How to hire a material handler/forklift operator

How to hire a material handler/forklift operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step material handler/forklift operator hiring guide:

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

What does a material handler/forklift operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a material handler/forklift operator, 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

   A material handler/forklift operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, material handler/forklift operators 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 shows salaries for various types of material handler/forklift operators.

   Type of Material Handler/Forklift Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Material Handler/Forklift Operator	Material moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects. Some operators move construction materials around building sites or excavate earth from a mine... Show more	$13-21
   Freight Handler	A freight handler is responsible for monitoring the distribution and delivery of the freight, unloading and storing materials, and verifying the accurate information of the freight records. Freight handlers inspect the condition and quality of the goods and materials before loading into the distribution trucks for shipment... Show more	$13-21
   Forklift	The primary job of a forklift operator is to operate and manage forklifts used for moving, locating, relocating, stacking, and counting merchandise in various settings, such as construction sites and warehouses. As a forklift operator, you will unload shipments properly and safely, and stack and store them in their designated areas... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pallets
   • Safety Procedures
   • Electric Pallet Jack
   • Forklift Operation
   • RF Scanner
   • Assembly Line
   • Sit-Down Forklift
   • Production Lines
   • Inventory Control
   • Stand-Up Forklift
   • Load Trucks
   • Unload Trucks
   • Customer Orders
   • Forklift Training

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Use automate systems and RF units to pull, put away and load customer product, in addition to managing inventory
   • Train in all aspects of warehousing, shipping, receiving using WMS.
   • Receive parts from the manufacturers and scan parts into the inventory using warehouse management system (WMS).
   • Perform specialized production line and quality control duties in a professional production environment specializing in plastic extrusion.
   • Determine require pallet count to meet the statistical receiving requirements.
   • Operate tools (hand truck, fork lift, dollies, hand jack), distribute materials to their designate departments.

   More material handler/forklift operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your material handler/forklift operator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A material handler/forklift operator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, material handler/forklift operators' average salary in new mexico is 37% less than in north dakota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level material handler/forklift operators 36% less than senior-level material handler/forklift operators.
   • Certifications. A material handler/forklift operator 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 material handler/forklift operator's salary.

   Average material handler/forklift operator salary

   $36,453yearly

   $17.53 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level material handler/forklift operator salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average material handler/forklift operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Minnesota	$42,867	$21
   2	Washington	$42,251	$20
   3	Maryland	$42,149	$20
   4	Wisconsin	$42,102	$20
   5	Colorado	$41,940	$20
   6	New Jersey	$40,246	$19
   7	Illinois	$39,416	$19
   8	California	$38,272	$18
   9	Michigan	$36,874	$18
   10	Missouri	$36,252	$17
   11	Florida	$34,954	$17
   12	Virginia	$34,790	$17
   13	North Carolina	$34,547	$17
   14	Arizona	$34,492	$17
   15	Oklahoma	$34,096	$16
   16	Texas	$33,908	$16
   17	Alabama	$33,784	$16
   18	Tennessee	$33,772	$16
   19	Georgia	$33,541	$16
   20	Mississippi	$32,368	$16

   Average material handler/forklift operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Nestlé	$43,607	$20.96	49
   2	Schreiber Foods	$43,408	$20.87	14
   3	American Woodmark	$42,550	$20.46	1
   4	Mars	$41,764	$20.08	20
   5	Clean Harbors	$41,188	$19.80	95
   6	Fluor Corporation	$41,022	$19.72	18
   7	GSA	$40,954	$19.69
   8	Broadridge	$40,934	$19.68	34
   9	Texas	$40,719	$19.58
   10	Sonoco	$40,197	$19.33	24
   11	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$40,051	$19.26	393
   12	Woodgrain	$40,011	$19.24	5
   13	Optimum Nutrition	$39,733	$19.10	28
   14	Siemens	$39,585	$19.03	10
   15	Lyman Lumber Company	$39,230	$18.86
   16	Reeb	$38,882	$18.69	5
   17	JTM Food Group	$38,864	$18.68	1
   18	Cavco Industries	$38,560	$18.54	2
   19	CEVA Logistics	$38,126	$18.33
   20	Espy Lumber	$38,121	$18.33	1

4. Writing a material handler/forklift operator job description

   A material handler/forklift operator 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. Below, you can find an example of a material handler/forklift operator job description:

   Material handler/forklift operator job description example

   BCforward is currently seeking highly motivated Helpdesk Support Analyst in Phoenix, AZ 85007
   

   Job Title: Material Handler

   Location: (Indianapolis, IN 46256)

   Duration: 12 months with the possibility of extension

   Position Description :

   Shift Mon-Thurs 6:30am-4pm, Friday 6:30am-10:30am. Possible OT on Friday's till 3pm. Holiday weeks will revert back to 8-hour days. If overtime is being worked, they will start with Friday afternoon and go into Saturday if necessary. Attendance policy strictly enforced and attached for reference.

   Duties:

   Perform repetitive assembly of care kits/diabetic testing meters (this includes light assembly of the product and

   literature/instructions that go with it)

   Must be able to stand in the same location for 8 hours per day

   Pack shipping boxes, including labeling and palatalizing

   Perform general 5s and housekeeping duties as necessary.

   Perform other duties such as quality inspections, as assigned

   Must have excellent attendance

   Able to work in a team environment

   Roche USA now requires all workers, whether onsite or remote to be fully vaccinated by 11/15/21. Exceptions will be given on a case by case basis only for medical and/or deeply held religious beliefs.

   Per the CDC Fully Vaccinated means

   Two weeks after your second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or

   Two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine.

   Company DescriptionBC Forward began as an IT business solutions and staffing firm. Founded in 1998, BCforward has grown with our customers’ needs into a full-service personnel solutions organization. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, BCforward also operates numerous delivery centers across North America and India. We are currently the largest consulting firm and largest MBE certified firm in Indiana. Our uninterrupted growth has allowed BCforward to deliver uniquely configured IT staffing and project solutions for over years of catering to our customers’ specific needs. BCforward currently maintains a team of over 5000 global resources. With our additional brand, Stafforward, together we have the capabilities to deliver services for a variety of industries in both public and private sectors which allows us to address your most challenging needs.
   www.BCforward.com

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find material handler/forklift operators 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 material handler/forklift operator job on Zippia to find and recruit material handler/forklift operator 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 material handler/forklift operators, 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.

   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 material handler/forklift operator

   Once you've selected the best material handler/forklift operator 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.

   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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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