How to hire a materials clerk

How to hire a materials clerk, step by step

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

What does a materials clerk do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a materials clerk, 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 materials clerk's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, materials clerks 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 presents materials clerk salaries for various positions.

   Type of Materials Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Materials Clerk	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$12-19
   Warehouse Coordinator	A warehouse coordinator is responsible for monitoring the supply and distribution operations of a warehouse, loading and unloading merchandise from the delivery trucks, and storing items appropriately on the facility. Warehouse coordinators assist in packing and labeling items, pulling out products from delivery, and ensuring the correct quantity and quality of the items before release... Show more	$12-19
   Distribution Technician	A distribution technician has a variety of duties and responsibilities, including collecting and delivering materials, receiving documents, packages, and messages, and transporting them safely to their destination. Other tasks that you will likely perform include managing the inventory and completing data entry, preparing documentation and reports, and coordinating logistics for the shipment of products... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Entry
   • Purchase Orders
   • Patient Care
   • Inventory Control
   • Pallet Jack
   • Cycle Counts
   • Basic Math
   • Shipping Receiving
   • Inventory System
   • Inventory Issues
   • Computer System
   • Materials Handling
   • Shop Floor
   • Inventory Management

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage incoming delivery of all FedEx and containers containing serviceable material.
   • Direct inbound and outbound logistics operations, such as transportation and warehouse activities, safety performance, and logistics quality management.
   • Deliver groceries to customers homes/ businesses.

   More materials clerk duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, materials clerks' average salary in mississippi is 38% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level materials clerks 38% less than senior-level materials clerks.
   • Certifications. A materials clerk 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 clerk's salary.

   Average materials clerk salary

   $15.44hourly

   $32,109 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level materials clerk salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average materials clerk salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$39,067	$19
   2	Colorado	$33,823	$16
   3	Arizona	$33,129	$16
   4	Kansas	$32,617	$16
   5	Minnesota	$32,221	$15
   6	Indiana	$31,672	$15
   7	Iowa	$30,764	$15
   8	Ohio	$30,172	$15
   9	Michigan	$29,760	$14
   10	Illinois	$29,741	$14
   11	New Mexico	$29,721	$14
   12	Texas	$29,469	$14
   13	Oklahoma	$29,469	$14
   14	Kentucky	$28,908	$14
   15	North Carolina	$27,344	$13
   16	Florida	$26,282	$13
   17	Tennessee	$26,119	$13

   Average materials clerk salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Amphenol	$42,890	$20.62	5
   2	Danaher	$41,922	$20.15	14
   3	SPX	$41,570	$19.99	2
   4	Hunter Engineering	$40,936	$19.68	3
   5	Methodist Hospital for Surgery	$38,865	$18.69
   6	Safran	$38,477	$18.50	31
   7	Bausch + Lomb	$38,381	$18.45	12
   8	Lear	$37,544	$18.05	5
   9	Cardinal Health	$37,006	$17.79	219
   10	Trane	$36,285	$17.44	31
   11	Textron	$36,258	$17.43	15
   12	JPS Health Network	$35,454	$17.05	1
   13	Kindred Healthcare	$34,786	$16.72	4
   14	Norman Regional Health System	$34,238	$16.46	6
   15	Coloplast	$33,950	$16.32	2
   16	LifePoint Health	$33,658	$16.18	16
   17	Mueller Water Products	$33,248	$15.98	8
   18	Comlux the Aviation Group	$33,066	$15.90
   19	Mountaire Farms	$32,910	$15.82	4
   20	UMiami Health System	$32,596	$15.67

4. Writing a materials clerk job description

   A job description for a materials clerk 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 clerk job description:

   Materials clerk job description example

   At Trane TechnologiesTM and through our businesses including Trane® and Thermo King®, we create innovative climate solutions for buildings, homes, and transportation that challenge what's possible for a sustainable world. We're a team that dares to look at the world's challenges and see impactful possibilities. We believe in a better future when we uplift others and enable our people to thrive at work and at home. We boldly go.
   :
   
   Manage the shipping and receiving process of a warehouse at the Vidalia, GA location.
   
   Responsibilities :
   Schedule and coordinate deliveries, generate Purchase Orders. Manage the shipping and receiving process of a warehouse. Can coordinate activities required for production or office environment Supports operations or office environment doing clerical duties or other. Wide range of contributions and ways to add value
   Qualifications and Requirements:
   Typically works on a computer Might perform simple analysis or problem solving Works creatively Ability to organize and prioritize Interacts with internal and external stakeholders with limited supervision Must adhere to dress code at all times.
   Education and/or Experience
   Must be at least 18 years of age Experience as a Material Handler Experience with computers and Warehouse software Must have a High school diploma or equivalent degree Must be able to demonstrate work ethic and learning agility
   Physical Requirements:
   Basic visual requirements for precision work Sit or stand for up to 8 hours per day We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits and programs. We are 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, pregnancy, age, marital status, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any legally protected status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit materials clerks, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   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 materials clerk

   Once you've decided on a perfect materials clerk 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 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.

   To prepare for the new materials clerk first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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 clerk?