How to hire a wet end operator

How to hire a wet end operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step wet end 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 wet end operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new wet end 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 wet end operator you need to hire. Certain wet end 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a wet end operator 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 wet end operator that fits the bill.

   This list presents wet end operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Wet End Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Wet End Operator		$13-21
   Production Utility Worker	Professional utility workers have skills in customer service, safety procedures, and safety standards. Those in this career work to maintain a perpetually clean work area, comply with safety standards, inspect finished projects, repair and replace any broken equipment... Show more	$12-18
   Production Worker	Production workers are employees who are usually seen in an assembly line in a company's factory. They are responsible for a specific part of the production of goods for the company... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Procedures
   • Wet End
   • RAN
   • Chemical Ingredients
   • Quality Standards

   Responsibilities:

   • Experience following procedures and managing GMP documentation.
   • Solve math equations quickly and accurately without calculator.
   • Experience following procedures and managing GMP documentation.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, wet end operators' average salary in arkansas is 34% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level wet end operators earn 36% less than senior-level wet end operators.
   • Certifications. A wet end 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 wet end operator's salary.

   Average wet end operator salary

   $36,638yearly

   $17.61 hourly rate

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   Entry-level wet end operator salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 28, 2025

4. Writing a wet end operator job description

   A job description for a wet end 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 wet end operator job description:

   Wet end operator job description example

   At Jabil we strive to make ANYTHING POSSIBLE and EVERYTHING BETTER. With over 260,000 diverse, talented and dedicated employees across 100 locations in 30 countries, our vision is to be the most technologically advanced and trusted manufacturing solutions provider. We combine an unmatched breadth and depth of end-market experience, technical and design capabilities, manufacturing know-how, supply chain insights and global product management expertise to enable success for the world's leading brands. We are driven by a common purpose to make a positive impact for each other, our communities, and the environment.
   
   Wet-End Pulp Lead Operator is responsible for loading recipe to the pulping system and ensuring TPM pulping system is running properly to produce paper bottles. This Wet-End Operator is responsible for working with the Dry End Operator to ensure the material loaded for the job being produced. It is also this individual's responsibility to work with other Operators and Engineers to ensure raw material is staged and prepared for the next batch to be produced. Below is a general job description. However, this job may include additional duties, as needed.
   Duties and Responsibilities:
   
   • Complete job set-up tasks per operating instructions on the TPM pulping machine.
   
   • Control TPM pulping machine using computer and manual controls.
   
   • Inspect and screen raw material to ensure consistent quality and remove defective material as needed.
   
   • Ensure the machine is set up for the proper product requirement.
   
   • Monitor thermoformers to ensure material is flowing properly at the correct consistency.
   
   • Load the necessary raw material.
   
   • Perform in process inspections as needed
   
   • Monitor and control the pulp temperature
   
   • Notify supervisor of defective raw material, equipment, tools, or other conditions which hinder assembly process.
   
   • Perform general clean-up tasks to keep work area clean and free of excess debris.
   
   • Maintain personal work area and follow all required PPE and GMP policies
   
   Maintain proper chemical controls to ensure quality pulp is being produced
   
   Measure Freeness and consistency to ensure proper vacuum times
   
   Other tasks as required to maintain plant operations
   
   Jabil, including its subsidiaries, is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find wet end operators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any wet end operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level wet end operators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit wet end operators, 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 wet end operator

   Once you've selected the best wet end 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.

   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 wet end operator. 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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