How to hire a can handler

How to hire a can handler, step by step

Here's a step-by-step can handler hiring guide:

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

What does a can handler do?

Post a can handler job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your can handler 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 a can handler 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

   Hiring the perfect can handler also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of can handler salaries for various roles:

   Type of Can Handler	Description	Hourly rate
   Can Handler	Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.	$12-19
   Warehouseman	A warehouseman or warehouse worker is the person who assists with the inventory, shipping, and receiving of items in warehouses. Warehousemen receive and process incoming materials and stocks, along with picking and filling orders from the store... Show more	$14-20
   Mover	Movers help people take or move things from one place to another through their physical strength. They work manually to help customers in their businesses or homes... Show more	$12-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Patients
   • Supply Support
   • Safety Procedures
   • Safety Regulations
   • Pallet Jack
   • FedEx
   • Computer System
   • Alertness
   • Load Trucks
   • RF
   • Quality Standards
   • Inventory Control
   • Hazardous Materials

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage temporary staff doing warehouse work and train and test them in order to receive forklift certification per OSHA.
   • Provide cargo handling services, load and off-load cargo from aircraft using forklifts and dollies.
   • Help keep up with inventory, cleanliness of store and provide customer service to customers.
   • Pick and transport merchandise to various isles and scan with a mount RF gun using 3D system.
   • Unload truck and plane containers, scan packages using RF scanner, check packages for correct labeling.
   • Work the sort isle and unload and load trucks in the warehouse work the pickoff and some mornings preload

   More can handler duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your can handler job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A can handler salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, can handlers' average salary in louisiana is 38% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level can handlers earn 35% less than senior-level can handlers.
   • Certifications. A can handler with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a can handler's salary.

   Average can handler salary

   $15.61hourly

   $32,465 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level can handler salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average can handler salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Alaska	$37,975	$18
   2	Washington	$37,253	$18
   3	Oregon	$37,057	$18
   4	Maine	$36,819	$18
   5	Minnesota	$36,151	$17
   6	New York	$35,711	$17
   7	Massachusetts	$35,446	$17
   8	Colorado	$35,336	$17
   9	California	$35,140	$17
   10	Wisconsin	$33,611	$16
   11	Indiana	$33,603	$16
   12	New Jersey	$33,480	$16
   13	Arizona	$33,100	$16
   14	Pennsylvania	$32,974	$16
   15	Maryland	$32,942	$16
   16	Ohio	$32,202	$15
   17	Virginia	$31,471	$15
   18	North Carolina	$31,332	$15
   19	Missouri	$31,188	$15
   20	South Carolina	$30,812	$15

   Average can handler salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	National Grid plc	$45,019	$21.64	2
   2	Whitney Museum of American Art	$41,635	$20.02
   3	BWX Technologies	$41,324	$19.87	4
   4	Atos	$40,651	$19.54
   5	Northrop Grumman	$40,370	$19.41	1
   6	Siemens	$40,140	$19.30	6
   7	Peet's Coffee	$40,121	$19.29
   8	PepsiCo	$39,620	$19.05	5
   9	Medline	$39,427	$18.96	15
   10	Splunk	$39,402	$18.94
   11	General Mills	$39,213	$18.85	2
   12	Utz Brands	$39,158	$18.83	12
   13	Raytheon Technologies	$39,079	$18.79	5
   14	Cargill	$38,744	$18.63	33
   15	Salesforce	$38,711	$18.61
   16	Stumptown Coffee Roasters	$38,565	$18.54
   17	Baxter International	$38,534	$18.53	6
   18	Medtronic	$38,213	$18.37
   19	Amcor	$38,111	$18.32	55
   20	University of Colorado Boulder	$38,091	$18.31

4. Writing a can handler job description

   A good can handler job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a can handler job description:

   Can handler job description example

   We're a global business that covers 90 countries and boasts a fleet of more than 1.7 million vehicles. For our 100,000 colleagues, this means going the extra mile to keep everything running smoothly every day. Something you might not know is that we're a family-run business, meaning people are at the heart of how we think and what we do. As a part of that people-focused approach, we're also doing more for diversity, which is why we're proud to say that we've been awarded Top Employer for Women 17 years in a row!
   
   Our Claims Services division are looking for new team members to join our rapidly growing team, responsible for supporting our hugely successful UK rental operation.
   
   We are looking for home based Claims Handlers/Recovery Representatives who will join our Damage Recovery Unit; a busy team that's responsible for recovering damage to our vehicles for the whole of the UK & Ireland.
   
   You'll be all geared up for a day negotiating with individuals, insurance companies, corporate customers and credit card companies. Whether it's maintaining accounts or interpreting loss data, you'll need a good eye for detail to ensure that we keep track of the numerous claims.
   
   Everyday you'll be determining which claims must be worked, so we'll need you to demonstrate to us that you're able to make sound decisions based on your analysis of the situation. Along with this you'll be comfortable talking to both business and retail customers over the telephone and not afraid to have a difficult conversation.
   
   Previous experience within Insurance, Claims / Debt Recovery or Sales is advantageous although not essential as full training is provided.
   
   Full and part time hours available
   Responsibilities Responsibilities for this position will include, but are not limited to: Reviewing damage claims and assigning collection strategies Negotiating with individuals, insurance companies, corporate customers and credit card companies Maintaining accounts of collections and incoming payments on claim files Producing professional written communication including tasks such as writing, editing and proofreading correspondence and brief reports Interpreting loss data in conjunction with debtor feedback in order to establish settlement needs and parameters Interpreting loss data in conjunction with debtor feedback in order to establish if claim is valid and/or if the claim needs to be closed Determining what claims must be worked in order to obtain payment Interpreting recovery efforts to determine if a claim must be referred to a third party vendor for additional collection efforts Qualifications The successful candidate will be able to exhibit the following competencies: Demonstrated ability to make decisions Demonstrated analytical skills An ability to work independently and as part of a team Great verbal and written communication skills with attention to detail Demonstrated time management skills Insurance/claims/debt recovery background would be advantageous but not essential Strong PC skills and technical aptitude. Key (minimum) requirements - Personal Must be able to provide a suitable home-office environment which is free from noise and any distractions. Must have a suitable alternative location from which to work in the event of an outage Key (minimum) requirements - Technical A Windows Desktop / Laptop PC 2 GHz processor 80 GB Hard Drive with 12 GB free space Windows 10 or above Internet Explorer 11.0 Internet Browser or higher Current Anti-Virus / Spyware protection software must be installed at all times Internet access provided by a cable or DSL provider Router must be VOIP compatible Minimum upload speed of 2000 kbps (2.0 mbps) and Minimum download speed of 4000 kbps (4.0 mbps) PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THIS WORK-FROM-HOME OPPORTUNITY REQUIRES SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS TO UTILISE THEIR OWN HARDWARE / SOFTWARE AND ADHERENCE TO THE ABOVE CRITERIA IS ESSENTIAL #LI-Remote

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find can handlers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit can handlers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 can handler

   Once you've found the can handler candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new can handler 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a can handler?