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How to hire a distribution technician

Distribution technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring distribution technicians in the United States:

  • There are a total of 18,205 distribution technicians in the US, and there are currently 154,925 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a distribution technician is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per distribution technician on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Fort Wayne, IN, has the highest demand for distribution technicians, with 13 job openings.

How to hire a distribution technician, step by step

To hire a distribution technician, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a distribution technician, you should follow these steps:

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

What does a distribution technician do?

A distribution technician has a variety of duties and responsibilities, including collecting and delivering materials, receiving documents, packages, and messages, and transporting them safely to their destination. Other tasks that you will likely perform include managing the inventory and completing data entry, preparing documentation and reports, and coordinating logistics for the shipment of products. Additional duties include providing quality service to customers and distributors, resolving inventory discrepancies, and collecting and updating customer information. You may also be tasked to conduct field and laboratory testing of construction materials.

Learn more about the specifics of what a distribution technician does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your distribution technician 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 distribution technician 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?

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

    This list shows salaries for various types of distribution technicians.

    Type of Distribution TechnicianDescriptionHourly rate
    Distribution TechnicianMaterial 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
    Warehouse ClerkA 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
    Warehouse CoordinatorA warehouse coordinator is responsible for monitoring the supply and distribution operations of a warehouse, loading and unloading merchandise from the delivery trucks, and storing items appropriately on the facility. Warehouse coordinators assist in packing and labeling items, pulling out products from delivery, and ensuring the correct quantity and quality of the items before release... Show more$12-19
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Patients
    • Computer System
    • Data Entry
    • Medical Equipment
    • Customer Service
    • Basic Math
    • Inventory Control
    • Logistics
    • Cleanliness
    • Math
    • Blood Products
    • Shipping Receiving
    • Inventory Management
    • Computer Programs
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage all aspects of verifying incoming items and outgoing customer material release orders (MRO )
    • Manage and monitor KPI's, departmental metrics and ensure all checks and balances are in place.
    • Purchase raw materials in order to support manufacturing per MRP requirements.
    • Ensure office are neat, orderly and secure to meet FDA standards.
    • Utilize troubleshooting and problem-solving skills resolving conflicts/issues in item master and BOM data.
    • Load and unload trailers using RF scanner to ensure order/weight distribution accurate to customer order.
    More distribution technician duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the distribution technician job description is a good way to get more applicants. A distribution technician 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 technician in North Carolina may be lower than in Hawaii, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level distribution technician. Additionally, a distribution technician with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average distribution technician salary

    $16.14hourly

    $33,564 yearly

    Entry-level distribution technician salary
    $26,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 18, 2025

    Average distribution technician salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$38,475$19
    2Nevada$38,137$18
    3Michigan$37,693$18
    4Rhode Island$37,616$18
    5Massachusetts$37,388$18
    6Oregon$37,226$18
    7Washington$36,831$18
    8Colorado$34,441$17
    9Minnesota$34,440$17
    10New York$34,127$16
    11Pennsylvania$33,613$16
    12Arizona$33,440$16
    13Wisconsin$32,804$16
    14Illinois$32,174$15
    15Utah$32,126$15
    16Tennessee$31,845$15
    17Virginia$31,769$15
    18Maryland$30,682$15
    19Ohio$30,623$15
    20Georgia$30,520$15

    Average distribution technician salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Brigham and Women's Hospital$41,068$19.7427
    2Eversource Energy$40,204$19.3313
    3Martin Marietta$39,960$19.211
    4Philips$39,957$19.21
    5TRC Companies$39,637$19.0623
    6American Electric Power$39,370$18.931
    7Aqua$39,197$18.841
    8DTE Energy$38,850$18.684
    9Eastman$38,662$18.59
    10Medline$38,558$18.5416
    11Idaho National Lab$38,510$18.51
    12WaterOne$38,445$18.48
    13Thermo Fisher Scientific$38,192$18.3612
    14FirstEnergy$38,048$18.291
    15Target$37,827$18.1938
    16Lifespan$37,675$18.11
    17Kettering Health Network$37,544$18.057
    18MSSC Company$37,530$18.04
    19ARUP Laboratories$37,035$17.818
    20BASF$36,959$17.77
  4. Writing a distribution technician job description

    A good distribution technician 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 technician job description:

    Distribution technician job description example

    BENEFITS THAT MATTER: • Benefits eligible the 1st of the month, following hire date • 17 Paid Days Off & 6 paid Holidays • 3 Medical plan options, Dental & Vision coverage • Employer paid STD, Life Insurance & AD&D • Paid Parental Leave Program • Vitality Wellness Program & Rewards • Employee Assistance Program • Retirement Saving Plan 401(K) with Employer match • Employee led Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee • Best-in-class Korn Ferry ranking for engaged & enabled workforce • Advancement opportunity and SO MUCH MORE!


    SUMMARY:

    Support all supervisors and operators with operational functions of quality control, label inspection and separation, store separation, packaging, special instructions and shipping in order to meet the delivery deadlines of each customer while maintaining all quality standards.

    ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES include but may not be limited to the following:

    Accurately inspects, separates and slots and packages all label/print products.

    Insures ALL quality control standards are being maintained.

    Uses ERP system (TCM) to log time and materials accurately and follows department guidelines for TCM activities.

    Ensures all shipments are completed and all packages are shipped to the correct person or place as directed by the daily job schedule or as instructed by their supervisor, job ticket or customer special instructions.

    Communicates any problems or quality issues, due to printing, laminating or shipping errors to the appropriate individuals.

    Communicates with all courier companies and drivers about delays in shipping, special courier deliveries, and anything else that affects our customer deliveries.

    Follows any other instructions given by supervisors and/or management to complete other tasks or projects, ensuring the objectives are accomplished accurately and within the timeframe allotted.

    Maintains a clean, organized and safe work area, uses required PPE, and follows all safety rules and procedures.

    May be required to work overtime or on another shift as needed.

    EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

    High School diploma or general education degree (GED); or one year job related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

    PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

    1. Stands 2/3 to full time on the shift daily.

    2. Uses hands and fingers to handle, and feel 1/3 to 2/3 of the shift daily.

    3. Reaches with hands and arms 1/3 to 2/3 of the shift daily.

    4. Lifts between 25 and 50 pounds 1/3 of the shift daily.

    5. Requires distance vision (clear vision at 20-feet or more).

    6. Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors).










    A Shift - Sunday through Tuesday 6AM to 6PM, Wednesday 6AM to 12PM
  5. Post your job

    To find the right distribution technician 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 technicians they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit distribution technicians 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 technician job on Zippia to find and recruit distribution technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with distribution technician candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    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 distribution technician

    Once you've found the distribution technician 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.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new distribution technician. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  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 technician?

Recruiting distribution technicians involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

The median annual salary for distribution technicians is $33,564 in the US. However, the cost of distribution technician hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a distribution technician for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $12 and $19 an hour.

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