BlueOval SK — part of BlueOval City’s future $5.6 billion campus in Stanton — is now hiring hourly workers and for the first time revealing how much some of them will be paid.
The joint venture between Ford and South Korean company SK On will begin hiring production operators and maintenance technicians to help produce electric vehicle batteries for Ford and Lincoln vehicles at its battery plants in Kentucky and Tennessee. Depending on the position, those workers could make between $21 to $29 per hour, according to a news release from BlueOval SK.
“People are the most important part of BlueOval SK,” said BlueOval SK Human Resources Director Neva Burke in a statement. “We want our employees to build their careers with us and make a good salary so they can live comfortably with their families.”
About 2,500 of the 5,800 BlueOval City employees will work at BlueOval SK and help produce EV batteries for future Ford and Lincoln vehicles. The 3,300 other employees will work at the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center to help build out Ford’s next-generation electric truck. Ford has not released any information about how much employees at the TVEC may earn in the future.
BlueOval SK worked with third-party consultants to conduct wage and benchmarking studies to determine employee pay and benefits. The company said employees can expect two pay raises each year plus “low-cost” medical premiums, 401(k) matching, Ford vehicle discount benefits, vision and dental insurance.
Operators could also receive bonuses up to $2,300 annually and technicians may receive bonuses up to $2,500 annually based on performance.
“Our wages and benefits are competitive with the market,” BlueOval SK CEO Robert Rhee said. “We offer high-quality jobs in a comfortable climate-controlled working environment that is safe, bright, and clean.”
BlueOval SK plans to focus on hires in Kentucky first and expand to Tennessee later this year. Construction at BlueOval City remains ongoing with production anticipated to begin in 2025.
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BlueOval SK’s manufacturing team is evaluating the formal shift schedule for the Kentucky and Tennessee plants. Initial hires will work a standard 40-hour work week while they receive training and learn the battery manufacturing process.
A formal shift will begin sometime in 2024 once employees are able to partially occupy the plants, according to a news release.
Applications are being accepted at blueovalsk.com. Click on the banner at the top of the home page or go to BlueOval SK's careers page to submit your information. Applications will be reviewed and acted on in the order they are received.