How to hire a smelter operator

How to hire a smelter operator, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your smelter 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 smelter 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

   A smelter operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, smelter operators 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 smelter operators.

   Type of Smelter Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Smelter Operator	Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate machines that cut, shape, and form metal and plastic materials or pieces.	$12-20
   Founder	A Founder is responsible for building his/her business from the ground up through various strategies and extensive planning. A Founder is also responsible for the workforce's funding and recruitment that would be vital for a company to succeed and create a vision and mission that the business would uphold... Show more	$22-84
   Furnace Operator	A furnace operator records time and production data, adjusts thermostats, and observes a pyrometer to maintain the temperature between specified limits. The operators set furnace control to regulate the temperature and heating time... Show more	$13-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Smelting
   • Control Room
   • End Loaders
   • Fork-Lift

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage work and heater logs, overtime budget, project delegation and PPE gear inventory.
   • Demonstrate ability to troubleshoot creatively, solve problems effectively, and make inform decisions while successfully guiding others through constant change.
   • Assist in the process of extracting CO2 gas from molten copper ore.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, smelter operators' average salary in florida is 43% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level smelter operators earn 42% less than senior-level smelter operators.
   • Certifications. A smelter 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 smelter operator's salary.

   Average smelter operator salary

   $15.81hourly

   $32,894 yearly

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   Entry-level smelter operator salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 30, 2026

4. Writing a smelter operator job description

   A smelter operator 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. Below, you can find an example of a smelter operator job description:

   Smelter operator job description example

   **Freeport-McMoRan** is a leading international mining company with headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. We operate large, long-lived, geographically diverse assets with significant proven and probable reserves of copper, gold, and molybdenum. The company has a dynamic portfolio of operating, expansion and growth projects in the copper industry. Freeport-McMoRan is one of the world's largest publicly traded copper producers, the world's largest producer of molybdenum and a significant gold producer. We have a long and successful history of conducting our business in a safe, highly efficient and socially-responsible manner.
   
   We have the assets, the talent, the drive and the financial strength to provide attractive and rewarding careers of our employees. We encourage you to take the time to explore the opportunity to advance your career at Freeport-McMoRan.
   **Description**
   
   Skilled worker who under supervision safely performs duties related to the smelting of metals from ore in various areas of the plant.
   
   + Completes duties within assigned area or areas that could include the utility area, the Isa, the electric furnace, the convertors, the anode plant and the acid plant
   
   + Responsibilities within the **Isa smelting vessel** area include:
   
   + Operating tapping machines and belting systems
   
   + Working on and around an industrial boiler
   
   + Responsibilities within the **electric furnace** area include:
   
   + Operating tapping machines
   
   + Operating a slag hauler (cress)
   
   + Cleaning launders which are used for molten metal transfers
   
   + Working around ventilation equipment which includes fans and scrubbers
   
   + Working with electrode-hydraulic systems
   
   + Performing housekeeping and minor maintenance activities such as troubleshooting equipment for smelter maintenance mechanics
   
   + Responsibilities within the **convertor** area include:
   
   + Running belt systems
   
   + Handling silica flux and reverts
   
   + Operating a rotary furnace convertor
   
   + Responsibilities within the **anode plant** include:
   
   + Working on water systems, casting systems, hydraulic systems, and refining processes
   
   + Responsibilities within the **acid plant** include:
   
   + Assisting with, and performing the starting and stopping of valves and pumps
   
   + Opening and closing valves
   
   + Acid stream sample retrieval
   
   + Analyzing samples for acid strength
   
   + Processing and analyzing samples in onsite lab
   
   + Responsibilities within the **utility** area include:
   
   + Unloading railcars that contain copper concentrate
   
   + Unloading bulk bags with various recycled materials such as foundry sands, precious metal scraps, and sludge that contains copper or precious metals
   
   + Managing truck unloading of copper concentrate, revert material, and silica
   
   + Transferring materials via belt systems that are distributed to different areas within the smelter
   
   + May assist with maintenance activities such as changing valves and piping
   
   + May operate skid-steer loaders, front-end loaders, 35 ton haul trucks, 75 ton overhead cranes, track excavators, forklifts, graders, water trucks, and vacuum trucks
   
   + May mentor and train fellow employees
   
   + May modify and create smelter operations standard operating procedures (SOP's)
   
   + Perform area housekeeping
   
   + Perform other duties as required
   
   **Qualifications**
   
   **Minimum Qualifications**
   
   + Six (6) months of experience with material handling equipment
   
   + Possess good communication skills
   
   + Must have completed academic and practical competencies required (this includes Line of Progression requirements for internal employees where LOP Exists) and have experience demonstrating the required aptitude. The selected candidate shall demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge and skills while also passing a written assessment where required. This exam is based on skills/abilities and/or academic knowledge; as well as safety.
   
   **Preferred**
   
   + High School diploma or GED
   
   **Criteria/Conditions**
   
   + Ability to understand and apply verbal and written work and safety-related instructions and procedures given in English
   
   + Ability to communicate in English with respect to job assignments, job procedures, and applicable safety standards
   
   + Must be able to work in a potentially stressful environment
   
   + Work is performed in a mine or manufacturing plant setting, which may include exposure to extremes in temperature and humidity, moving mechanical parts, risk of electrical shock, toxic chemicals, explosives, fumes or airborne particles
   
   + While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, sit, demonstrate manual dexterity, climb stairs and ladders, work on elevated platforms and work in confined spaces
   
   + Occasionally may be required to lift up to fifty (50) pounds during the course of the work day
   
   + Will be required to work rotating shifts in a 24/7/365 operation
   
   + Personal protective equipment is required when performing work in a mine, outdoor, manufacturing or plant environment, including hard hat, hearing protection, safety glasses, safety footwear, and as needed, respirator, rubber steel-toe boots, protective clothing, gloves and any other protective equipment as required
   
   + Freeport-McMoRan promotes a drug/alcohol free work environment through the use of mandatory pre-employment drug testing and on-going random drug testing as per applicable State Laws
   
   Freeport-McMoRan has reviewed the jobs at its various office and operating sites and determined that many of these jobs require employees to perform essential job functions that pose a direct threat to the safety or health of the employees performing these tasks or others. Accordingly, the Company has designated the following positions as safety-sensitive:
   
   + Site-based positions, or positions which require unescorted access to site-based operational areas, which are held by employees who are required to receive MSHA, OSHA, DOT, HAZWOPER and/or Hazard Recognition Training; or
   
   + Positions which are held by employees who operate equipment, machinery or motor vehicles in furtherance of performing the essential functions of their job duties, including operating motor vehicles while on Company business or travel (for this purpose "motor vehicles" includes Company owned or leased motor vehicles and personal motor vehicles used by employees in furtherance of Company business or while on Company travel); or
   
   + Positions which Freeport-McMoRan has designated as safety sensitive positions in the applicable job or position description and which upon further review continue to be designated as safety-sensitive based on an individualized assessment of the actual duties performed by a specifically identified employee.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veteran/Disability
   
   **Nearest Major Market:** Payson
   
   **Job Segment:** Front End, HVAC, Hydraulics, Electrical, Technology, Operations, Engineering

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find smelter 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 smelter operator job on Zippia to find and recruit smelter operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting smelter 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.

   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 smelter operator

   Once you've selected the best smelter 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with 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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