How to hire an inventory controller

How to hire an inventory controller, step by step

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

What does an inventory controller do?

Post an inventory controller job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The inventory controller hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

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

   Type of Inventory Controller	Description	Hourly rate
   Inventory Controller	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$13-23
   Warehouse Coordinator	A 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
   Distribution Technician	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... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Inventory Control
   • Customer Service
   • Data Entry
   • Math
   • Basic Math
   • Purchase Orders
   • Logistics
   • Perishables
   • Inventory Management
   • Warehouse Inventory
   • Customer Orders
   • Computer System
   • Management System
   • RF Scanner

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage, review, analyze, verify, and ship raw, stock, purchase, QA, and manufacture materials.
   • Operate and set up CNC machines.
   • Move and organize stock using RF scanner.
   • Fill out BOL / SLI paperwork for various shipping and freight companies.
   • Receive in all material for warehouse, CNC shop, and front office.
   • Help implement the WMS system in the warehouse, perform cycle counts and do yearly physical inventories.

   More inventory controller duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your inventory controller job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An inventory controller 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 controller in Kentucky may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level inventory controller usually earns less than a senior-level inventory controller. Additionally, an inventory controller 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 controller salary

   $36,911yearly

   $17.75 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level inventory controller salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average inventory controller salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$49,053	$24
   2	New York	$43,744	$21
   3	Connecticut	$43,441	$21
   4	Washington	$41,779	$20
   5	California	$40,966	$20
   6	Minnesota	$39,106	$19
   7	Pennsylvania	$38,960	$19
   8	Arizona	$38,800	$19
   9	Oregon	$38,310	$18
   10	Illinois	$38,072	$18
   11	Maryland	$37,930	$18
   12	Colorado	$36,961	$18
   13	Michigan	$36,922	$18
   14	Wisconsin	$36,566	$18
   15	Tennessee	$36,525	$18
   16	Texas	$35,687	$17
   17	North Carolina	$35,531	$17
   18	Utah	$35,500	$17
   19	Indiana	$35,410	$17
   20	Ohio	$35,302	$17

   Average inventory controller salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	General Dynamics Mission Systems	$47,816	$22.99	1
   2	Schneider Electric Industrial Services	$47,425	$22.80	10
   3	BD	$46,481	$22.35	3
   4	Freeport-McMoRan	$43,908	$21.11	10
   5	Brigham and Women's Hospital	$42,462	$20.41	6
   6	Dairy Farmers of America	$42,419	$20.39	41
   7	Apache	$41,182	$19.80	1
   8	Northrop Grumman	$41,137	$19.78	4
   9	Cargill	$40,606	$19.52	6
   10	Crescent Service	$40,184	$19.32	2
   11	The University of Vermont Health Network	$40,161	$19.31
   12	Internal Revenue Service	$40,094	$19.28
   13	Backblaze	$40,025	$19.24
   14	UPS	$39,783	$19.13	72
   15	Zoox	$39,009	$18.75	3
   16	H Mart	$38,425	$18.47
   17	Metro Auto Auction	$38,278	$18.40
   18	Staples	$38,213	$18.37	46
   19	Parker Global Strategies	$37,891	$18.22	79
   20	MOBIS Parts America	$37,778	$18.16

4. Writing an inventory controller job description

   A job description for an inventory controller role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an inventory controller job description:

   Inventory controller job description example

   Hiring Immediately!Starting Pay- $20.00/hr4pm-12am Full Time Monday- FridayResponsible for conducting physical inventories, researching locator problems, and adjusting the book inventory with the approval of the Inventory Control Supervisor. Also responsible for assigned production locations; thereby the Warehouse Service Level
   Pay Range
   
   The typical pay range for this role is:
   
   Minimum: 20.00
   
   Maximum: 20.00
   
   Please keep in mind that this range represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual salary offer will take into account a wide range of factors, including location.
   
   Required Qualifications
   
   Experience: 1-2 years' experience in Inventory Control in a warehouse environment
   
   Preferred Qualifications
   
   Good written and verbal communication skills.• Ability, to interact on a professional level, whether by telephone or otherwise, with all support areas (internal and external).• Ability to read, write and count accurately.• Ability to operate (to height of 40 feet) and be certified as an operator of fork trucks and other powered mobile equipment as needed.• Detail oriented with above average math aptitude.• Ability to operate a calculator and other office equipment.• (Physical Demands: This position has a frequent-medium heavy lifting requirement of 1 - 20 lbs, 34-66% of time. Occasional very heavy lifting requirement of up to 75 lbs, 0-33% of time. Other physical activities include constant bending/reaching/stooping, (67-100%). Constant walking/standing climbing (67-100%).• Normal eyesight (natural or corrected).• Regular and Reliable attendance• Work Environment: Warehouse environment, which includes seasonal temperature changes, rolling equipment and conveyors
   
   Education
   
   High school diploma or equivalent required
   
   Business Overview
   
   Bring your heart to CVS Health Every one of us at CVS Health shares a single, clear purpose: Bringing our heart to every moment of your health. This purpose guides our commitment to deliver enhanced human-centric health care for a rapidly changing world. Anchored in our brand - with heart at its center - our purpose sends a personal message that how we deliver our services is just as important as what we deliver. Our Heart At Work Behaviors™ support this purpose. We want everyone who works at CVS Health to feel empowered by the role they play in transforming our culture and accelerating our ability to innovate and deliver solutions to make health care more personal, convenient and affordable. We strive to promote and sustain a culture of diversity, inclusion and belonging every day. CVS Health is an affirmative action employer, and is an equal opportunity employer, as are the physician-owned businesses for which CVS Health provides management services. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, promotion, or any other personnel action based on race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We proudly support and encourage people with military experience (active, veterans, reservists and National Guard) as well as military spouses to apply for CVS Health job opportunities.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find inventory controllers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit inventory controllers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 inventory controller

   Once you've decided on a perfect inventory controller 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 important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new inventory controller. 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire an inventory controller?