How to hire an inventory control clerk

How to hire an inventory control clerk, step by step

Here's a step-by-step inventory control clerk hiring guide:

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

What does an inventory control clerk do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an inventory control clerk, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   An inventory control clerk's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, inventory control 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 inventory control clerk salaries for various positions.

   Type of Inventory Control Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Inventory Control Clerk	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$13-20
   Warehouse Receiving	The duties of a warehouse receiving worker include interacting with delivery couriers, such as DHL and FedEx/UPS, while generally simplifying the customer service delivery process. They are expected to closely inspect all goods and products for damages, verify the quantities of products ordered, and enter these into inventory using RF or WMS system... Show more	$12-18
   Warehouse Technician	A warehouse technician is responsible for monitoring the incoming and outgoing goods and services in the warehouse or distribution centers. Warehouse technicians verify shipment details, assist with packaging items, move merchandise to storage areas, inspect the quality of items for release, and escalate defective products for immediate replacement... Show more	$13-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Inventory Control
   • Customer Service
   • Data Entry
   • Math
   • Management System
   • Forklift Training
   • Inventory Management
   • Purchase Orders
   • Computer System
   • Shipping Receiving
   • EX
   • RF
   • WMS
   • Warehouse Inventory

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage, review, analyze, verify, and ship raw, stock, purchase, QA, and manufacture materials.
   • Manage incoming delivery of all FedEx and containers containing serviceable material.
   • Handle payroll through ADP, as well as benefits and orientation.
   • Rout all interoffice mail, schedule daily FEDEX deliveries, maintain all offices supplies
   • Use WMS to research product, part number, shipping, bin and adjustment history to find error.
   • Verify tracking numbers, trailer numbers, carrier, and vendor on bills of lading to WMS worksheets.

   More inventory control clerk duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your inventory control clerk job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An inventory control clerk salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an inventory control clerk in Alabama may be lower than in Oregon, and an entry-level inventory control clerk usually earns less than a senior-level inventory control clerk. Additionally, an inventory control clerk with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average inventory control clerk salary

   $35,634yearly

   $17.13 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level inventory control clerk salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average inventory control clerk salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$40,959	$20
   2	California	$38,606	$19
   3	Nevada	$37,078	$18
   4	Colorado	$37,065	$18
   5	Illinois	$36,545	$18
   6	Pennsylvania	$36,170	$17
   7	Missouri	$36,016	$17
   8	New York	$35,940	$17
   9	Indiana	$35,868	$17
   10	Ohio	$34,754	$17
   11	Kentucky	$34,587	$17
   12	Tennessee	$34,030	$16
   13	Texas	$33,963	$16
   14	Mississippi	$33,826	$16
   15	Oklahoma	$33,552	$16
   16	Florida	$33,419	$16
   17	Alabama	$33,356	$16

   Average inventory control clerk salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	BD	$44,827	$21.55	6
   2	Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc	$39,659	$19.07
   3	United Natural Foods	$39,521	$19.00	33
   4	Brigham and Women's Hospital	$39,123	$18.81	6
   5	JBS USA	$39,007	$18.75	27
   6	International Paper	$38,965	$18.73	18
   7	Northern Quest Resort & Casino	$38,785	$18.65
   8	FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA	$38,527	$18.52	39
   9	Gordon Food Service	$38,478	$18.50	9
   10	Bimbo Bakeries	$38,014	$18.28
   11	Leggett & Platt	$37,932	$18.24	3
   12	Thorlabs	$37,784	$18.17	4
   13	Lucid Motors	$37,767	$18.16	13
   14	Parker Global Strategies	$37,750	$18.15	147
   15	Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital	$37,694	$18.12
   16	University of Michigan	$37,679	$18.11	2
   17	Conn's	$37,662	$18.11
   18	Lineage Logistics	$37,569	$18.06	96
   19	Staples	$37,474	$18.02	64
   20	FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies	$37,448	$18.00	17

4. Writing an inventory control clerk job description

   An inventory control clerk job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an inventory control clerk job description:

   Inventory control clerk job description example

   We are in search of a detail oriented and results driven Inventory Control professionals to be responsible for overall inventory and serve as direct liaison with distribution operations, accounting and internal audit in this highly automated distribution center.
   Job Responsibilities
   • Execute quality assurance checks at inbound receiving, during inventory control activities, and in performing research/ investigations to ensure the highest product quality for our customers and validate products meet company standards including, but not limited to, general product specifications, freshness, appearance, dating, packaging, labeling, weights and measures, etc.
   • Daily resolutions of potential and real mark outs, “less-than” pick slot counts, put away and replenishment exception resolution, counting high-value and time-sensitive products, and code date checks for highly sensitive items.
   • Coordinate the removal of product which has reached its "minimum shelf days" prior to shipping and make inventory adjustments as the situation warrants.
   • Slot new items and perform slot maintenance as required: facings, capacity, pick-to-light setup (where applicable), slot labeling, etc.
   • Execute product returns to vendors and other product releases (e.g., donations, salvage) according to policy and procedure.
   • Execute damage processing.
   • Process returns of customer orders.
   • Resolve receiving errors physically and in the system.
   • Execute recalls as required strictly according to policy and procedure.
   • Execute inquiries and requests from others, including inventory control and facility management, buyers, accounting, etc. o Execute cycle counts as required. o Assist in research as required, including product issues, shrink, operational process issues, etc.
   • Verify and correct product information (packing, description, UPC) etc., in the performance of inventory control duties.
   • Identify and correct problem items and/or other significant inventory issues; communicate these to the Inventory Control Supervisor (and/or facility management) as required.
   • Execute and reinforce food safety practices in the conduct of all inventory control responsibilities and promote the ongoing awareness and education of others with respect to food defense.
   • Audit outbound orders for accuracy and quality as required.
   • Assist in the education and training of others in how their functions impact inventory accuracy and product quality.
   • Work with third parties (vendor representatives, government agencies, other company personnel) as requested.
   • Perform other duties as assigned.
   
   Job Requirements
   • High School Diploma or equivalent required
   • High attentiveness to accuracy (counts and data entry) a must.
   • Solid math skills and basic computer knowledge a must.
   • Ability to pass food safety certification a must. Company DescriptionAhold eCommerce Sales Company (AES) is a distribution facility which supplies product for an expanded Stop & Shop Delivery fulfillment operation in the NY Metro market. We are in search of driven and detail-oriented professionals for our highly automated center.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting inventory control 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.

   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 inventory control clerk

   Once you've selected the best inventory control clerk candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the 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.

   To prepare for the new inventory control clerk 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 an inventory control clerk?