How to hire a water jet operator

How to hire a water jet operator, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a water jet operator, 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 water jet operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, water jet 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of water jet operators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Water Jet Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Water Jet Operator	Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators manage a system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.	$13-20
   Water Technician	Typically working at water treatment facilities, a water technician specializes in installing and repairing equipment to ensure the good quality of water and consumers' safety. It is their duty to operate tools and equipment, gather and analyze samples to detect any contaminants, participate in adjusting chemical levels, and perform regular maintenance checks on machines to ensure efficiency... Show more	$13-25
   Water Treatment Technician	Water treatment technicians work every day in observing agricultural plant functions, which includes obtaining the daily requirements and making suitable adjustments to satisfy those demands. They carefully implement process sampling to exactly gauge and keep track of levels... Show more	$13-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CNC Machines
   • Calipers
   • Hand Tools
   • Tape Measure
   • Cranes
   • General Maintenance
   • Basic Math
   • Water Jets
   • Aerospace
   • Safety Procedures
   • Aluminum
   • Laser
   • Machine Shop
   • Stainless Steel

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Used Omax machine to cut parts to fill orders, handle material, certify as a forklift operator.
   • Update and sign-off on job tickets at the conclusion of each job.Skills UsedDirect mail experience or knowledge of USPS regulations.
   • Perform preventative maintenance and troubleshooting of Omax machine.
   • Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
   • Dye setting and machine set up.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, water jet operators' average salary in arkansas is 52% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level water jet operators earn 35% less than senior-level water jet operators.
   • Certifications. A water jet 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 water jet operator's salary.

   Average water jet operator salary

   $35,007yearly

   $16.83 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level water jet operator salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing a water jet operator job description

   A good water jet operator job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a water jet operator job description:

   Water jet operator job description example

   The Boring Company was founded to solve the problem of soul-destroying traffic by creating an underground network of tunnels. Today, we are creating the technology to increase tunneling speed and decrease costs by a factor of 10 or more with the ultimate goal of making Hyperloop adoption viable and enabling rapid transit across densely populated regions.
   
   Responsibilities: Program and operate water jets Experience with proper start-up and shut-down of water jets Program and set-up using proper garnet and mixing nozzles Generate multiple part nesting's and print layouts Troubleshoot program, offset, and condition settings and adjust corrections Work in accordance to established safety rules and good housekeeping practices Work on additional equipment or tasks outside the job description as directed by the floor supervisor for production needs or continuous improvement Accurately record time and production numbers daily/report scrap
   
   Basic Qualifications: 2+ years of professional experience programming and operating water jets, specifically OMAX machinery and software Experience with overhead cranes, basic hand tools, tape measure, calipers, micrometers, or air grinders Experience with DXF, DWG and various print file types
   
   Preferred Skills and Experience:2+ years of professional experience leading machine and equipment maintenance Experience with CNC machine operation Able to navigate documentation from production records and database Able to identify material types and thickness as associated to work orders Able to read interpret blueprints and understand part tolerances per print specification
   Culture
   We're a team of dedicated, smart, and scrappy people. Our employees are passionate about our mission and determined to innovate at every opportunity.
   
   Benefits
   We offer employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) plan, paid holidays, paid vacation, and a competitive amount of equity for all permanent employees.
   
   The Boring Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with The Boring Company is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting water jet 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. 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 water jet operator

   Once you've selected the best water jet 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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