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What does a fulfillment center associate do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
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Fulfillment center associate responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real fulfillment center associate resumes:

  • Operate scanners to manage shipment sortation.
  • Clean and maintain the distribution center in compliance with OSHA safety standards.
  • Operate carts, dollies, hand trucks and other moving equipment to move large quantities of merchandise.
  • Train and work as slam operator.
  • Demonstrate positive work attitude and leadership skills.
  • Maintain patient confidentiality as per HIPAA mandates.
  • Provide punctuality and teamwork in multiple departments as needed.
  • Conduct merchandise audits within other departments within the FC.
  • Improve processes by supporting WMS inbound and outbound operations.
  • Slam operations, problem solving packages and correcting packages.
  • Deliver packages & or fresh groceries in a timely manner
  • Utilize PC base systems to track and document shipments.
  • Handle outbound items -Prepare totes for groceries -Prepare carts for floor
  • Handle incoming calls regarding the troubleshooting, functionality of POS terminals.
  • Package school suppliesprepare science and math kits to be send to schools

Fulfillment center associate skills and personality traits

We calculated that 18% of Fulfillment Center Associates are proficient in Sales Floor, Customer Orders, and Stand-Up Forklift. They’re also known for soft skills such as Selling skills, Interpersonal skills, and Math skills.

We break down the percentage of Fulfillment Center Associates that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Sales Floor, 18%

    Major duties include picking items from the sales floor, processing, and packaging orders to be shipped via UPS/USPS.

  • Customer Orders, 10%

    Receive products using radio frequency scanners-pack and ship customer orders -Work around moving machinery

  • Stand-Up Forklift, 9%

    Operated Stand-Up Forklift, replenishment of the Marketplace.

  • Pallet Jack, 8%

    Utilize warehouse equipment (Cherry picker, pallet jack, RF scanner, headset, box cuter, etc.)

  • Safety Regulations, 7%

    Operated handling equipment and ensured safety regulations are followed.

  • Punctuality, 7%

    Provided punctuality and teamwork in multiple departments as needed.

Most fulfillment center associates use their skills in "sales floor," "customer orders," and "stand-up forklift" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential fulfillment center associate responsibilities here:

Selling skills. One of the key soft skills for a fulfillment center associate to have is selling skills. You can see how this relates to what fulfillment center associates do because "retail sales workers must be persuasive when interacting with customers." Additionally, a fulfillment center associate resume shows how fulfillment center associates use selling skills: "coordinated with inventory control team to identify sku's that are prone to selling unit picking errors. "

Interpersonal skills. Another essential skill to perform fulfillment center associate duties is interpersonal skills. Fulfillment center associates responsibilities require that "a friendly and outgoing personality is important for these workers because the job requires almost constant interaction with people." Fulfillment center associates also use interpersonal skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "can multi-task, prioritize, and meet critical deadlines detail-oriented and accurate excellent interpersonal skills and organization"

Math skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of fulfillment center associates is math skills. This skill is critical to many everyday fulfillment center associate duties, as "retail sales workers must have the ability to calculate price totals, discounts, and change owed to customers." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "possess basic math skills * able to follow and carry out instructions"

Customer-service skills. fulfillment center associate responsibilities often require "customer-service skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "retail sales workers must be responsive to the wants and needs of customers." This resume example shows what fulfillment center associates do with customer-service skills on a typical day: "facilitate fulfillment of customer orders by efficiently receiving and relocating products in compliance with company policy. "

All fulfillment center associate skills

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Compare different fulfillment center associates

Fulfillment center associate vs. Associate retailer

An Associate Retailer is responsible for keeping the sales area up to standard and assisting customers while inside the store's premises. Most of the tasks revolve around keeping items on shelves clean and well-organized, greeting and offering assistance to customers, responding to inquiries and locating products, and even providing suggestions or recommendations when necessary and in adherence to the store's policies and regulations. In other stores and retail outlets, the Associate Retailer may also process payments and returns while still putting importance to customer satisfaction.

If we compare the average fulfillment center associate annual salary with that of an associate retailer, we find that associate retailers typically earn a $7,003 lower salary than fulfillment center associates make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both fulfillment center associate and associate retailer positions are skilled in sales floor, customer orders, and inventory control.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between fulfillment center associates and associate retailer. For instance, fulfillment center associate responsibilities require skills such as "stand-up forklift," "pallet jack," "safety regulations," and "punctuality." Whereas a associate retailer is skilled in "ladders," "loss prevention," "customer issues," and "pet." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Associate retailers really shine in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $29,543. Comparatively, fulfillment center associates tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $35,183.associate retailers tend to reach similar levels of education than fulfillment center associates. In fact, associate retailers are 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Fulfillment center associate vs. Seasonal associate

Seasonal Associates are employees in a retail store during a particular season, such as holidays or school breaks. They may also be employed in any other business with a high volume of customers or clients, like theme parks, restaurants, or holiday destinations, during the aforementioned seasons. As such, they usually work on administrative or clerical activities. They may help in overseeing the store display, assisting customers, taking inventory, and restocking shelves, among others. In case seasonal associates do exceptionally well, the company may offer them a full-time engagement.

On average, seasonal associates earn a $4,634 lower salary than fulfillment center associates a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both fulfillment center associates and seasonal associates have skills such as "sales floor," "customer orders," and "pallet jack. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real fulfillment center associate resumes. While fulfillment center associate responsibilities can utilize skills like "stand-up forklift," "safety regulations," "pallets," and "cycle counts," seasonal associates use skills like "pet," "loss prevention," "pos," and "customer inquiries."

Seasonal associates may earn a lower salary than fulfillment center associates, but seasonal associates earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $33,532. On the other hand, fulfillment center associates receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $35,183.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Seasonal associates tend to reach similar levels of education than fulfillment center associates. In fact, they're 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Fulfillment center associate vs. Backroom associate

In retail establishments, a backroom associate processes merchandise from stockrooms to the sales floor. Their other responsibilities include loading and unloading deliveries, inspecting merchandise to ensure its quantity and quality, labeling and tagging items, keeping records of all transactions, and monitoring the inventory of goods. There can also be instances where they must assist clients by answering inquiries and obtaining their orders. Moreover, a backroom associate must maintain an active communication line with staff, coordinating every step of the way for a smooth and efficient workflow.

On average scale, backroom associates bring in lower salaries than fulfillment center associates. In fact, they earn a $4,371 lower salary per year.Using the responsibilities included on fulfillment center associates and backroom associates resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "customer orders," "inventory control," and "hand trucks.rdquo;

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a fulfillment center associate is likely to be skilled in "sales floor," "stand-up forklift," "pallet jack," and "safety regulations," while a typical backroom associate is skilled in "groceries," "customer service," "cleanliness," and "customer merchandise."

When it comes to education, backroom associates tend to earn similar degree levels compared to fulfillment center associates. In fact, they're 2.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Fulfillment center associate vs. Apparel associate

Apparel associates average a lower salary than the annual salary of fulfillment center associates. The difference is about $11,761 per year.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between fulfillment center associates and apparel associates, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a fulfillment center associate might have more use for skills like "customer orders," "stand-up forklift," "pallet jack," and "safety regulations." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of apparel associates require skills like "customer service," "pos," "product knowledge," and "upselling. "

The average resume of apparel associates showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to fulfillment center associates. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 1.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.2%.

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.