How to hire a shop worker

How to hire a shop worker, step by step

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

What does a shop worker do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a shop worker, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A shop worker's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, shop workers 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 presents shop worker salaries for various positions.

   Type of Shop Worker	Description	Hourly rate
   Shop Worker		$11-19
   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
   Production Operator	A production operator is responsible for handling and monitoring manufacturing machines in a factory or similar establishment, ensuring that everything is running smoothly and according to schedule. Aside from assisting with the processing and packaging of goods, a production operator must also conduct necessary inspections to the machine or equipment that they are using to make sure that it is in good condition and is safe to use... Show more	$12-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Tape Measure
   • Safety Procedures
   • In-Shop
   • Delivery Orders
   • Pro Shop
   • Food Preparation
   • Customer Orders
   • Load Trucks
   • CNC
   • Customer Service
   • Shop Maintenance
   • Blowers
   • Print Shop
   • Drill Press

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Used calipers and gauges to make sure parts are within specs.
   • Record transactions in POS system from both in shop and drive thru orders.
   • Used FeatureCAM to prepare parts modele by students to be CNC mill with greater precision than if machine manually.
   • Transform the blueprint or sketch from a design into a useable product by cutting, shaping and assembling steel.
   • Assist shop manager in making of jigs, cut lists, and machining plans to ensure productivity and quality control.
   • Operate various machines such as drill presses, table saws, CNC routers and forklifts, safely in a busy warehouse.

   More shop worker duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, shop workers' average salary in alabama is 44% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level shop workers 41% less than senior-level shop workers.
   • Certifications. A shop worker 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 shop worker's salary.

   Average shop worker salary

   $15.31hourly

   $31,850 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level shop worker salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average shop worker salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$39,701	$19
   2	Massachusetts	$37,903	$18
   3	California	$36,598	$18
   4	Minnesota	$35,166	$17
   5	New York	$34,857	$17
   6	Illinois	$34,661	$17
   7	Wisconsin	$33,235	$16
   8	Missouri	$32,876	$16
   9	New Jersey	$31,848	$15
   10	Pennsylvania	$31,395	$15
   11	Colorado	$28,992	$14
   12	Oklahoma	$28,886	$14
   13	Tennessee	$26,215	$13
   14	Texas	$25,931	$12
   15	Virginia	$25,539	$12
   16	Florida	$24,495	$12
   17	Georgia	$24,285	$12

   Average shop worker salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Shipt	$40,505	$19.47
   2	Stamford Health	$37,034	$17.80
   3	Skanska USA Civil Inc	$36,583	$17.59
   4	The Andersons	$36,199	$17.40	2
   5	Power International Holding	$34,569	$16.62	4
   6	OrePac Building Products	$34,538	$16.60
   7	Magna International	$34,276	$16.48
   8	Air Hydro Power	$34,036	$16.36
   9	Interior Specialists	$34,017	$16.35
   10	Wegmans Food Markets	$34,002	$16.35	18
   11	P&S Transportation	$33,517	$16.11
   12	Western Pacific Building Materials	$33,100	$15.91
   13	Balanced Body	$33,088	$15.91
   14	Wisconsin Aviation	$31,718	$15.25
   15	Clymer Enterprise	$31,623	$15.20
   16	California	$31,623	$15.20	3
   17	Power Services Incorporated	$31,410	$15.10
   18	Css Farms	$31,024	$14.92	3
   19	Closet Factory	$30,919	$14.86	17
   20	Workbox Staffing	$30,861	$14.84	4

4. Writing a shop worker job description

   A shop worker 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a shop worker job description:

   Shop worker job description example

   Miller Brother Staffing Solutions is seeking reliable candidates for two Paint-Crate Shop positions. These are 1st shift positions with a pay rate of $14-15/hour.
   Job Rec
   Paint-Crate Shop Worker
   Shift: 1st 7am -3:30pm Plus overtime
   Pay Rate: $14-15/hour BOE
   ***Must pass a drug screen and be open to a criminal background check***
   PPE: must have Steel Toed Boots.
   
   Overview
   This position requires tasks in both the crate and paint shops depending on customer demands. In the crate shop candidates will work safely as part of a team to build pallets and crates as per the job directions for items that will be shipped. These items will be large-in-size most of the time and repetitive lifting and use of hand tools will be extensive. In the paint shop candidates will be required to prepare very expensive products for painting. This will require the use of hand tools to remove parts of the product and taping off certain portions of the products prior to it being painted. NO PAINTING IS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION.
   
   Duties Use of hands tools to include screw drivers, power nail gun, various saws, drills and tape measure. Read the job direction carefully to execute the building of the crate to its required specs. Use of a scaffold of to 5'11 to assemble the crate around the product Carefully measure the wood to the required measurement and cut the material as needed using various saws. Repetitive lifting and tandem lifting of building material and finished product Carefully assemble the crate to the desired specs using a power nail gun or power drill. Carefully remove vents and other parts of the product using drills and screwdrivers-MUST BE DONE WITHOUT SCRATCHING THE METAL Tape off areas of the product that are not to be painted Boarding off certain parts of the product that are not to be painted using drills, screwdrivers or ratchets

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit shop workers, 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 worker

   Once you've selected the best shop worker 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.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new shop worker. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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