How to hire a materials technician

How to hire a materials technician, step by step

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

What does a materials technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your materials technician 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 technician 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 materials technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, materials technicians 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 materials technicians.

   Type of Materials Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Materials Technician	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$12-22
   Supply Clerk	A supply clerk works in a warehouse environment helping businesses maintain operations. Supply clerks' duties may vary from job to job... Show more	$11-20
   Inventory Control Clerk	An inventory control clerk is responsible for managing the stock inventory, recording incoming and outgoing deliveries, and inspecting proper labeling before moving the products to the storage areas. Inventory control clerks resolve inventory discrepancies, checking and reviewing product details and reports from the warehouse software database... Show more	$13-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Customer Service
   • Patient Care
   • Data Entry
   • Asphalt
   • Management System
   • Math
   • OSHA
   • Purchase Orders
   • Construction Materials
   • Level Analysis
   • Basic Math
   • Laboratory Equipment
   • Cycle Counts

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage ISO documentation for corporate purchasing.
   • Perform construction surveying and Geotechnical investigations as required.
   • Direct inbound and outbound logistics operations, such as transportation and warehouse activities, safety performance, and logistics quality management.
   • Lumber, shingles, cement blocks, and etc.
   • Ensure sales for everyday needs of lumber, shingles, and many more supplies to customers and contractors.

   More materials technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your materials technician job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A materials technician salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a materials technician in Maine may be lower than in Hawaii, and an entry-level materials technician usually earns less than a senior-level materials technician. Additionally, a materials technician with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average materials technician salary

   $35,721yearly

   $17.17 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level materials technician salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average materials technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$41,489	$20
   2	California	$40,121	$19
   3	Utah	$39,497	$19
   4	Washington	$39,043	$19
   5	Arizona	$38,927	$19
   6	Tennessee	$38,003	$18
   7	Pennsylvania	$37,360	$18
   8	Massachusetts	$35,872	$17
   9	Colorado	$35,766	$17
   10	Ohio	$35,761	$17
   11	Wisconsin	$34,602	$17
   12	Texas	$33,025	$16
   13	Kansas	$32,895	$16
   14	Indiana	$32,687	$16
   15	North Carolina	$32,271	$16
   16	Missouri	$31,411	$15
   17	Mississippi	$29,756	$14
   18	Georgia	$28,057	$13

   Average materials technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Oak Ridge National Laboratory	$64,198	$30.86
   2	Gilead Sciences	$53,900	$25.91
   3	Calpine	$52,218	$25.10	3
   4	Plug Power	$52,014	$25.01	4
   5	Teledyne Technologies Incorporated	$48,942	$23.53	3
   6	REGENXBIO	$47,508	$22.84
   7	Catholic Health East	$47,104	$22.65	2
   8	BD	$46,226	$22.22
   9	Stantec	$46,225	$22.22	5
   10	Mentor	$45,866	$22.05	2
   11	Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc	$45,506	$21.88
   12	Siemens	$45,482	$21.87	1
   13	Michael Baker	$44,442	$21.37
   14	Cummins	$44,353	$21.32	13
   15	Roper St. Francis Healthcare	$43,735	$21.03
   16	Intel	$42,823	$20.59
   17	Medical University of South Carolina	$42,599	$20.48	6
   18	Raytheon Technologies	$42,175	$20.28	33
   19	Baptist Health	$41,995	$20.19	4
   20	Idaho National Lab	$41,567	$19.98

4. Writing a materials technician job description

   A materials technician 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 materials technician job description:

   Materials technician job description example

   Responsibilities

   Starting rate of pay is $20. 00/plus Evening/Night Shift Differential Pay

   Shift: Evenings/Nights

   $1,000 Sign-On Bonus

   Maintain adequate levels of non-implant related supplies in the OR. Responsible for ordering, restocking and monitoring carts and supply items supporting the Operating Rooms. Resource person in the OR core and is available to staff as a materials resource.

   #LI-KD1

   Requirements

   Required Education/Experience: - High school diploma or equivalent experience - Three (3) years of materials handling/supply experience with knowledge of supply management methodologists (FIFO) - Knowledge of surgical terminology, products, and procedures. Required Credentials: - N/A Preferred: - Surgical background or familiarity with the supplies and instruments used in the operating room environment.

   About Us

   Hope. Care. Cure. These three simple words capture what we do at Seattle Children's -- to help every child live the healthiest and most fulfilling life possible. Are you ready to engage with a mission-driven organization that is life-changing to many, and touches the hearts of all? #HOPECARECURE

   Our founding promise to the community is as valid today as it was over a century ago: we will care for all children in our region, regardless of the families' ability to pay. Together, we deliver superior patient care, advance new discoveries and treatments through pediatric research, and serve as the pediatric and adolescent, academic medical center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho - the largest region of any children's hospital in the country.

   In 2022, U.S. News & World Report once again ranked Seattle Children's among the nation's best children's hospitals - for the 30th year in a row. For more than a decade, Seattle Children's has been nationally ranked in all 10 specialty areas evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. We are honored to be the top-ranked pediatric hospital in Washington and the Pacific Northwest.

   As a Magnet designated institution, and classified among America's best large employers by Forbes, we recognize the importance of hiring and developing great talent to provide best-in-class care to the patients and families we serve. Our organizational DNA takes form in our core values: Compassion, Excellence, Integrity, Collaboration, Equity and Innovation. Whether it's delivering frontline care to our patients in a kind and caring manner, practicing the highest standards of quality and safety, or being relentlessly curious as we work towards eradicating childhood diseases, these values are the fabric of our culture and community. The future starts here.

   Covid-19 VaccinationIn accordance with Washington state law, Seattle Children's requires that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. All offers are contingent and your vaccine status will be verified at onboarding.Our Commitment to Diversity

   Our community welcomes diverse experiences, backgrounds, and thoughts as this is what drives our spirit of inquiry and allows us to better connect with our increasingly diverse patients and families. Our organization recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

   The people who work at Seattle Children's are members of a community that seeks to respect and celebrate all the qualities that make each of us unique. Each of us is empowered to be ourselves within this community, which cultivates and promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion at all levels.

   Seattle Children's is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Workplace and Affirmative Action Employer.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with materials technician 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 technician

   Once you've selected the best materials technician 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.

   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 technician. 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 technician?