How to hire an inventory stocker

How to hire an inventory stocker, step by step

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

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

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the inventory stocker you need to hire. Certain inventory stocker roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an inventory stocker to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an inventory stocker that fits the bill.

   This list presents inventory stocker salaries for various positions.

   Type of Inventory Stocker	Description	Hourly rate
   Inventory Stocker	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$11-18
   Stock Team Member	A stock team member is an employee who is responsible for preparing and distributing merchandise from the backroom to the sales floor. Stock team members are required to support the stocking team by helping locate items on the sales floor and assisting with stocking merchandise... Show more	$11-17
   Stock Receiver	A stock receiver is a person who manages and processes stocks in retail stores or warehouses. Stock receivers make sure that all shipments are properly inspected, sorted, and stored or stocked on shelves or warehouses... Show more	$11-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Product Knowledge
   • Customer Service
   • Stock Merchandise
   • Pallet Jack
   • Safety Regulations
   • Store Shelves
   • Stock Shelves
   • Stock Inventory
   • Stock Room
   • Back Room
   • RF
   • Inventory Management
   • Credit Card
   • Groceries

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the ordering of shipping supplies through FedEx's web ordering system.
   • Used RF scanner, palletize and shrink wrap pallets
   • Perform inventory check on supplies using RF bar code reader
   • Maintain restaurant and grounds cleanliness; quickly responding and resolving any unsafe/sanitary issues for the customers.
   • Perform scans of merchandise using an RGIS handheld computer to complete inventory audits on retail establishments

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your inventory stocker job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An inventory stocker salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, inventory stockers' average salary in florida is 30% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level inventory stockers earn 37% less than senior-level inventory stockers.
   • Certifications. An inventory stocker with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an inventory stocker's salary.

   Average inventory stocker salary

   $14.83hourly

   $30,844 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level inventory stocker salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing an inventory stocker job description

   A job description for an inventory stocker 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 stocker job description:

   Inventory stocker job description example

   C ome work at a place where innovation and teamwork come together to support the most exciting missions in the world!
   
   To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
   + Be responsible for the maintenance and inventory across the entire Pet Care Center.
   
   + Ensure merchandise is properly stocked, priced, and displayed to create a great presentation for our guests.
   
   + Process register transactions in a way that creates a great experience for each guest.
   
   + Be proficient within our selling model and support guest interactions as needed.
   
   + Have a strong interest in animal welfare and support animal care procedures to maintain pet health.
   
   + Complete and apply training programs to maintain a high level of expertise of their role.
   
   + Promote a positive culture of teamwork, inclusion, and collaboration.
   
   + Adhere to established operational guidelines, policies, and procedures.
   
   + Complete other duties and special projects as assigned.
   
   + Evaluate guest inquiries and refers to the Leader on Duty as needed.
   
   Other Essential Duties
   
   + UTILIZE SELLING BEHAVIORS. You're the key to providing an amazing guest experience within our Pet Care Locations. Utilizing the behaviors within our Sales Model is critical to being able to identify and solve for their needs both today and in the future.
   
   + CONTRIBUTE TO A SAFE ENVIRONMENT . You'll be empowered through our training programs to maintain our safety protocols. Bottom line, the safety of partners, guests and pets is our #1 priority.
   
   + BE A PART OF A COLLABORATIVE CULTURE. Being a great teammate is key to creating a culture that is centered around solving for the health and wellness needs of pets.
   
   + ENGAGE IN YOUR CAREER: As you develop your skills and knowledge, you will have the opportunity to participate in developmental programs to support your continued growth throughout your career.
   
   Basic Qualifications
   
   + Minimum high school diploma (its equivalency i.e. GED) or the equivalent work experience.
   
   + A qualified applicant will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the areas of mathematics, and above average communication skills.
   
   + In addition to having a professional appearance and demeanor, applicants must also demonstrate a keen and genuine interest in animals and their care.
   
   + Good interpersonal and verbal communication skills are necessary due to the nature of interaction with the public and other partners and leaders within the store.
   
   Education/Skills
   
   In addition to a high school diploma or its equivalent (GED), an applicant must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the areas of mathematics and basic accounting relationships and exhibit exceptional communication skills.
   
   Supervisory Responsibility
   
   + None
   
   Work Environment
   
   The majority of job duties are conducted indoors, although customer carryouts and veterinarian visits will require that an employee leave the store briefly. Because this position requires bending, kneeling, moving merchandise (up to 50 pounds, as necessary) and standing for long periods of time, there may be risk of injury resulting from not following procedures. Ability and willingness to a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends to meet store needs.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer
   
   Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification.
   
   Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting inventory stockers 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. 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 stocker

   Once you've found the inventory stocker 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

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