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How to hire a shop helper

Shop helper hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring shop helpers in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a shop helper is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per shop helper on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 53,009 shop helpers in the US, and there are currently 23,652 job openings in this field.
  • Houston, TX, has the highest demand for shop helpers, with 18 job openings.

How to hire a shop helper, step by step

To hire a shop helper, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a shop helper:

Here's a step-by-step shop helper hiring guide:

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

What does a shop helper do?

A shop helper is in charge of providing technical assistance to staff. Their responsibilities include operating devices and machinery, assisting in kit arrangements, preparing and handing over tools to mechanics, monitoring the inventory of supplies, and performing basic repairs as needed. They may also perform clerical support tasks such as preparing and processing documentation, answering calls and correspondence, handling request procedures, and maintaining records of transactions. Furthermore, as a shop helper, it is essential to keep an active communication line with staff, coordinating for a smooth and efficient workflow.

Learn more about the specifics of what a shop helper does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your shop helper 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 shop helper 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 shop helper's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, shop helpers 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 shop helpers and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Shop HelperDescriptionHourly rate
    Shop Helper$12-18
    Woodworking Shop HandA woodworking shop hand is responsible for assisting woodwork tasks, creating high-quality products, and inspecting the items thoroughly before packaging and releasing for delivery. Woodworking shop hands maintain clean and safe construction tools and equipment, perform repairs as needed, and disposing of defective items that may affect operational efficiency... Show more$12-18
    Shop TechnicianShop Technicians are skilled workers assigned to a retail store. Their main activities depend on the nature of the business their company is in... Show more$12-25
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Tape Measure
    • Grinders
    • Customer Vehicles
    • BARS
    • Work Ethic
    • Torches
    • Math
    • CNC
    • Hand Tools
    • Machine Shop
    • Preventative Maintenance
    • Shop Equipment
    • Drill Press
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Help around the warehouse with press brake, fabrication, MIG, CNC, stainless steel, sheet metal
    • Process and build aluminum frames for commercial glass buildings.
    • Assist with trimming, sorting and preparing brochures and documents
    • Rig up and rig down power tongs and power units.
    • Perform a little bit of tig welding, but not much.
    • Assemble new ATV's, lawn mowers, snowmobiles, and motorcycles.
    More shop helper duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the shop helper job description is a good way to get more applicants. A shop helper 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 shop helper in Tennessee may be lower than in Rhode Island, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level shop helper. Additionally, a shop helper with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average shop helper salary

    $15.71hourly

    $32,686 yearly

    Entry-level shop helper salary
    $26,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025

    Average shop helper salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Colorado$38,330$18
    2Washington$37,885$18
    3Oregon$36,388$17
    4New York$35,958$17
    5Illinois$35,814$17
    6Minnesota$35,689$17
    7California$34,645$17
    8Ohio$34,468$17
    9Pennsylvania$34,014$16
    10Indiana$33,206$16
    11Kansas$32,557$16
    12North Carolina$32,071$15
    13Utah$31,689$15
    14Maryland$31,086$15
    15Arizona$30,553$15
    16Oklahoma$30,409$15
    17Idaho$30,159$15
    18Texas$29,264$14
    19Florida$28,139$14

    Average shop helper salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1NBCUniversal$40,604$19.521
    2Fluid Components International$40,521$19.48
    3Olympic Steel$39,815$19.14
    4Valmont Industries$39,791$19.134
    5MDU Resources$39,702$19.09
    6Shipt$38,476$18.50
    7Baxter International$37,976$18.26
    8Republic Services$37,790$18.17168
    9Stewart & Stevenson$37,265$17.92
    10McDermott International$37,102$17.84
    11Bruce Transportation Group$36,993$17.79
    12CCC Group$36,593$17.59
    13Alamo Group$36,583$17.596
    14Epic Aircraft$36,513$17.55
    15Waste Pro$36,484$17.5425
    16Campbell Soup$36,440$17.528
    17National Prosource$36,438$17.52
    18Hooper$36,303$17.451
    19VisionCorp Rep$36,237$17.42
    20Mcs$35,929$17.27
  4. Writing a shop helper job description

    A job description for a shop helper 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 shop helper job description:

    Shop helper job description example

    · Driving to pick up parts/deliver as well as any other assigned tasks – must be able to haul 27’ + trailer.

    · Other general shop duties required by the shop or structural foreman.

    · Inspect all equipment daily to check for leaky cylinders, hoses, or connections.

    · Palletizing, shrink wrapping, & banding product/materials.

    Job Requirements and Qualifications:

    ***MUST Have ability to read tape measure and general use of power tools such as drill press, grinder, saw, sanders and general hand tools. Attention to detail and ability to follow instructions a must! ***

    · Must be detail-oriented and able to focus on small details.

    · Knowledge of safe use and handling of power tools.

    · You will also be using a shear, iron worker, press brake, saw, lathe mill and hand tools for fabrication.

    · Able to follow directions and work with a sense of urgency.

    · Forklift experience preferred.

    · Welding experience preferred.

    · Excellent communication skills.

    · Customer focused attitude.

    · Ability to meet deadlines.

    · Ability to bend, kneel, squat, and perform repetitive motion for extended periods.

    · Ability to lift and carry 100 lbs of product and material.

    · Ensure work is done safely and meets quality standards - Keep work areas clean and organized and take proper care of all equipment and facilities.

    · Contribute to team effort by communicating and working well with others, as well as accomplishing related tasks as needed.

    · Sweeping & cleaning production areas.

    · Follow all company rules and policies.

    · Maintain a high degree of integrity with regards to professional behavior and safety.

    Key Competencies:

    · Able to work 5 days a week, some overtime required.

    · Read a tape measure.

    · Trainable for new processes.

    · Ability to learn new processes.

    · Ability to work effectively as a team member, establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

    · Possess a positive attitude and a strong work ethic.

    · Highschool diploma or equivalent.

    · Forklift driving experience a plus.

    · 6 months of working experience.

    · Able to understand the English language.

    · Wear appropriate protective clothing in compliance with safety protocols.

    This Job Is Ideal for Someone Who Is:

    · Dependable -- more reliable than spontaneous

    · Adaptable/flexible -- enjoys doing work that requires frequent shifts in direction.

    • Achievement-oriented -- enjoys taking on challenges, even if they might fail.
    • Autonomous/Independent -- enjoys working with little direction.
    • High stress tolerance -- thrives in a high-pressure environment.

    Job Type: Full-time

    Schedule:

    · 8-10-hour shift

    · Monday through Friday

    · Overtime

    Grow your career supported by an energized and passionate team, training, flexibility, and opportunities for advancement. We offer competitive wages and benefits including comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage, matching 401(k), paid time off and more.

  5. Post your job

    To find shop helpers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any shop helpers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level shop helpers with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your shop helper job on Zippia to find and recruit shop helper candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with shop helper candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of 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 shop helper

    Once you've selected the best shop helper 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 shop helper 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.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a shop helper?

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

You can expect to pay around $32,686 per year for a shop helper, 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 shop helpers in the US typically range between $12 and $18 an hour.

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