How to hire a set-up operator

How to hire a set-up operator, step by step

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

What does a set-up operator do?

Post a set-up operator job for free, promote it for a fee

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your set-up operator 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 set-up operator 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 set-up operator 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 set-up operator that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of set-up operators.

   Type of Set-Up Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Set-Up Operator	Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate machines that cut, shape, and form metal and plastic materials or pieces.	$13-25
   Set Up Technician	Set up technicians are skilled employees who assemble and disassemble manufacturing machines as well as perform preventative maintenance to ensure that the manufacturing firm can produce high-quality products. These technicians must inspect products so that they can locate malfunctions in machine operations and then inform their supervisor about the repairs needed... Show more	$13-22
   Numerical Control Operator	A numerical control operator is responsible for monitoring machinery and managing computer-generated equipment to produce tools and components from various mechanical resources. Numerical control operators must have extensive knowledge with the technology and mechanical industry to perform basic troubleshooting and detect malfunctions during operations... Show more	$13-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Calipers
   • CNC Machines
   • Hand Tools
   • Math
   • Quality Checks
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Micrometers
   • Safety Procedures
   • CNC Lathes
   • Basic Math
   • Quality Standards
   • ISO
   • GMP
   • SPC

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage daily scheduling of production workload to be setup and run on machinery.
   • Use and replacement of drills, taps, broaches, and reamers.
   • Manufacture parts according to blueprints, work with stainless steel aluminum, brass and plastics.
   • Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, or grinders.
   • Use of exact measuring instruments as CMM, optical comparators, mics, bore gauges and many other tools.
   • Produce parts from different materials such as cold roll steel, stainless steel, no lead brass and regular brass.

   More set-up operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the set-up operator job description is a good way to get more applicants. A set-up operator salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a set-up operator in Montana may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level set-up operator. Additionally, a set-up operator with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average set-up operator salary

   $39,269yearly

   $18.88 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level set-up operator salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average set-up operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$47,435	$23
   2	Pennsylvania	$44,879	$22
   3	Nebraska	$44,749	$22
   4	Florida	$44,199	$21
   5	Connecticut	$41,953	$20
   6	California	$41,439	$20
   7	Minnesota	$41,120	$20
   8	Wisconsin	$39,049	$19
   9	Ohio	$38,254	$18
   10	North Carolina	$38,095	$18
   11	Illinois	$38,079	$18
   12	Michigan	$37,920	$18

   Average set-up operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Schneider Electric Industrial Services	$57,616	$27.70	1
   2	Avery Dennison	$48,716	$23.42	43
   3	BD	$47,929	$23.04	7
   4	Sanmina	$47,895	$23.03	30
   5	Wabtec Corporation	$47,702	$22.93	7
   6	VisionCorp Rep	$45,595	$21.92	5
   7	AO Architects	$45,140	$21.70	2
   8	Schaeffler	$45,019	$21.64	43
   9	WestRock	$44,373	$21.33	27
   10	Barnes Group	$44,339	$21.32	3
   11	Bausch + Lomb	$44,317	$21.31	5
   12	Eaton	$43,724	$21.02	50
   13	Swagelok Company	$43,689	$21.00	3
   14	Fose+McKay	$43,465	$20.90
   15	Koch Industries	$43,340	$20.84	3
   16	Brunswick	$43,116	$20.73	2
   17	Psg	$42,955	$20.65	11
   18	Precision Castparts	$42,023	$20.20	50
   19	A. O. Smith	$41,911	$20.15	2
   20	Modine Manufacturing	$41,658	$20.03	7

4. Writing a set-up operator job description

   A job description for a set-up operator 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 set-up operator job description:

   Set-up operator job description example

   • Set Up Operator Possess good working knowledge of Injection Molding process.
   • Setup molds and start mold per Molding Setup Report.
   • Correctly fill out appropriate documentation for material allocation, material identification, production cards, special instructions tags and labels.
   • Set-Up operators are responsible to read part drawings and verify parts for quality requirements.
   • Ability to make process changes and document changes as required.
   • Make sure the "Machine Book" has all required job information before starting job.
   • Clean and / or fill hoppers when required.
   • Tumble material per specifications when required.
   • Clean and empty grinders when required.
   • Keep last 4 shots and fill out die repair tags for Supervisor's signature at end of run.
   • Set Up Operators capable to run automatic jobs when required.
   • Weigh up production at the end of your shift and fill in production cards when required.
   • Communicate effectively with preceding and succeeding shift Setup Technicians and Machine Operators on a daily basis.
   • Ability to diagnose and make minor maintenance repairs, replace fuses etc.
   • Support injection molding setup and process requirements.

   • 
     

     Requirements

     HSD

     
     

     
     

     #pando

     EEOC

     Benefits

     competitive wage

     $18/hr

     PandoLogic. Keywords: Molding Machine Operator, Location: Hamburg, NY - 14075 , PL: 550542534

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find set-up operators for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your set-up operator job on Zippia to find and recruit set-up operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit set-up operators, 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 set-up operator

   Once you've decided on a perfect set-up operator candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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 set-up operator. 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 set-up operator?