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How to hire a shift foreman

Shift foreman hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring shift foremen in the United States:

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

How to hire a shift foreman, step by step

To hire a shift foreman, 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 shift foreman:

Here's a step-by-step shift foreman hiring guide:

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

    Before you post your shift foreman 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 shift foreman 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 shift foreman's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, shift foremen 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.

    This list shows salaries for various types of shift foremen.

    Type of Shift ForemanDescriptionHourly rate
    Shift Foreman$12-23
    LeaderLeaders pave the way for a company to achieve certain goals. They are in charge of bringing the organization to greater heights... Show more$23-73
    Operations Team LeaderAn operations team leader is an individual who manages teams, encouraging cooperation, productivity, and teamwork. Operations team leaders foster team unity and enhance the daily efficiency of the companies or any business establishment... Show more$13-51
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Machine Operators
    • Safety Rules
    • Plant Operations
    • Preventative Maintenance
    • CNC
    • Safety Standards
    • QC
    • Repair Orders
    • HVAC
    • Disciplinary Actions
    • Safety Policies
    • PPE
    • Inventory Control
    • RAN
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage a team of up to eight CNC operators in production setting.
    • Implement changes to the departments safety program, and lead tours and employee audits for lock-out and PPE.
    • Manage and perform all excavations.
    • Work with team to assist with ISO requirements.
    • Certify CNC machinist using different types of lathes and computer base machines.
    • Prioritize and delegate work orders to ensure plant run properly and efficiently.
    More shift foreman duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your shift foreman job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A shift foreman salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a shift foreman in Alabama may be lower than in Wyoming, and an entry-level shift foreman usually earns less than a senior-level shift foreman. Additionally, a shift foreman with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average shift foreman salary

    $35,963yearly

    $17.29 hourly rate

    Entry-level shift foreman salary
    $25,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 23, 2026

    Average shift foreman salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Arizona$43,488$21
    2Iowa$42,772$21
    3Michigan$38,869$19
    4Indiana$38,360$18
    5Illinois$38,123$18
    6Ohio$37,400$18
    7Pennsylvania$36,682$18

    Average shift foreman salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Martin Marietta$44,166$21.237
    2Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority$38,186$18.36
    3Oldcastle Infrastructure$34,349$16.5120
    4Central Garden & Pet$34,320$16.50
    5The Wood Company$34,187$16.44
    6Bodycote USA Inc$34,187$16.442
    7Kelly Services$33,361$16.042
    8Randstad North America, Inc.$33,238$15.98
    9Truck Centers$33,166$15.95
    10Army and Air Force Exchange Service$33,135$15.933
    11Interstate Companies, Inc.$33,063$15.90
    12Workbox Staffing$32,874$15.80
    13I-State Truck Center$32,873$15.80
    14CIT Trucks$32,351$15.555
    15Aerotek$32,279$15.5252
    16R.M. Schulte & Associates$29,889$14.37
  4. Writing a shift foreman job description

    A job description for a shift foreman 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 shift foreman job description:

    Shift foreman job description example

    • Hours: 2nd Shift - 2:00 pm to 10:30 pm Monday - Friday

    Bodycote is offering a $1000 sign-on retention bonus!

    Bodycote offers:

    • Ability to work full-time, 40 hours per week.
    • Paid holidays and 3 weeks paid time off.
    • Medical, Dental and Vision Plans for employee and family
    • 401k with 5% company match
    • Starting wages are $23.00 to $27.00 depending on experience

    Our people are the heart of our business. As the world's largest provider of thermal processing services, Bodycote employs thousands of highly skilled staff around the globe, some of the best engineers, scientists, and technicians in the industry. Come join our team!

    As a Forman, you will work alongside, train and lead other employees in a heavy industrial plant environment processing metal components for manufacturers in the aerospace, automotive, general industrial or oil & gas industries. In addition, you will:

    • Lead and assign work activities of employees in assigned work areas
    • Train and lead the activities of production employees, maintaining effective communication of customer needs/requirements and company goals
    • Keep close track of work in progress and regularly confer with other foremen, supervisors, and management staff
    • Independently operate, control, and monitor heat treating equipment as needed/required

    We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications:

    • This position must satisfy ITAR compliance requirements, therefore candidates must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Resident Card Holder.
    • Education - High school diploma or equivalent
    • Minimum six years experience in the heat treating industry
    • Must be able to effectively oversee heat treaters and/or other employees as designated using leadership qualities such as the ability to listen, be observant, patient, objective, and responsive
    • Must have advanced knowledge of heat treating, testing, commercial/aircraft/aerospace materials
    • May be required to work overtime or any shift, including weekends.
    • Must be able to obtain and maintain forklift operator certification.
    • Must demonstrate the ability to read, write and communicate in the English language.
    • Knowledge and hands-on experience in computer applications including Microsoft Office and databases is required.

    Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    Bodycote has a longstanding commitment to provide a safe, quality-oriented, and productive work environment and for these reasons, all applicants in the United States who receive a conditional offer of employment must undergo a drug screen before employment begins.



    PI194212116

  5. Post your job

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

    Recruiting shift foremen 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.

    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 shift foreman

    Once you've selected the best shift foreman 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.

    To prepare for the new shift foreman first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  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 shift foreman?

Recruiting shift foremen involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $35,963 per year for a shift foreman, 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 shift foremen in the US typically range between $12 and $23 an hour.

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