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your sanitizer 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 sanitizer 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?

   Yes

   No

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

   Here's a comparison of sanitizer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Sanitizer	Description	Hourly rate
   Sanitizer	Janitors and building cleaners keep many types of buildings clean, orderly, and in good condition.	$13-20
   Floor Technician	A floor technician's role is to maintain the cleanliness and sanitation of various areas within an establishment. Their responsibilities include operating cleaning equipment, conducting minimal repairs and inventory checks, arranging furniture and fixtures, organizing supplies, and keeping floors free from obstructions... Show more	$11-18
   Floor Staff	The duties of floor staff depend on their line of work or industry of employment. In restaurants and similar establishments, floor staff is in charge of performing support tasks for the wait staff... Show more	$10-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Food Safety
   • Production Equipment
   • Power Washers
   • Ladders
   • GMP
   • Cleanliness
   • Sanitation Procedures
   • CIP
   • Safety Standards
   • SQF
   • Work Ethic
   • OSHA
   • LOTO
   • Safety Policies

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the receipt and tracking of control substances as well as the DEA biennial inspection.
   • Clean grinders, augers, line equipment for raw meat processing for pet food products.
   • Follow all GMP and FDA rules and regulations to ensure food contamination/ cross contamination doesn't occur
   • Assure quality, complete all paper work, and comply with all safety and GMP standard.
   • Clean and prepare mixers and production lines, food allergen cleaning for dairy and nut allergen.
   • Confirm that lines are cleaned in accordance with USDA and proper chemicals are used on specific equipment.

   More sanitizer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, sanitizers' average salary in mississippi is 41% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level sanitizers earn 35% less than senior-level sanitizers.
   • Certifications. A sanitizer 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 sanitizer's salary.

   Average sanitizer salary

   $35,199yearly

   $16.92 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level sanitizer salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

   Average sanitizer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$41,486	$20
   2	New York	$41,369	$20
   3	California	$40,487	$19
   4	Minnesota	$40,220	$19
   5	Wisconsin	$38,618	$19
   6	Colorado	$38,068	$18
   7	Oregon	$37,818	$18
   8	Illinois	$37,358	$18
   9	Maine	$36,465	$18
   10	Indiana	$36,290	$17
   11	Pennsylvania	$35,909	$17
   12	Michigan	$35,360	$17
   13	Arizona	$34,738	$17
   14	Missouri	$33,661	$16
   15	Ohio	$33,380	$16
   16	Texas	$32,840	$16
   17	Tennessee	$32,062	$15
   18	Georgia	$31,483	$15
   19	Florida	$30,622	$15
   20	North Carolina	$30,216	$15

   Average sanitizer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	$42,563	$20.46
   2	Ventura Foods	$42,490	$20.43	1
   3	Reser's Fine Foods	$42,428	$20.40	10
   4	Nation Pizza	$42,390	$20.38
   5	Dairy Farmers of America	$42,229	$20.30	7
   6	Bunge	$42,204	$20.29	2
   7	Nestlé	$42,132	$20.26	22
   8	Seneca Foods	$41,941	$20.16
   9	L'Oréal	$41,458	$19.93
   10	Mars	$40,943	$19.68	5
   11	Rich Products	$40,925	$19.68	3
   12	PepsiCo	$40,893	$19.66	1
   13	Red Gold	$40,862	$19.65	1
   14	Prairie Farms Dairy	$40,841	$19.64	2
   15	Gotham Greens	$40,665	$19.55	11
   16	Little Lady Foods	$40,574	$19.51
   17	Koch Foods	$40,566	$19.50	3
   18	Crunch Pak	$40,529	$19.49
   19	California Dairies	$40,355	$19.40	2
   20	Hain Celestial	$40,281	$19.37	3

4. Writing a sanitizer job description

   A sanitizer 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 sanitizer job description:

   Sanitizer job description example

   Department: Warehouse Reports To: Sanitation Supervisor
   
   Your Role: Utilizing various electric or manual equipment to maintain warehouse cleanliness, including aisles, rack, and warehouse slotting areas. Keeping the work environment safe, clean, and sanitary to company standards.
   
   Warehouse aisle and slotting area maintenance Operating manual pallet truck to relocate product in the warehouse while cleaning product slots Move all refuse to designated trash pick-up areas Clean trailers, remove debris and dirt from trailer floors Applies lean thinking and tools to identify and eliminate waste in all areas of the position.
   
   Role Specifics:
   Full-time: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday OR Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Hours: 7:30pm - 6:00am. Walking up to 7 miles a day on concrete floors
   
   Qualifications
   
   We Need You To Have:
   18 years of age or older Able to pass a physical abilities test and lift up to 40 pounds during shift Sufficient vision and hearing necessary to operate powered equipment safely.
   We'd Like You To Have:
   Previous experience working in a warehouse environment Experience with operating manual pallet jacks Previous sanitation experience
   
   What Can Dot Offer You?
   
   As a family-owned and -operated company since 1960, Dot Foods has created a strong family culture within the business. As a vital part of that family unit, we want to ensure you feel included and respected for any differing ideas. We appreciate those opinions and count on them to make us successful. In addition to an inclusive working environment, we will provide you with:
   
   Wage Range: $13.59 - $17.71 (plus night shift differential) Significant advancement opportunities Safe work environment

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit sanitizers, 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 sanitizer

   Once you've selected the best sanitizer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new sanitizer. 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 sanitizer?