How to hire a dairy clerk

How to hire a dairy clerk, step by step

Here's a step-by-step dairy clerk hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a dairy clerk, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A dairy clerk's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, dairy clerks 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 dairy clerk salaries for various roles:

   Type of Dairy Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Dairy Clerk	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$12-17
   Merchandiser	Merchandisers are employees working for a retail company. Merchandisers are mainly responsible for the store's products... Show more	$11-18
   Merchandise Stocker	A merchandise stocker is an employee who ensures that shelves and aisles are stocked with the merchandise in retail stores or warehouses. Merchandise stockers must receive the goods, unload or unpack them, mark them with codes to be identified, and stock them on shelves... Show more	$11-16

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Basic Math
   • Math
   • Pallet Jack
   • QA
   • Cleanliness
   • Product Knowledge
   • Boats
   • Display Cases
   • Unload Trucks
   • Quality Standards
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Product Selection
   • Dairy
   • Cross-Selling

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Maintain cleanliness of equipment, storage area, and sales floor to ensure safety regulations are meet.
   • Help with milking cows, feeding cows and calves, cutting and baling hay, fence repair.
   • Utilize intensive rotational grazing, while providing a TMR to heifers, dry cows and milking herd.
   • Demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and organization skills with perishables and merchandise.
   • Brew, serve, and sell coffee at Starbucks kiosk within the store.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, dairy clerks' average salary in north carolina is 26% less than in oregon.
   • Seniority. Entry-level dairy clerks 32% less than senior-level dairy clerks.
   • Certifications. A dairy clerk 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 a dairy clerk's salary.

   Average dairy clerk salary

   $14.81hourly

   $30,805 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level dairy clerk salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a dairy clerk job description

   A dairy clerk job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a dairy clerk job description:

   Dairy clerk job description example

   This is a part time position. Responsible for processing/stocking products according to Dairy/Frozen Standards, cleaning work areas, providing customer service, unloading stock, and reloading salvage. Perform duties of frozen food clerk when assigned.
   
   To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Associates must be at least 16 years of age.
   
   PERSONAL SKILLS. Exceptional interpersonal skills. Willingness to participate in and successfully complete required training and to work with the team to increase customer satisfaction and sales. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE. High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
   
   LANGUAGE SKILLS. Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos [in English]. Ability to write simple correspondence [in English]. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other associates of the organization who only speak English.
   
   MATHEMATICAL SKILLS. Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement.
   
   REASONING ABILITY. Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
   
   CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS. Complete Company's training including but not limited to: new hire orientation, food sanitation, customer service network, safety, and product knowledge.
   
   PHYSICAL DEMANDS. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The associate is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The associate must regularly lift and/or move up to 60 pounds and reaches from 6-72 inches. Specific vision abilities required by this job
   include close vision, color, and depth perception.
   
   WORK ENVIRONMENT. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the associate constantly works in a cool environment with an average temperature range of 34-36 degrees Fahrenheit and is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and moving mechanical parts. The associate is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and is frequently exposed to extreme cold when working in the freezer [minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit]. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right dairy clerk for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit dairy clerks, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 dairy clerk

   Once you have selected a candidate for the dairy clerk 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.

   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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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