How to hire a materials associate

How to hire a materials associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step materials associate hiring guide:

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

What does a materials associate do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your materials associate 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 materials associate 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?

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   Hiring the perfect materials associate 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of materials associates.

   Type of Materials Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Materials Associate	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$10-26
   Inventory Controller	An inventory controller is responsible for performing duties for the inventory department of an organization. Inventory controllers ensure the adequacy of the product and materials needed for daily operations... Show more	$13-23
   Warehouse Worker	Warehouse workers are employees assigned to handle tasks inside the company's warehouse. They are in charge of managing the entry and exit of goods inside the warehouse, ensure that the inventory is up-to-date, and check the quality of the goods that are stored... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • OSHA
   • RF
   • Management System
   • Pallets
   • Customer Orders
   • Shipping Receiving
   • Math
   • Cycle Counts
   • Customer Service
   • Data Entry
   • Basic Math
   • Safety Procedures
   • Purchase Orders
   • Inventory Control

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Use automate systems and RF units to manage inventory.
   • Update sonic, manual files, and relay all pertinent info to leads, supervisors and AOG.
   • Enter orders into ERP system.
   • Purchase raw materials using MRP planning system.
   • Contact suppliers to request ROHS and ISO certifications.
   • Pick and confirm medical equipment for other technology companies using RF scanners.

   More materials associate duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, materials associates' average salary in florida is 50% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level materials associates 62% less than senior-level materials associates.
   • Certifications. A materials associate 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 materials associate's salary.

   Average materials associate salary

   $16.41hourly

   $34,143 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level materials associate salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average materials associate salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Rhode Island	$44,835	$22
   2	California	$43,964	$21
   3	Oregon	$42,970	$21
   4	Massachusetts	$42,032	$20
   5	New Hampshire	$39,602	$19
   6	Idaho	$38,509	$19
   7	Ohio	$38,479	$19
   8	Arizona	$36,789	$18
   9	Michigan	$36,107	$17
   10	Utah	$36,088	$17
   11	Indiana	$35,469	$17
   12	Missouri	$34,949	$17
   13	Colorado	$34,612	$17
   14	North Carolina	$34,538	$17
   15	Wisconsin	$34,408	$17
   16	South Carolina	$34,408	$17
   17	Illinois	$34,029	$16
   18	Kansas	$32,392	$16
   19	Tennessee	$30,185	$15
   20	Georgia	$28,304	$14

   Average materials associate salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Eli Lilly and Company	$103,498	$49.76	3
   2	Brookhaven National Laboratory	$68,552	$32.96
   3	Halliburton	$62,682	$30.14	4
   4	Quest Global	$53,464	$25.70
   5	Baptist Health Care	$46,958	$22.58
   6	Collins Aerospace	$43,534	$20.93
   7	University of Southern California	$42,025	$20.20	1
   8	New York Life Insurance	$41,419	$19.91
   9	Clyde Companies	$41,130	$19.77	2
   10	Cummins	$40,650	$19.54	3
   11	Nestlé	$39,235	$18.86	24
   12	Rite-Hite	$38,744	$18.63	2
   13	Arrow Electronics	$38,537	$18.53	7
   14	Bausch + Lomb	$37,880	$18.21	10
   15	Adient US LLC	$37,708	$18.13	4
   16	Legacy Health	$37,279	$17.92
   17	Rockwell Automation	$35,851	$17.24	3
   18	Raytheon Technologies	$35,842	$17.23	41
   19	Volkswagen Group of America	$35,818	$17.22
   20	Weyerhaeuser International, Inc	$35,565	$17.10

4. Writing a materials associate job description

   A job description for a materials associate 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 a materials associate job description:

   Materials associate job description example

   Receives, stores and issues supplies, including identification, counts and processes issued supply documents. Performs routine functions necessary in the issue of storage boxes and delivery of supplies, materials and similar related activities.
   Essential Functions
   
   * Processes transactions accurately and timely as a result of the receiving of physical goods from suppliers, or returned goods from customer departments, stock replenishments or the filling of customer orders.
   * Executes transactions inside the management system, and utilizes both PC and RF scanner technologies to process transactions accurately.
   * Reviews and verifies all documentation used throughout the process to ensure thoroughness and accuracy.
   * Operates all powered and non-powered equipment in a safe manner and transports and stores all goods in a safe manner to prevent damage to the goods.
   * Supervises the receiving and distribution of equipment and supplies.
   * Ensures that equipment and supplies are handled, stored and maintained in secure environment.
   * Removes non-functional equipment and supplies from service and reports problems to the proper department(s) for corrective action.
   * Inspects working and storage areas and ensures clean and orderly conditions.
   * Works safely; complies with all department, the System and OSHA safety regulations, as well as performs good housekeeping.
   * Completes and submits daily the inspection checklist when using any powered piece of equipment (if required by department.)
   
   Physical Requirements
   
   Ability to work in the patient care areas independently, often under stressful conditions. Ability to support multiple function areas during the shift. Requires lengthy periods of standing and walking. Frequently requires sitting, stooping and stretching to perform job duties. Requires frequent pushing and/or pulling of equipment and supplies. Ability to lift up to 75 pounds. Ability to attend to several stimuli simultaneously. Ability to maintain emotional stability under stress.
   
   Education, Experience and Certifications
   
   High School Diploma or GED required. Equivalent and related work experience preferred. Depending on facility, position may require a valid driver's license (no violations in last 3 years).

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find materials associates 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 materials associate job on Zippia to find and recruit materials associate 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 materials associates, 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.

   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 materials associate

   Once you have selected a candidate for the materials associate position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   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 materials associate. 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 materials associate?