How to hire a material handler

How to hire a material handler, step by step

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

What does a material handler do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your material handler job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a material handler for hire on a part-time basis or as a 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's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, material handlers 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of material handlers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Material Handler	Description	Hourly rate
   Material Handler	Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.	$12-19
   Dock Worker	People working in the docks are collectively called dock workers. Their primary job is to load and unload ships... Show more	$13-20
   Forklift Operator	Forklift operators are skilled workers responsible for operating heavy equipment machines called forklifts. They are in charge of operating forklifts, a type of industrial or heavy equipment truck/machine that moves materials from one place to another through prongs protruding from the machine... Show more	$12-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pallets
   • Basic Math
   • Forklifts
   • Math
   • Customer Service
   • Hand Tools
   • Shipping Receiving
   • Safety Procedures
   • Production Lines
   • Warehouse Environment
   • Customer Orders
   • Safety Rules
   • Electric Pallet Jack
   • Work Ethic

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Utilize a manufacturing cloud ERP system to accomplish tasks.
   • Operate forklift according to OSHA safety regulations.
   • Pull parts from stockroom using detail BOM's.
   • Perform daily transactions of materials and inventory movements in ERP system.
   • Help train in coming personnel on FedEx and LTL carriers shipping systems.
   • Move parts from CNC operators to stock area or to assemblers directly.

   More material handler duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, material handlers' average salary in louisiana is 37% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level material handlers 37% less than senior-level material handlers.
   • Certifications. A material handler 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's salary.

   Average material handler salary

   $15.97hourly

   $33,215 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level material handler salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average material handler salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Minnesota	$38,154	$18
   2	Wisconsin	$37,328	$18
   3	Washington	$36,798	$18
   4	Oregon	$36,209	$17
   5	California	$35,789	$17
   6	Colorado	$35,775	$17
   7	Nebraska	$35,573	$17
   8	Pennsylvania	$34,731	$17
   9	Kansas	$34,654	$17
   10	Maine	$34,592	$17
   11	Indiana	$34,390	$17
   12	Illinois	$34,188	$16
   13	Ohio	$34,145	$16
   14	Maryland	$34,093	$16
   15	Nevada	$34,066	$16
   16	Michigan	$33,921	$16
   17	New Jersey	$33,624	$16
   18	Missouri	$33,255	$16
   19	Utah	$33,099	$16
   20	Kentucky	$32,668	$16

   Average material handler salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Battelle	$47,256	$22.72	2
   2	Mar-Jac Poultry	$43,425	$20.88
   3	Steel Dynamics	$42,362	$20.37	11
   4	Ball	$41,628	$20.01	8
   5	Oracle	$41,600	$20.00
   6	Freeport-McMoRan	$41,341	$19.88	6
   7	Nestlé	$41,276	$19.84	56
   8	BD	$40,996	$19.71	6
   9	Vestas Blades America	$40,973	$19.70	5
   10	Metals USA	$40,926	$19.68	18
   11	Uline	$40,855	$19.64	42
   12	Schneider Electric Industrial Services	$40,761	$19.60	15
   13	John B. Sanfilippo & Son	$40,742	$19.59	3
   14	BioMarin	$40,720	$19.58
   15	Scientific Games	$40,635	$19.54	1
   16	Clean Harbors	$40,632	$19.53	78
   17	Astronics	$40,581	$19.51	2
   18	American Woodmark	$40,548	$19.49	1
   19	FLIR Systems	$40,470	$19.46	7
   20	Bayer	$40,437	$19.44	10

4. Writing a material handler job description

   A material handler 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 a material handler job description:

   Material handler job description example

   Material Handler FULL-TIME
   $19/hr O'Reilly is now hiring dedicated and hardworking Warehouse Workers, who thrive in a fast-paced environment! Our Warehouse Workers are a crucial part of our team and important to the overall success of the warehouse. Your high level of accuracy and productivity helps us ensure the right products get to the right place at the right time. We offer onsite interviews and same day hiring decisions. This is the career opportunity for you! Explore our culture and come be a part of it. What you will do: - Matching numbers quickly and accurately
   - Stocking products and load totes for delivery Starting hourly wage $21/hr, shift differential is $1.25, equipment differential is $1.00
   Bonus available of $2,000 will discuss in interview SEA-01 WS-01
   Schedule
   Shift start: 4:00AM or 11:30AM
   Shift length:
   
   Benefits
   Health, dental, vision insurance - available after 30 days 401(k) plan
   Qualifications
   Must pass drug screen Can lift 50 lbs Must be at least 18+ years old Basic computer skills Ability to work closely with others in a team environment If applicable, ability to operate a Cherry Picker; training provided Flexibility for overtime opportunities Pass MVR check, as applicable for the role.
   
   About O'Reilly Auto Parts
   O'Reilly Auto parts is one of the largest specialty retailers of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment, and accessories in the United States serving both the professional service providers and do-it-yourself retail customers. Founded in Springfield, MO in 1957 by Charles Francis “C.F.” and Charles H. “Chub” O'Reilly, the company now operates more than 5,000 stores in 47 states with 77,000-plus team members. The underlying spirit and philosophy of O'Reilly, has been one of growth and progress, both for the company and its team members. This, as well as the company's strong culture, remain

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right material handler for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with material handlers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit material handlers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting material handlers 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 material handler

   Once you've found the material handler 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.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

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

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How much does it cost to hire a material handler?