How to hire a distribution associate

How to hire a distribution associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step distribution associate 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 associate job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new distribution associate
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a distribution associate do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the distribution associate you need to hire. Certain distribution associate 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 associate's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, distribution associates 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 distribution associate salaries for various roles:

   Type of Distribution Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Distribution Associate	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$12-19
   Receiving Clerk	Usually assigned at a warehouse or retail store, a receiving clerk's primary role is to accept product deliveries upon arrival and sign necessary documents, prioritizing the accuracy of all invoices. It is also the task of a receiving clerk to unload heavy packages, verify its contents, place it in the appropriate storage place, and keep records for inventory... Show more	$12-18
   Warehouse Clerk	A warehouse clerk is an employee responsible for the process of ordered goods while keeping the warehouse well-organized and clean. Warehouse clerks accept company products' deliveries, inspect them for any damages, and store them accordingly in the warehouse... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pallets
   • Basic Math
   • Customer Orders
   • Shipping Receiving
   • RF Scanner
   • Quality Standards
   • Cleanliness
   • Inventory Control
   • Management System
   • Purchase Orders
   • Computer System
   • Customer Support
   • WMS
   • Electric Pallet Jack

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and monitor KPI's, departmental metrics and ensure all checks and balances are in place.
   • Process LTL and small parcel shipments.
   • Assist in maintaining the cleanliness of facility.
   • Keep up the cleanliness of the entire warehouse.
   • Complete all OSHA and IBM safety classes and training classes for department.
   • Close orders using Lawson system and ensure deliveries contain the correct products.

   More distribution associate duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the distribution associate job description is a good way to get more applicants. A distribution associate salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a distribution associate in Delaware may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level distribution associate. Additionally, a distribution associate with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average distribution associate salary

   $16.08hourly

   $33,453 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level distribution associate salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 14, 2026

   Average distribution associate salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$42,922	$21
   2	Washington	$40,826	$20
   3	Illinois	$39,736	$19
   4	Pennsylvania	$38,626	$19
   5	Nevada	$38,214	$18
   6	Wisconsin	$37,804	$18
   7	Minnesota	$36,278	$17
   8	Oregon	$36,107	$17
   9	Oklahoma	$36,026	$17
   10	California	$35,350	$17
   11	Michigan	$35,086	$17
   12	Mississippi	$34,818	$17
   13	Indiana	$34,408	$17
   14	Alabama	$33,235	$16
   15	Virginia	$33,183	$16
   16	Texas	$33,115	$16
   17	South Carolina	$32,740	$16
   18	Maine	$32,602	$16
   19	Tennessee	$32,526	$16

   Average distribution associate salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Clearwater Paper	$42,089	$20.24	3
   2	SF-Marin Food Bank	$41,729	$20.06
   3	NuVasive	$41,264	$19.84
   4	PACCAR	$41,137	$19.78	1
   5	Lehigh Hanson	$39,620	$19.05
   6	Teleflex	$39,369	$18.93	2
   7	Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama	$39,118	$18.81	1
   8	Danaher	$39,001	$18.75	8
   9	Sysmex	$38,906	$18.70	1
   10	Bausch + Lomb	$38,487	$18.50	13
   11	Nordson	$38,458	$18.49
   12	Eversource Energy	$38,053	$18.29	12
   13	Axalta	$38,002	$18.27	1
   14	Legal & General Investment Management America	$37,965	$18.25
   15	Steelcase	$37,448	$18.00
   16	NextGen America	$37,243	$17.91
   17	HSBC Bank	$37,094	$17.83
   18	EMD Millipore	$36,967	$17.77
   19	Maine Health/maine Mental Health Partners	$36,719	$17.65
   20	Tyson Foods	$36,570	$17.58	1

4. Writing a distribution associate job description

   A good distribution associate 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 associate job description:

   Distribution associate job description example

   Collaboration drives Nordson's success as a market leader in Industrial Precision Solutions and Advanced Technology. Our employees thrive in an environment where we help each other reach our personal best and enable our company to continuously improve and grow, and our customers to succeed. You will find Nordson employees sharing our success by giving back in the communities around the world where we live and work.
   
   At Nordson Electronics Solutions we have big goals, an innovative spirit, and a vision to become the preferred partner to electronics manufacturers worldwide. If you believe in big goals, consider joining our team to help solve reliability challenges for the world's largest semiconductor, printed circuit board, and precision assembly manufacturers. Our fluid dispensing and surface treatment solutions help make reliable electronics an everyday reality - from mobile devices to the Internet of Things to self-driving vehicles, life-saving medical equipment, and beyond.
   
   The Distribution Associate 1 is responsible for activities related to the accurate and timely receipt, warehousing, kitting and shipment of materials. Works on assignments that are routine in nature where limited judgment is required and normally receives detailed instructions on all work.
   Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities
   Pulling parts for work order kits to support production.Expediting KanBan materials within the distribution department to support production.Communicating material requirements and shortages to the purchasing department.Responsibilities include accurate counting and stocking of materials. Other duties may be assigned as required.
   Education and Experience Requirements
   Requires high school diploma or general education degree(GED) and one to three months related experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience.Requires basic reading, writing, and math skills.
   
   Preferred Skills and Abilities
   
   Working Conditions and Physical Demands
   Manufacturing environment. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   The employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk, climb, or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Employee must regularly lift and or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Noise level is usually moderate.
   Nordson Corporation provides equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees. No person is to be discriminated against in any aspect of the employment relationship due to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of our pre-employment drug screening and background/criminal check, consistent with applicable laws.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right distribution associate for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with distribution associates they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit distribution associates who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting distribution associates 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. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 associate

   Once you have selected a candidate for the distribution associate 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new distribution associate. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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How much does it cost to hire a distribution associate?