How to hire a material handler/warehouse

How to hire a material handler/warehouse, step by step

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

What does a material handler/warehouse do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your material handler/warehouse 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/warehouse for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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   Hiring the perfect material handler/warehouse also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of material handler/warehouse salaries for various roles:

   Type of Material Handler/Warehouse	Description	Hourly rate
   Material Handler/Warehouse	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.	$12-18
   Warehouse Machine Operator	Warehouse machine operators perform various tasks for their employers. These include setting up, operating, monitoring, and troubleshooting machinery, inspecting parts for specifications and any potential damage, and reading and interpreting diagrams and blueprints to position and secure the machines... Show more	$12-19
   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:

   • Pallets
   • Work Ethic
   • Warehouse Environment
   • Customer Orders
   • Supply Support
   • Ladders
   • Customer Service
   • FedEx
   • Safety Procedures
   • OSHA
   • Basic Math
   • Warehouse Equipment
   • Production Schedules
   • Hand Trucks

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Experience in WMS management system.
   • Handle stock tickets, and pack cross-dock shipments in accordance with establish WMS procedures.
   • Pull installation material for service partners and technicians using RF scanners and JDE warehouse management system.
   • Perform all warehouse distribution duties using sit-down and stand-up lift trucks, RF scanners and warehouse management system.
   • Utilize material moving equipment such as pallet jacks, forklifts and dollies to bring products and materials to an appropriate location.
   • Move property from one place to another with and without the use of pull carts, dollies, and pallet jacks.

   More material handler/warehouse duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the material handler/warehouse job description is a good way to get more applicants. A material handler/warehouse salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a material handler/warehouse in Arkansas may be lower than in Hawaii, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level material handler/warehouse. Additionally, a material handler/warehouse with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average material handler/warehouse salary

   $15.57hourly

   $32,384 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level material handler/warehouse salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average material handler/warehouse salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$36,916	$18
   2	Minnesota	$35,996	$17
   3	Colorado	$35,392	$17
   4	Oregon	$35,312	$17
   5	Wisconsin	$34,801	$17
   6	Nebraska	$34,512	$17
   7	California	$34,411	$17
   8	Massachusetts	$33,952	$16
   9	Indiana	$33,852	$16
   10	Iowa	$33,836	$16
   11	Kansas	$33,434	$16
   12	Utah	$32,688	$16
   13	Pennsylvania	$32,640	$16
   14	Nevada	$32,422	$16
   15	New Jersey	$32,381	$16
   16	Ohio	$32,062	$15
   17	Missouri	$32,006	$15
   18	Illinois	$32,002	$15
   19	Delaware	$31,755	$15
   20	Arizona	$31,542	$15

   Average material handler/warehouse salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	PPG	$38,707	$18.61	5
   2	The J.M. Smucker Co.	$38,595	$18.56	5
   3	Dairy Farmers of America	$38,459	$18.49	45
   4	Bob's Discount Furniture	$38,397	$18.46	68
   5	Raytheon Technologies	$38,391	$18.46	12
   6	Nucor	$38,362	$18.44	5
   7	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$38,144	$18.34	21
   8	Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co	$38,103	$18.32	31
   9	Lockheed Martin	$37,821	$18.18	32
   10	TreeHouse Foods	$37,741	$18.14	13
   11	Chewy	$37,698	$18.12	5
   12	Ashley HomeStore	$37,670	$18.11	26
   13	Clean Harbors	$37,386	$17.97	70
   14	Land O'Lakes	$37,314	$17.94	13
   15	The RealReal	$37,298	$17.93	6
   16	Western Digital	$37,279	$17.92
   17	DuPont	$37,145	$17.86	5
   18	Amcor	$36,940	$17.76	57
   19	Dot Foods	$36,830	$17.71	1
   20	Havertys Furniture	$36,806	$17.70	8

4. Writing a material handler/warehouse job description

   A material handler/warehouse 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/warehouse job description:

   Material handler/warehouse job description example

   Balkamp, a leading distributor of automotive aftermarket products in the NAPA Auto Parts system, is seeking a full time and part-time Stock handler. The primary function of this position is to expedite the incoming and outgoing freight including: receiving, stocking, pulling, staging, loading and shipping freight. Shifts are 8hr days Monday - Friday from 7:00am-3:30pm
   Responsibilities
   
   Responsibilities of this position include: pulling stock orders, putting away merchandise, general housekeeping within the facility, following and adhering to all safety rules, and any other duties assigned by management.
   
   Performing daily inspections of appropriate motorized and manual equipment, including but not limited to:
   Forklift, lift gate, pallet jack and hand truck, radio frequency scanners and printers Operating warehouse machinery and equipment in accordance with established safety procedures as needed to maintain the warehouse stock and a safe work environment Transport merchandise throughout the warehouse using an electric sit-down or stand-up forklift along with manual equipment as needed. Verifying and completing required documentation and reports Complying with hazardous material regulations and procedures Assisting in maintaining a clean, organized warehouse environment at all times Complying with all applicable laws / regulations, as well as company policies / procedures
   
   Qualifications
   
   The ideal candidate will be self-motivated with good organizational skills. They will be functionally literate and capable of understanding and recognizing part numbers accurately and rapidly. Basic written and verbal communication skills (documentation, communication with peers, supervisors and customers) as well as good general math skills are a requirement.
   Qualified candidates must have a high school diploma or general education degree (GED) and will be able to: Lift / carry by hand, freight weighing up to 80 pounds on a regular basis. Push/pull products of excessive weight using mechanical aids, such as hand trucks, barrel dollies, hydraulic lifts, etc. Must be able to be certified in the use of a variety of warehouse power equipment. Company will train and certify during the introductory period. Work on your feet (standing and walking) for your assigned shift as part of the normal daily routine. Bend, twist, squat, climb, push and pull and move at a quick speed of pace. Knowledge and competency in the utilization of warehouse related computer and bar coding equipment. Follow instructions and complete required training. Work both independently and in a team environment. Meet or exceed applicable production standards and expectations.
   
   GPC conducts its business without regard to sex, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, age, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, military status, status as a veteran, or any other protected characteristic. GPC's policy is to recruit, hire, train, promote, assign, transfer and terminate employees based on their own ability, achievement, experience and conduct and other legitimate business reasons.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find material handler/warehouses for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any material handler/warehouses they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level material handler/warehouses with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with material handler/warehouse candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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/warehouse

   Once you've decided on a perfect material handler/warehouse 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new material handler/warehouse. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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