Machine Operator Job Description Template
Fill in your company, location, pay and requirements to get a complete machine operator job description you can post anywhere. Copy it, download it as text or save it as a PDF.
Your job description
[Company name] is hiring: Machine Operator ([Job type])
Location: [City], [State]
Pay: $[Pay from] to $[Pay to] [Pay per]
Schedule: [Schedule]
Job summary
[Company name] is hiring a machine operator in [City], [State] to set up and run production machines, check the parts they make and keep the line moving safely. We train the right person on our equipment.
Responsibilities
- Set up, start and run production machines such as CNC, press, molding or packaging equipment
- Check first pieces and samples with calipers, micrometers and gauges against the specification
- Adjust machines to keep parts in tolerance, and stop the line when quality slips
- Load material, unload finished parts and keep the work area clean and organized
- Record output, scrap and downtime accurately
- Carry out basic machine cleaning and checks, and report problems to maintenance
Requirements
- [Certification]
- [Experience] of experience in manufacturing or machine operation
- Able to read a tape measure, calipers and basic work instructions
- Able to follow safety procedures and wear protective equipment
- Authorized to work in the United States
- [Anything else the job needs]
Preferred
- CNC setup or programming experience
- Experience with quality checks and SPC charts
Physical demands and work environment
Standing for 8 to 12 hours, repeated reaching and bending, lifting up to 40 pounds, and working around noise and moving machinery. Safety glasses, hearing protection and safety shoes are required.
Pay and benefits
$[Pay from] to $[Pay to] [Pay per], plus a shift differential where it applies. Benefits: [Benefits].
Schedule
[Job type]. [Schedule].
Equal opportunity employer
[Company name] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
How to apply
[How to apply]
Typical pay
Machine operators are commonly offered about $17 to $24 an hour in 2026, with shift differentials for second and third shift. Check local pay before you post.
Pay range checklist
- Give both ends of the range you would really pay, not "up to" or "competitive".
- Use the pay unit candidates expect: an hour for hourly jobs, a mile or a week for drivers.
- Mention overtime, shift differentials, per diem or bonuses separately from the base range.
- Check your state's minimum wage and any city minimum wage.
- Keep the same range in every copy of the posting.
- Check whether your state requires a range: pay transparency laws by state.
Tips for a machine operator posting
- Say which shift the job is on and whether hours rotate; operators decide on the shift first.
- Put the pay in the first lines. Postings with a clear rate or range get more applicants, and many states now require a range.
- List only the requirements you would really turn someone away for. Each extra "must have" cuts the number of people who apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a machine operator do?
Sets up and runs production machines, checks parts against specifications, adjusts the machine to keep quality right, and records output and scrap.
Can I hire a machine operator with no experience?
Yes, for many production roles. Say that you train on the job and list what matters instead: reliability, reading a tape measure and following safety rules.
Can I copy this machine operator job description?
Yes. It is free to copy, edit and post on your website or any job board. Fill in your details above, then copy the text or download it.
Do I have to list a pay range in a machine operator posting?
15 states require a good-faith pay range in job postings for employers above a set size, and more require it on request. Even where it is not required, a clear range gets more applicants.
See machine operator jobs on TownTasks
More job description templates
More free tools
Employee cost calculator
What an employee really costs: wages plus employer payroll taxes, workers' comp and benefits, per year and per hour worked.
Pay transparency laws by state
Which states make you put a pay range in a job posting, since when, and a checker for your posting.
Job offer letter
An offer letter for an hourly or salaried hire: start date, pay, schedule, benefits, contingencies and an at-will clause.
Candidate rejection email
A short, polite email to tell a candidate they did not get the job, after an interview or after applying.
Interview invitation email
Invite a candidate to an in-person, phone or video interview with the time, place, who they will meet and what to bring.
Reference check request email
Ask a former employer for a reference, or ask the candidate for references, with the questions to ask.