How to hire a tool room machinist

How to hire a tool room machinist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step tool room machinist hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a tool room machinist, 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a tool room machinist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a tool room machinist that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of tool room machinist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Tool Room Machinist	Description	Hourly rate
   Tool Room Machinist	Machinists and tool and die makers set up and operate a variety of computer-controlled and mechanically controlled machine tools to produce precision metal parts, instruments, and tools.	$15-29
   Grinder	Depending on the industry, a grinder has a diverse range of duties. Typically, they oversee setting up and operating bearing grinders, cam grinders, and CNC lathes... Show more	$12-19
   Mold Maker	A Mold Maker creates, adjusts, inspects, maintains, and repairs molds and production equipment. They use various machines, such as lathes, milling machines, grinding machines, and jig borders.	$16-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Jigs
   • Grinders
   • Hand Tools
   • Calipers
   • Micrometers
   • Machine Tools
   • Manual Lathes
   • CNC Mill
   • Wire EDM
   • CNC Machines
   • CAD
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Surface Grinders
   • Mold Repair

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Fabricate gauges, jigs, fixtures, extrusion dies, and various types of cut die components.
   • Design and construct drill jigs, bending fixtures, welding jigs and components for a wide variety of government contracts
   • Work closely with customers to determine job requirements, troubleshoot equipment problems and answer customer questions.
   • Operate / set up manual bridgeports.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, tool room machinists' average salary in kentucky is 37% less than in new mexico.
   • Seniority. Entry-level tool room machinists earn 46% less than senior-level tool room machinists.
   • Certifications. A tool room machinist 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 tool room machinist's salary.

   Average tool room machinist salary

   $45,143yearly

   $21.70 hourly rate

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   Entry-level tool room machinist salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a tool room machinist job description

   A tool room machinist 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 tool room machinist job description:

   Tool room machinist job description example

   • 1 to 3 years of machining experience.
   • Must be able to set-up and operate manual milling, turning and grinding machinery.
   • Ability to program, set-up and operate CNC equipment including VMC's, Turning, and Waterjet equipment using Mazatrol and other conversational controls.
   • Must be able to read and understand complex blueprints including die, fixture and piece part drawings.
   • Must have good mechanical aptitude
   • MIG and TIG welding knowledge and skills preferred
   • Understanding basic hydraulics is preferred

   MAJOR PHYSICAL DEMANDS

   • Standing : Most tasks are performed in a standing position.
   • Lifting: Occasional lifting of items ranging from 5 lbs. to 40 lbs. with assistance.
   • Walking: Occasional walking of moderate distances (< 1/8 mile)
   • Carrying : Occasional carrying of items weighing up to 20 lbs.
   • Pushing: Use of hand trucks to move parts, material or tooling moderate distances.
   • Pulling: Use of hand trucks to move parts, material or tooling moderate distances.
   • Bending: Occasional bending to perform a variety of tasks.
   • Reaching: Occasional reaching to load and unload parts from machine.
   • Handling : Occasional handling of parts or hand tools, ranging in weight from 5 lbs. to 20 lbs.
   • Environment: Clean, well lit, temperature-controlled shop environment.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting tool room machinists 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 tool room machinist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the tool room machinist position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new tool room machinist. 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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