Hatchery Laborer


Job Duties

Hatchery Laborers are responsible for supporting hatchery operations through sanitation, egg handling, and chick processing. Key tasks include:

• Washing floats (buggies) by removing trays, overturning to clear debris, and rinsing with a high-pressure hose
• Sanitizing separators using a foaming system with sodium hypochlorite, followed by rinsing
• Sanitizing hatchers by removing fans, sweeping debris, foaming with sodium hypochlorite, and rinsing
• Setting eggs into incubators by lifting 10 lb trays and stacking buggies (floor to shoulder level)
• Transferring eggs: pushing loaded buggies to vaccination tables, placing trays for processing, and returning them to hatchers
• Loading chicks onto conveyors by removing trays from buggies and placing them onto belts

Physical Requirements

• Continuous standing, walking, bending, and reaching
• Ability to lift 10 lb trays repeatedly
• Ability to work for extended periods in physically demanding conditions

Dexterity

• Some tasks require pinch grip, back extension/flexion, and shoulder extension/flexion

Equipment, Tools & PPE

• Hearing protection required in posted areas
• Slip-resistant shoes required in all areas
• Steel-toe shoes required during egg set and transfer
• Cotton gloves optional, based on task

Working Conditions

• Wet and humid conditions during sanitation processes
• Approximately 2 hours per shift spent inside incubators at 99°F
• Exposure to dusty conditions when chicks are in production

Schedule & Pay

• Shift: Day Shift
• Schedule: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday — 5:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• Pay Rate: $18.79/hour

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage (beginning after 60 days of employment)
• Paid sick leave, vacation, and company-observed holidays
• 401(k) with company match (after 1 year, per vesting schedule)
• Career development opportunities, including the Better Futures Program
   

The Company is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our team members and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct drug, alcohol, and background checks for all new team members post-offer and prior to the start of employment. The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that verification of employment eligibility be documented for all new employees by the end of the third day of work.
 

📌 About Us
Pilgrim’s is a leading global food company with more than 62,000 team members worldwide. The company processes, prepares, packages, and delivers fresh, frozen, and value-added food products for customers in more than 100 countries. Pilgrim’s operates protein processing plants and prepared foods facilities in 14 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the U.K, the Republic of Ireland and continental Europe.

Our mission: To be the best in all that we do, completely focused on our business, ensuring the best products and services to our customers, a relationship of trust with our suppliers, profitability for our shareholders and the opportunity of a better future for all of our team members.

Unsolicited Assistance: JBS and its companies do not accept unsolicited assistance from any recruitment vendors for any of our open jobs. All resumes or candidate profiles submitted by recruitment vendors or headhunters to any employee at JBS and its companies or via the applicant tracking system, in any form without a valid written request and search agreement previously approved by HR, will be solely owned by JBS and its companies. No fees will be paid should the candidate be hired by JBS and its companies because of an unsolicited referral.

 

• EOE, including disability/vets.