Hyundai Plant Jobs: Kia Georgia, Pay & Full 2026 Guide

Quick answer: Hyundai and Kia plant jobs in Alabama and Georgia fall into three groups: hourly production, hourly maintenance, and salaried roles in engineering, quality, and business functions. Apply on each plant’s own careers site (HMMA production applications run through Alabama’s AIDT), expect an online application, assessments, and an interview, and be ready for rotating shifts and overtime. Kia Georgia publicly lists production pay of $21.96 to $32.53 an hour.

Hyundai plant jobs in the Southeast are some of the steadiest manufacturing work in the country, and they keep growing. Between Montgomery, West Point, and the new Metaplant outside Savannah, Hyundai and Kia run three major vehicle plants in Alabama and Georgia, plus a ring of Korean suppliers feeding them parts.

This guide covers what each plant builds, the roles they hire for, what is publicly known about pay and shifts, and how the hiring process usually works from application to first day.

Key takeaways

Three big plants hire here: HMMA in Montgomery, Kia Georgia in West Point, and HMGMA near Savannah.
Hyundai plant jobs are not only line work. Maintenance techs and salaried engineers are in steady demand.
Always apply through the official careers site or state training partner, never a stranger asking for a fee.
Shift flexibility and willingness to work overtime matter as much as experience.
Suppliers like Hyundai Mobis are often a faster way into the same ecosystem.

The three plants behind Hyundai plant jobs in the Southeast

Each plant has its own history, product mix, and hiring rhythm. Knowing which one you are applying to helps you answer the “why us” question with something real.

Plant	Location	Started production	What it builds (publicly reported)
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA)	Montgomery, AL	2005	Tucson, Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid, Santa Cruz, Genesis GV70 and Electrified GV70
Kia Georgia	West Point, GA	2009	Telluride (including the new hybrid), Sorento, and EVs such as the EV9
Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA)	Ellabell, Bryan County, GA	2024	Ioniq 5, Ioniq 9, and since mid-2026 the Kia Sportage Hybrid

HMMA in Montgomery, Alabama

HMMA was Hyundai’s first U.S. assembly plant. Its 2025 fact sheet lists about 4,200 team members, a three-shift operation, and capacity of roughly 390,000 vehicles a year, with stamping, welding, paint, assembly, and engine shops on site.

More work is coming. In late September 2026, Hyundai said it would invest about $500 million to bring Tucson Hybrid production from Korea to Alabama and later add a Santa Fe extended-range EV, along with local engine and powertrain work, according to Asia Economy. New models usually mean new training and, often, new Hyundai plant jobs.

Kia Georgia in West Point

Kia Georgia sits on the Alabama state line, so it draws workers from both states. In February 2026 the plant marked its 5 millionth vehicle and started building the 2027 Telluride, including Georgia’s first hybrid. It is a mature plant with established teams, which tends to mean steadier, more predictable hiring.

HMGMA, the Metaplant near Savannah

The Metaplant is the newest and still ramping up. Georgia Public Broadcasting reported in September 2026 that HMGMA employed 2,112 people as of August, with on-site affiliates adding about 2,250 more, against a long-term commitment of roughly 8,500 jobs. That gap is why Hyundai plant jobs at the Metaplant keep appearing on the careers site.

The campus also includes the Hyundai and LG Energy Solution battery plant, which was delayed after the September 2025 immigration raid and opened in spring 2026. If battery manufacturing interests you, our LG Energy Solution interview guide covers that side of the business.

Roles you can apply for

All three plants sort hiring into roughly the same buckets. Hyundai plant jobs and Kia roles in each bucket have very different requirements, so pick the one that fits your background.

Production team member (hourly): Assembly, welding, paint, stamping, quality checks on the line, and production control. A high school diploma or GED is the usual baseline. HMGMA’s job description lists a two-year technical degree and one to three years of related experience as preferred, not required.
Maintenance team member (hourly): Electrical, mechanical, robotics, and PLC troubleshooting. Expect a skills test and more weight on technical training or certifications.
Team and group leaders: Often filled from inside, but new plants hire some experienced leaders from outside.
Salaried roles: Manufacturing, process, and quality engineers, safety, IT, HR, finance, purchasing, and logistics. Some roles work closely with Korean managers or headquarters.

If you are going for a salaried role, read our guide to Korean company interview questions. The leadership round often tests commitment and teamwork, not just technical skill.

Pay and shifts for Hyundai plant jobs

Pay for Hyundai plant jobs is less public than many people expect. Only trust figures that come straight from the company or credible reporting. Here is what is public as of October 2026.

Plant	Publicly reported pay	Source
Kia Georgia	Production team members $21.96 to $32.53 an hour, plus $2.00 for 2nd shift and $1.50 for 3rd shift	Kia Georgia hourly careers page
HMMA and HMGMA	No current hourly range posted. In November 2023 Hyundai announced a 25% production wage increase by 2028 and a 30-month progression to top rate.	Hyundai announcement via HMGMA newsroom

HMMA’s careers site also lists benefits that are worth comparing: medical, dental, and vision that is 93% company-paid from day one, 15 paid holidays, up to 28 days of paid time off, and a 401(k) match of 100% on the first 4%.

