General Labor - 1st Shift

Smithfield Foods; Wilson (NC); On-site; USD 24,796 - 30,307; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Education benefit

Job summary

Smithfield Foods is seeking a General Laborer to join our production team. You will perform essential tasks on the production line, using hand tools, knives, and machinery to process meat products for consumers.

The role requires reliability, attention to detail, and a strong work ethic to support safety and quality on the line. The position offers hourly pay starting at $18.70, with comprehensive health insurance, retirement benefits, and an education benefit for eligible team members.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Able to stand for long shifts (up to 12 hours).
• Able to work overtime as production demands.
• Able to work in cold/warm environments and around production machinery.

Responsibilities

• Operate tools and machinery to process meat products for consumers.
• Maintain a safe, efficient, and clean production line.
• Collaborate with team to meet safety and quality standards.

Skills

Reliability

Attention to detail

Strong work ethic

Tools

Hand tools and knives

Machinery operation

Job description

Job Description

If you are currently employed at Smithfield, please log into Workday and submit your application through the Jobs Hub.

Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact.

Your Opportunity

• Hourly Competitive Starting Pay - $18.70/hour
• Comprehensive Health Insurance, Retirement Benefits and More
• Education benefit available to full and part time Smithfield team members on their first day of employment.

In addition, we offer opportunities for career growth and professional development.

The Value You’ll Bring

As a General Laborer team member at Smithfield Foods, you’ll play a key role in delivering safe, high-quality food by performing essential production tasks and supporting your coworkers. Your reliability, attention to detail, and strong work ethic will help us meet our standards for safety, quality, and teamwork every day.

You’ll contribute to a positive work environment, help maintain a safe and efficient production line, and ensure our products reach families across America. Your dedication and willingness to learn will make a real difference—both to your team and to our mission of delivering good food, responsibly.

What You’ll Do

Production employees will work with hand tools, knives, machinery and other equipment to process meat products for the consumer. These positions can be physically demanding and require good hand-eye coordination, and attention to detail. Production team members must be able to work their scheduled shift and may be required to work overtime depending on production demands.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age.

Applicants Must Be Willing And Able To

• Understand and follow oral and written instructions
• Perform a task requiring continuous/repetitive movement, including grasping, pinching hands, flexing, and extending arms
• Stand on concrete and/or platforms for up to a 12‑hour shift
• Work around animal blood and/or carcass parts
• Work with a knife (if trained)
• Work in cold areas (approximately 20-40 degrees) and/or warm areas (over 100 degrees)
• Work in an environment that is wet and humid
• Work while wearing a hard hat, hearing/eye protection, and steel‑toed safety shoes
• Work in a noisy environment using personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Work with sanitation/cleaning chemicals
• Work around strong smells/odors
• Climb/move on ladders, steps, stairways, walkways and platforms
• Bend, stoop, and twist repetitively over the course of an entire shift
• Walk long distances
• May require certification in order to operate various pieces of equipment required for the position
• This work is physically demanding and can require the use of some or all body parts and muscle groups. Some positions may require repetitive overhead lifting up to 30 lbs, single lifting of heavy objects which can weigh up to 60 lbs, or lifting of objects using mechanical assistance.
• Additional essential functions may be applicable to specific jobs.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.

EEO Information

Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757‑357‑1595.