How to hire a distribution assistant

How to hire a distribution assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step distribution assistant hiring guide:

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

What does a distribution assistant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the distribution assistant you need to hire. Certain distribution assistant roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A distribution assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, distribution assistants 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of distribution assistants and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Distribution Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Distribution Assistant	Secretaries and administrative assistants perform clerical and administrative duties. They organize files, prepare documents, schedule appointments, and support other staff.	$12-18
   Distribution Clerk	A distribution clerk is in charge of processing and managing products for shipments and deliveries, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. They work at warehouse facilities responsible for monitoring shipments, participating in loading and unloading packages, and inspecting them to ensure their quality and quantity... Show more	$12-18
   Distribution Coordinator	A distribution coordinator oversees and coordinates the distribution operations of a warehouse, ensuring products get to their destinations in a timely and accurate manner. They typically set guidelines and objectives, perform assessments and inspections, liaise with internal and external parties, and develop strategies to optimize operations... Show more	$13-22

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Entry
   • DOT
   • Customer Orders
   • Computer System
   • Delivery Truck
   • Office Equipment
   • Payroll
   • Sales Orders
   • Administrative Tasks
   • Purchase Orders
   • FDA
   • Inventory Control
   • Cycle Counts
   • Logistics

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and update company Facebook page with daily updates, finding/sharing relevant and interesting information, and encouraging fan engagement.
   • Assist administration in daily manufacturing, processing, packaging and other functions of WMS.
   • Organize multiple executive presentations involving PowerPoint
   • Complete paperwork (BOL's) for shipments, complete billing process.
   • Answer patient inquiries and relay pertinent information to the staff/physicians in compliance with HIPPA and the internal booking guidelines.
   • Coordinate and track patient's demographic entries using an electronic medical records (EMR) application system.

   More distribution assistant duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, distribution assistants' average salary in oklahoma is 32% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level distribution assistants 33% less than senior-level distribution assistants.
   • Certifications. A distribution assistant 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 distribution assistant's salary.

   Average distribution assistant salary

   $15.60hourly

   $32,451 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level distribution assistant salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average distribution assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$39,271	$19
   2	North Dakota	$37,882	$18
   3	Rhode Island	$37,209	$18
   4	California	$36,735	$18
   5	District of Columbia	$34,805	$17
   6	South Carolina	$32,291	$16
   7	Missouri	$32,156	$15
   8	North Carolina	$32,151	$15
   9	Arizona	$31,941	$15
   10	Pennsylvania	$31,537	$15
   11	Illinois	$31,447	$15
   12	Wisconsin	$31,354	$15
   13	New York	$31,175	$15
   14	Florida	$30,514	$15
   15	Iowa	$29,100	$14
   16	Arkansas	$28,234	$14
   17	Georgia	$27,786	$13

   Average distribution assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	SF-Marin Food Bank	$40,566	$19.50
   2	Gotham Greens	$35,049	$16.85	6
   3	Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution	$34,669	$16.67
   4	University of Pennsylvania	$34,086	$16.39	8
   5	Amazon	$33,816	$16.26	64
   6	Paylocity	$33,381	$16.05	6
   7	Northwell Health	$33,160	$15.94	80
   8	Kadlec Regional Medical Center	$32,656	$15.70
   9	ICONMA	$32,287	$15.52	2
   10	Americorps	$32,278	$15.52	2
   11	Trinity Health	$31,734	$15.26	35
   12	Providence Health & Services	$31,680	$15.23	4
   13	Robert Half	$31,527	$15.16	238
   14	Kelly Services	$31,424	$15.11	24
   15	MGM Studios	$31,109	$14.96
   16	Gannett	$30,745	$14.78	1
   17	NC.gov	$30,215	$14.53	1
   18	Aerotek	$30,165	$14.50	9
   19	The John Stewart Company	$29,128	$14.00
   20	Lee Enterprises	$25,979	$12.49	4

4. Writing a distribution assistant job description

   A good distribution assistant 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 distribution assistant job description:

   Distribution assistant job description example

   Performs variety of duties to support the Materials Management Department operations. Leads and guides Materials Operations staff in the performance of duties. Assists in the coordination of the department's daily activities.
   Job Responsibility
   
   * Leads and guides supply staff in the performance of duties; participates in training of new staff members and ongoing educational programs for staff.
   * Prioritizes workload and distributes assignments accordingly; provides input into individual counseling and staff evaluations.
   * Ensures safety measures are followed and acts as a resource to staff in matters of customer service, operation of equipment, safety and infection control; addresses supply needs with nurse managers on each Patient Care Unit Acts as a liaison between site Materials Management and IDC; demonstrates good judgment and organizational skills in delegating assignments and prioritizing assignments.
   * Demonstrates the ability to oversee and work with staff performing project work (bar-coding, re-organization of units, par optimization, etc.); acts in a lead capacity on weekends and holidays, including leading the shift, making sure job assignments are fulfilled and reporting any performance and/or disciplinary problems that arise during the course of the shift to the appropriate Supervisor at home, if necessary.
   * Ensures proper par levels on each Patient Care Unit are maintained; notifies, immediately, the Supervisor or Manager of any safety or serious personnel situations.
   * Oversees and participates in moving equipment, supplies, U-Boats, boxes, etc.; must adhere to proper body mechanics; must have valid driver's license in order to operate hospital van to move equipment or supplies from one location to another.
   * Assists Supervisor in orientation and training of new staff; manages Par Scan analysis - addresses staff/orders as needed.
   * Must be flexible in assuming required assignments and able to show good judgment and initiative.
   * Performs related duties as required. All responsibilities noted here are considered essential functions of the job under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Duties not mentioned here, but considered related are not essential functions.
   
   Job Qualification
   
   * Associate's Degree required, or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
   * 5-7 years of relevant experience, required.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right distribution assistant 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 distribution assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit distribution assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting distribution assistants 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.

   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 distribution assistant

   Once you've found the distribution assistant 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 distribution assistant 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 a distribution assistant?