How to hire an order entry specialist

How to hire an order entry specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step order entry specialist hiring guide:

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

What does an order entry specialist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your order entry specialist 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 an order entry specialist 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

   An order entry specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, order entry specialists 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 order entry specialists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Order Entry Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Order Entry Specialist	Information clerks perform routine clerical duties such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.	$13-20
   Data Clerk	A data clerk is responsible for performing administrative support tasks, mainly focusing on data-entry. Their responsibilities typically include updating databases, maintaining records on spreadsheets and other documents, preparing and processing files, creating and organizing reports, coordinating with different departments to gather or disseminate data, and performing research and analysis... Show more	$12-18
   Data Entry Clerk	Data entry clerks are employees who work on the proper documentation of the data sets within the organization. They are responsible for copying in or typing in items from a source to the company database... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Entry
   • Customer Service
   • Purchase Orders
   • Customer Orders
   • Order Entry
   • Computer System
   • Logistics
   • ERP
   • Sales Orders
   • Inbound Calls
   • Order Management
   • EDI
   • Telephone Calls
   • Customer Inquiries

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage escalations and expedites process in support of shorten interval requests.
   • Stock shelves, bag groceries, and gather carts while meeting customer needs.
   • Pull, pack and ship LTL's.
   • Send corporate orders invoicing through EDI system.
   • Verify tally sheets and work with LTL shipments.
   • Order doors, windows, moldings and hardware.

   More order entry specialist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the order entry specialist job description is a good way to get more applicants. An order entry specialist 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 an order entry specialist in South Dakota may be lower than in New Hampshire, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level order entry specialist. Additionally, an order entry specialist with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average order entry specialist salary

   $16.65hourly

   $34,625 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level order entry specialist salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average order entry specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Nevada	$42,643	$21
   2	Oregon	$42,144	$20
   3	Washington	$39,996	$19
   4	Illinois	$38,546	$19
   5	California	$38,359	$18
   6	Colorado	$38,168	$18
   7	Idaho	$37,694	$18
   8	Wisconsin	$36,900	$18
   9	New York	$36,648	$18
   10	Minnesota	$36,426	$18
   11	Arizona	$34,059	$16
   12	Ohio	$33,209	$16
   13	Iowa	$33,124	$16
   14	Florida	$33,123	$16
   15	Texas	$32,372	$16
   16	North Carolina	$32,227	$15
   17	Georgia	$31,562	$15
   18	Tennessee	$27,225	$13

   Average order entry specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Zynex Medical	$39,743	$19.11
   2	Boise Cascade	$39,626	$19.05	1
   3	Phoenix Contact	$38,779	$18.64	3
   4	JBS USA	$38,589	$18.55	5
   5	Wenger Manufacturing	$38,253	$18.39
   6	Primera	$38,002	$18.27
   7	ALLIANCE DOOR PRODUCTS	$37,578	$18.07
   8	Amano	$37,245	$17.91
   9	Dahl Consulting	$37,161	$17.87
   10	Apogee Enterprises	$37,037	$17.81
   11	Murray	$36,883	$17.73	1
   12	Latham Pool	$36,754	$17.67
   13	Quanex Building Products	$36,720	$17.65	1
   14	Barnes Group	$36,702	$17.65
   15	Audacy	$35,929	$17.27
   16	Kinney Drugs	$35,876	$17.25	1
   17	Lynden Door	$35,669	$17.15
   18	Melaleuca:The Wellness	$35,433	$17.04	2
   19	ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions - US	$35,230	$16.94	10
   20	HealthDirect Pharmacy Services	$34,912	$16.78

4. Writing an order entry specialist job description

   An order entry specialist 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. Below, you can find an example of an order entry specialist job description:

   Order entry specialist job description example

   We are working with a client in the Tampa area and they are looking for a temporary to hire Order Entry Specialist. The Order Entry Specialist/Customer Experience Representative is responsible for ensuring Customers’ orders are processed in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner to improve velocity. This role collaborates with the Commercial, Financial, and Supply Chain teams to deliver outstanding customer experience while growing relationships with the accounts. This is a
   temporary to hire opportunity working on site full time Monday through Friday. The hours are 10am to 7pm. Accurately manage the Sales Orders, Purchase Orders, and Consignment Billings entry process as it relates to account number, price, terms of sale, product, ship to/sold to, and quantity; achieve an ODR (Order Defect Rate) of less than 10%. Efficiently enter Orders from multiple sources (EDI, PDF, Portals) by following the standardized processes implemented from a technology and execution standpoint to drive productivity. Enter Orders timely to achieve an Order Cycle Time (OTC) of 48 hours. Actively review the Open Orders daily to proactively resolve Orders pending Hold release or confirmation. Adhere to the documentation policy by verifying and storing the Sales Orders, PO’s, and Consignment counts into the appropriate folders. Maintain system accuracy on all sales orders and back orders to reflect reality of ship dates and if changes occur enter appropriate reason code. Support the Consignment Management process by entering the billing transactions. Collaborate closely with Sales Representatives regarding price inquires, discrepancies on customers purchase orders, and updates on customer order status.
   POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
   Education: High School Diploma or GED required
   Experience / Abilities: Minimum 1-3 years Customer Service experience in a distributor environment or extensive experience within a fast-paced customer service environment is preferred.
   Excellent communication and problem-solving skills
   Detailed oriented
   Interpersonal, Communications and Influencing skills
   Strong team player
   High degree of urgency with the ability to plan and prioritize
   Ability to deal with stress and work in a dynamic environment
   Computer literacy with proficiency in MS Outlook, Excel and Word
   Knowledge of ERP Systems is a plus, particularly AX MicrosoftCompany DescriptionLet’s find your next job – together. Whether you’re looking for contract work or a direct placement in finance and accounting, Hunter Hamilton will connect you to an opportunity that closely matches your interests and skills. Hunter Hamilton is a proud member of Staffmark Group, an award-winning family of staffing brands with a national network of 450+ offices. We connect over 250,000 people to jobs each year, and we’re ready to put this expertise to work for you! Learn more at www.hunterhamiltonpr.com.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right order entry specialist 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 order entry specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit order entry specialists 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 order entry specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit order entry specialist 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 order entry specialists, 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 order entry specialist

   Once you've selected the best order entry specialist 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 also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new order entry specialist. 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 an order entry specialist?