How to hire a silo operator

How to hire a silo operator, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the silo operator you need to hire. Certain silo operator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect silo operator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of silo operator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Silo Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Silo Operator	Material moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects. Some operators move construction materials around building sites or excavate earth from a mine... Show more	$13-45
   Lead Operator/Machine Operator	A Lead Operator or an Industrial Machinery Mechanic is responsible for creating, installing, and repairing different types of machinery. This person does the adjustment and maintenance of machines as well as the industrial production and distribution of types of equipment and other systems... Show more	$13-25
   Lead Operator	Lead operators are responsible for the direction and supervision of the day-to-day activities in facilities. As machine operators, they control machines and take charge of industrial operations... Show more	$25-68

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Rail Cars
   • Bobcat

   Responsibilities:

   • Coordinate logistics for chemical supply, supervise personnel and manage shift changes.
   • Guide trucks to proper position using CB radio.
   • Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
   • Provide troubleshooting, conflict management, and expedient resolution of technical and/or floor issues with solutions-orient leadership.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, silo operators' average salary in washington is 54% less than in north carolina.
   • Seniority. Entry-level silo operators earn 71% less than senior-level silo operators.
   • Certifications. A silo operator 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 silo operator's salary.

   Average silo operator salary

   $52,163yearly

   $25.08 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level silo operator salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a silo operator job description

   A job description for a silo 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 silo operator job description:

   Silo operator job description example

   Do you thrive in a company in which you roll up your sleeves and get it done? Do you want to work for a company that is people-centric, execution driven, accountability focused and marked by world-class safety, a high level of energy and unquestionable integrity? If so, come join us. Charah Solutions is the leading provider of environmental services and byproduct sales to the power generation industry.
   
   Based in Louisville, Kentucky, we assist utilities and independent power producers in sustainably managing and recycling ash byproducts generated from the combustion of coal in the production of electricity. With over 30 years of experience, we also design and implement solutions for ash pond management and closure, landfill construction, fly ash sales, and structural fill projects. To be our best, we need the best. At Charah Solutions, our best begins with you.
   
   Charah Solutions offers: Competitive Pay, Medical, Dental, Vision, Company Paid Short- & Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, 401(k) with Company Contribution After 1 Year, Paid Time Off, Incredible Safety Record, and Well-Maintained Equipment.
   
   This position is responsible for silo operation and maintenance. This position observes incoming and outgoing trucking traffic and weighs loads as required.
   
   + Completes documentation required containing all pertinent information about the load and amounts being transported
   + Operate and maintain conveyer systems that move material
   
   + Learn, follow, and promote all safety regulations
   
   + Perform other duties as assigned
   
   + Valid driver's license required
   
   + Minimum one-year experience working in a construction or similar environment preferred
   
   + General knowledge of materials, weighing methods and mechanical equipment involved in loading trucks preferred
   
   + High school diploma or equivalent preferred
   
   + This position requires a flexible work schedule: nights, weekends, holidays, and/or overtime
   
   + Must be able to climb, maintain body equilibrium, reach, grasp, bend and walk/stand/sit for extended periods of time
   
   + Must be able to hear and see naturally or with correction
   
   + Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds
   
   + Be subject to loud noises
   
   + Be subject to atmospheric conditions - one or more of the following conditions that affect the respiratory system or the skin: fumes, odor, dust, mists, gases, or poor ventilation
   
   + This position requires working in the internal and external environment
   
   + Ability to work independently and as a team
   
   + Ability to work under pressure with time constraints in a changing environment
   
   + Ability to effectively communicate
   
   Job Posting Title: Silo Operator
   
   ID: 2022-2546
   
   External Company Name: Charah Solutions Inc.
   
   Street: 3300 North State Rd 63

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right silo operator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with silo operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit silo operators who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting silo operators 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 silo operator

   Once you've selected the best silo operator 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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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