How to hire a front end clerk

How to hire a front end clerk, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your front end clerk 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 front end clerk 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

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

   This list presents front end clerk salaries for various positions.

   Type of Front End Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Front End Clerk	Cashiers process payments from customers purchasing goods and services.	$12-19
   Checker In	A checker-in is responsible for managing guest relations, ensuring that the clients receive the highest customer satisfaction essential for increasing their brand reputation to achieve profitability. Checker-ins assist with maintaining the cleanliness and safety of all common areas and amenities of the building and supporting the front-desk operations by performing administrative and clerical tasks as needed... Show more	$12-20
   Cashier	A cashier is one of the most visible positions in the retail industry. Cashiers are the last direct point of contact with customers and play a key role in service, retail, and wholesale establishments... Show more	$10-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Basic Math
   • Data Entry
   • Groceries
   • Math
   • Stock Shelves
   • POS
   • Customer Transactions
   • Quality Customer Service
   • Stock Merchandise
   • Sales Floor
   • Customer Service
   • WIC
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Customer Complaints

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Conduct routine inspections and manage mechanics payroll data utilizing ADP.
   • Record customer transactions and accurately handle monetary transactions by operating POS system.
   • Experience with the POS systems, cash handling experience, WIC, returns, check processing.
   • Assist cashiers with credit card functions, checks and WIC check approvals.
   • Assume responsibility for the full accountability of cash, checks, credit cards, money orders, WIC and food stamps.
   • Bag groceries efficiently for customers.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, front end clerks' average salary in mississippi is 42% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level front end clerks 39% less than senior-level front end clerks.
   • Certifications. A front end 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 front end clerk's salary.

   Average front end clerk salary

   $15.58hourly

   $32,402 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level front end clerk salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

4. Writing a front end clerk job description

   A good front end clerk 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 front end clerk job description:

   Front end clerk job description example

   What You Will Do
   
   All Lowe's associates deliver quality customer service while maintaining a store that is clean, safe, and stocked with the products our customers need. As a Back-End Clerk, this means:
   
   * Meeting the customer needs during a return and helping find the correct product replacement.
   * Ensuring merchandise meets Lowe's quality and safety standards and processing returns efficiently.
   * Engaging in safe work processes including the proper disposal of returned items.
   * Ensuring merchandise is accurately accounted for, replenished, and prepared for customers.
   * Validating that the correct merchandise is being moved in and out of the store when appropriate.
   
   The Back-End Clerk processes returns, manages procedures related to Centralized Return to Vendor and appropriately disposes of items, contacts a vendor for replacement/credit, returns merchandise to the floor and is responsible for successful freight and merchandising fulfillments at Lowe's locations. The Back-End Clerk processes paperwork for shipments and physically moves stock as it is delivered. In addition, the associate in this role schedules shipments when necessary and checks the quality and accuracy of orders. The Back-End Clerk spends most of their time communicating with customers, vendors, and manufacturers and must be comfortable having difficult conversations. To be successful, this associate must be organized and detail-oriented.
   
   Travel Requirements: This role does not require regular travel; however, this role may need to travel on occasion to meetings, trainings, or to support neighboring stores.
   
   What We're Looking For
   
   * Hourly Full Time or Part Time: Generally scheduled 39 to 40 or up to 25 hours per week, respectively; more hours may be required based on the needs of the store.
   * Requires evening and overnight availability on weekdays, may also require overnight availability on weekends.
   * Physical ability to perform tasks that may require prolonged standing, sitting, and other activities necessary to perform job duties.
   * Minimally must be able to lift 25 pounds without assistance; may lift over 25 pounds with or without assistance.
   
   What You Need To Succeed
   
   Minimum Qualifications
   
   * Ability to read, write, and perform basic arithmetic (addition, subtraction).
   * Ability to obtain sales related licensure or registration as may be required by law.
   
   Preferred Qualifications
   
   * 1 year of experience processing and filing merchandise receiving paperwork.
   * 1 year of experience with store inventory receiving and administration.
   * 6 months of experience in warehouse data entry/bookkeeping.
   * 6 months of experience communicating with vendors OR customers regarding returns, payments, or contract fulfillment.
   * 6 months of retail experience accepting or processing returns.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right front end clerk 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 front end clerks they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit front end clerks 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 front end clerk job on Zippia to find and attract quality front end clerk candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting front end clerks 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 front end clerk

   Once you've decided on a perfect front end clerk candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new front end clerk. 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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