How to hire an allocation analyst

How to hire an allocation analyst, step by step

Here's a step-by-step allocation analyst hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an allocation analyst job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new allocation analyst
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an allocation analyst do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your allocation analyst job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an allocation analyst for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An allocation analyst's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, allocation analysts from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of allocation analyst salaries for various roles:

   Type of Allocation Analyst	Description	Hourly rate
   Allocation Analyst	Market research analysts study market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. They help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price.	$22-43
   Marketing Representative	A marketing representative's responsibilities will vary on the line of work or industry. However, it is the role of a marketing representative to engage with clients and secure sales by promoting, demonstrating, and even advertising products or services... Show more	$13-37
   Research Internship	A research intern is responsible for assisting the research team with conducting an investigation, compiling information, and analyzing results for an organized research study. Research interns' duties also include understanding the work processes and operation procedures, sharing strategies and recommendations on research methods, reaching out to appropriate research correspondents, managing clients' inquiries and concerns, keeping important client records for reference, studying current market trends, and maintaining the eagerness to learn... Show more	$12-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Allocation Strategies
   • Purchase Orders
   • Logistics
   • Distribution Centers
   • Apparel
   • Store Sales
   • Store Performance
   • Inventory Management
   • JDA
   • Product Flow
   • Drive Sales
   • Distribution Strategies
   • Retail Store
   • Merchandise Mix

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage sales forecast and inventory at store level using E3.
   • Analyze and forecast sales, manage inventory levels and determine distribution strategy to all Marshalls stores.
   • Establish and maintain significant cross-functional relationships with buying team, distribution centers, logistics, store operations and other departments.
   • Utilize E3 slim to project forecast, sales, and promotional events.
   • Partner with the JDA systems administrator on the appropriate set up and maintenance of department SKUs.
   • Analyze POS, inventory and shipment data to make inform decisions regarding replenishment of items at the store level.

   More allocation analyst duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your allocation analyst job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An allocation analyst can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, allocation analysts' average salary in hawaii is 57% less than in delaware.
   • Seniority. Entry-level allocation analysts 48% less than senior-level allocation analysts.
   • Certifications. An allocation analyst with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an allocation analyst's salary.

   Average allocation analyst salary

   $65,773yearly

   $31.62 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level allocation analyst salary

   $47,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average allocation analyst salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Delaware	$94,434	$45
   2	New York	$84,811	$41
   3	Massachusetts	$77,211	$37
   4	Ohio	$75,285	$36
   5	Virginia	$74,377	$36
   6	New Jersey	$73,502	$35
   7	Maryland	$71,845	$35
   8	California	$71,398	$34
   9	Texas	$67,597	$33
   10	New Hampshire	$67,521	$32
   11	Oregon	$66,280	$32
   12	Iowa	$64,569	$31
   13	Colorado	$63,638	$31
   14	Georgia	$62,239	$30
   15	North Dakota	$60,455	$29
   16	South Carolina	$59,793	$29
   17	Nevada	$59,685	$29
   18	Louisiana	$59,330	$29
   19	Wyoming	$57,181	$27

   Average allocation analyst salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Wellington Management	$86,564	$41.62
   2	PVH	$86,132	$41.41	1
   3	Deckers Brands	$79,417	$38.18
   4	Gap Inc.	$77,466	$37.24
   5	Allbirds	$77,203	$37.12
   6	Vineyard Vines	$72,898	$35.05
   7	VF	$72,547	$34.88
   8	Under Armour	$71,885	$34.56	1
   9	Dollar Tree	$70,422	$33.86
   10	Columbia Sportswear	$70,343	$33.82
   11	Forever 21	$70,201	$33.75
   12	Aeropostale	$69,676	$33.50
   13	Voya Financial	$68,959	$33.15	4
   14	Burlington	$68,810	$33.08	2
   15	Crocs	$68,189	$32.78
   16	Global Atlantic Financial Group Limited	$66,443	$31.94	4
   17	Dollar General	$66,249	$31.85
   18	Blackstone Group	$66,137	$31.80
   19	Skechers	$65,851	$31.66	2
   20	Ross Stores	$65,530	$31.50	2

4. Writing an allocation analyst job description

   A job description for an allocation analyst role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an allocation analyst job description:

   Allocation analyst job description example

   Join a team of more than 32,000 team members, comprised of our home office and over 229 clubs and 7 distribution centers. We're committed to delivering value and convenience to our Members, helping them save every day on everything they need for their family and home. BJ's Wholesale Club offers a collaborative, team-oriented environment where all team members can learn, grow and excel.
   
   The Allocation Analyst is primarily responsible for creating purchase orders and allocating inventory to Clubs to maximize sales and inventory investment. This is accomplished by managing inventory flow across our Club, Distribution and Ecommerce networks to minimize expense. This position works within a Merchandise Category team including Merchant, Merchant Assistant, and Planner and leverages expertise and guidance from the Planning & Allocation Manager as well as from the Allocation Lead position.Review daily Club inventory levels and sales forecasts within assigned Merchandise Categories to ensure Clubs are allocated the right amount of inventory to maintain targeted instock goals to enhance the Member experience. Monitor vendor performance to ensure that purchase orders are fulfilled completely and delivered on time. Demonstrate proficiency in SAP & E3 (specifically maintaining demand, forecasting and replenishment system parameters) to efficiently allocate inventory and to achieve KPI target goals Monitor KPI performance of Club in stock, Sales Plan, Inventory Turn improvement, Monthly Inventory Plans and Margin plan to ensure assigned Merchandise Categories are at target. Escalate to management team when vendor performance issues are impacting KPI performance. Recommend inventory strategy efficiency improvements for the DC network and clubs.
   Requirements
   
   + Bachelors degree required
   
   + 2+ years of relevant inventory management experience
   
   + Results driven and able to work in a fast paced environment
   
   + Expert command of retail math concepts, applications and analysis
   
   + Intermediate Excel skills; must be proficient on formulas, V-lookups, and Pivot Tables
   
   + Outlook management
   
   + Detail oriented, with excellent follow-through and problem solving skills
   
   + Able to organize and prioritize workload to meet deadlines
   
   + Strong analytical, verbal and written communication skills
   
   + Flexible and adaptive to changing priorities

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find allocation analysts for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any allocation analysts they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level allocation analysts with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your allocation analyst job on Zippia to find and recruit allocation analyst candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting allocation analysts requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new allocation analyst

   Once you have selected a candidate for the allocation analyst position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new allocation analyst first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an allocation analyst?