What shift life looks like

Plan on shift work. Most Hyundai plant jobs on the hourly side rotate, and HMMA runs three shifts, and Kia Georgia’s shift premiums tell you second and third shifts are part of the deal. HMGMA’s production job description says shift assignments can change with business needs and that the role requires overtime beyond 40 hours a week.

Ask during the process which shift new hires usually start on and how often rotation happens. If you are hourly, overtime is paid. If you move into a salaried role, check our explainer on exempt vs non-exempt overtime before you compare offers.

Show up with proof, not promises. The biggest gap I see in production and maintenance interviews is preparation: candidates who haven’t worked on their English or don’t bring a single certification. Plants want to see one or the other, ideally both.

On shifts and overtime, most people I place actually like it, because overtime pays 1.5 times the hourly rate. The honest downside is less free time and a heavier physical load.

So when they ask if you’re open to overtime, a strong answer is yes, with a reason: you understand launches and peak seasons need extra hours, and you’ve worked them before.

How the hiring process usually works

Steps vary by plant and role, but most hourly candidates applying for Hyundai plant jobs or Kia roles go through a version of this:

Online application on the official careers site or the state training partner’s portal.
Assessments that can include work-style questions, basic math and reading, and hands-on or mechanical aptitude tests for maintenance.
Interview, often behavior-based: safety, teamwork, attendance, and handling repetitive or fast-paced work.
Conditional offer followed by a background check, drug screen, and sometimes a physical.
Orientation and training before you are fully on the line.

State workforce agencies play a big role. In Alabama, HMMA sends production applicants to AIDT, the state’s industrial training agency. In Georgia, Georgia Quick Start has trained workers for Kia Georgia for years and built the Hyundai Mobility Training Center next to the Metaplant to support HMGMA hiring.

Salaried hiring looks more like a typical corporate process: recruiter screen, hiring manager interview, and often a panel with senior leaders, some of them Korean expats. Want every round mapped out with sample answers? Get the free Korean Company Interview Playbook.

Supplier jobs around the plants

Every assembly plant pulls in suppliers, and many are Korean companies too. They can be a good door in, especially if Hyundai plant jobs in your area are not posted this month.

Hyundai Mobis, Georgia: A $926 million plant in Richmond Hill making EV power electric systems, announced with at least 1,500 jobs.
Hyundai Mobis, Alabama: An EV battery module plant on the HMMA campus in Montgomery, announced with at least 400 jobs.
Seoyon E-HWA: Interior and exterior trim near Savannah, announced with more than 500 jobs for the Metaplant.
Other tier-one and tier-two suppliers in seating, logistics, steel, and electronics across both states.

One caution: GPB reported that nine subsidized Metaplant suppliers had filled about 1,665 of 5,200 promised jobs as of mid-2026. Some suppliers are hiring slower than announced, so check current postings rather than headline numbers. For the full list of Korean employers in the state, see our map of Korean companies hiring in Georgia.

How to apply for Hyundai plant jobs (and Kia)

HMMA: Production roles through AIDT’s jobs portal. Maintenance and salaried roles through Hyundai’s Americas careers site.
Kia Georgia: Kia’s Americas careers site, under hourly production or salaried careers. You can set up job alerts when nothing is open.
HMGMA: Hyundai’s Americas careers site, under the Metaplant listings.
Suppliers: Each company’s own site, plus local workforce boards and technical colleges near the plants.

A few habits help any application for Hyundai plant jobs stand out. Show steady attendance in past jobs, list any safety, forklift, or technical certifications, and say clearly that you are open to any shift. Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay for a “guaranteed” Hyundai or Kia job. Real hiring goes through the official channels above.

FAQ

Do I need experience for Hyundai plant jobs?

Not always for production. A diploma or GED, a good attendance record, and willingness to learn can be enough, though manufacturing experience or a technical degree helps. Maintenance and engineering roles do require relevant skills.

Do I need to speak Korean?

No for hourly roles. For some salaried roles that work with Korean leadership or headquarters, Korean is a plus and occasionally listed as required. Read each posting.

How long does hiring take?

It ranges from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the plant’s hiring cycle, the number of assessment steps, and background checks. Applying when a plant is ramping up or launching a model usually moves faster.

Which plant pays the most?

Only Kia Georgia currently publishes an hourly range. For HMMA and HMGMA, ask the recruiter for the starting rate, shift premium, and how long it takes to reach top rate before you accept.

Hyundai plant jobs and Kia’s West Point roles offer real stability for people willing to work shifts and keep learning. Pick the plant that fits your commute and skills, apply through the official channel, and show up to every step ready to prove you are dependable.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jacob Kim

Bilingual (English/Korean) recruiter based in New Jersey. I place engineers, technicians and office staff with Korean-affiliated companies and their suppliers across the U.S., and I write GRYNDHAUS from the questions candidates actually ask me during interviews, offers and their first months on the job.

OSHA 30 · B.B.A., Baruch College (CUNY)

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