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How to hire an order fulfillment specialist

Order fulfillment specialist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring order fulfillment specialists in the United States:

  • There are currently 4,836 order fulfillment specialists in the US, as well as 149,424 job openings.
  • Order fulfillment specialists are in the highest demand in Baton Rouge, LA, with 10 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire an order fulfillment specialist is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new order fulfillment specialist to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire an order fulfillment specialist, step by step

To hire an order fulfillment specialist, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire an order fulfillment specialist, you should follow these steps:

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

What does an order fulfillment specialist do?

An Order Fulfillment Specialist works at warehouse facilities where they are in charge of preparing and processing customer orders, ensuring timeliness and accuracy. They are also responsible for verifying customer information, tracking deliveries, receiving shipments, participating in loading and unloading packages, inspecting the quality and quantity of products, and maintaining transactions. There are also instances when they must communicate with clients to answer inquiries or handle complaints and issues. Moreover, an order fulfillment specialist must maintain an active communication line with co-workers for an accurate and efficient workflow.

Learn more about the specifics of what an order fulfillment specialist does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring an order fulfillment specialist, 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?

    Hiring the perfect order fulfillment specialist 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 presents order fulfillment specialist salaries for various positions.

    Type of Order Fulfillment SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Order Fulfillment SpecialistMaterial recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.$10-22
    PickerPickers are responsible for choosing the correct range of merchandise on the shelves based on the clients' orders. Pickers carefully prepare the items from the stock, ensuring that everything is free of any damage before shipping... Show more$12-17
    Customer Service, WarehouseA customer service warehouse is primarily in charge of providing customer support, mainly through calls and correspondence. Their responsibilities typically revolve around answering inquiries, addressing and troubleshooting problems, processing refunds, maintaining records of all transactions, and referring them to other services when necessary... Show more$12-17
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Orders
    • Logistics
    • Pallet Jack
    • Purchase Orders
    • RF
    • Data Entry
    • Inventory Control
    • Customer Service
    • Basic Math
    • Order Entry
    • ERP
    • Third-Party Logistics
    • Distribution Centers
    • Customer Inquiries
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage RMA transactions between sales and external customers including standard equipment returns and OOBF (out of box failures).
    • Manage escalations and expedites process in support of shorten interval requests.
    • Perform comprehensive warehouse duties, which include quality control, inventory management and shipping and receiving logistics.
    • Apply appropriate sales tax to each invoice as required by that county.
    • Create spreadsheets create by EDI process to convert orders into a readable format for vendors.
    • Note account of such delay or cancellation of shipment and any tracking number from USPS.
    More order fulfillment specialist duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your order fulfillment specialist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An order fulfillment specialist can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, order fulfillment specialists' average salary in idaho is 33% less than in hawaii.
    • Seniority. Entry-level order fulfillment specialists 53% less than senior-level order fulfillment specialists.
    • Certifications. An order fulfillment specialist 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 an order fulfillment specialist's salary.

    Average order fulfillment specialist salary

    $15.69hourly

    $32,645 yearly

    Entry-level order fulfillment specialist salary
    $22,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 9, 2026

    Average order fulfillment specialist salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$38,709$19
    2Texas$37,717$18
    3Florida$37,708$18
    4Nevada$37,195$18
    5North Carolina$36,528$18
    6Arizona$36,096$17
    7Georgia$35,746$17
    8Connecticut$34,875$17
    9New York$34,695$17
    10Massachusetts$34,037$16
    11Pennsylvania$33,443$16
    12Maryland$33,300$16
    13Montana$33,262$16
    14Washington$32,717$16
    15Minnesota$32,345$16
    16New Mexico$32,276$16
    17Colorado$32,178$15
    18Oregon$32,009$15
    19Virginia$31,951$15
    20Iowa$31,600$15

    Average order fulfillment specialist salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1General Electric$63,832$30.6914
    2Catapult Systems$61,707$29.67
    3Cell Signaling Technology$52,744$25.36
    4Wabtec Corporation$52,641$25.316
    5Data$49,579$23.84
    6Ball$48,899$23.51
    7VIVA USA$44,200$21.25
    8Digital Technology$43,931$21.12
    9Steris$42,971$20.666
    10Lenovo$41,776$20.082
    11Swagelok Company$41,626$20.01
    12Ericsson$41,536$19.97
    13Fortune Brands Home & Security$39,082$18.792
    14Automation Technology$37,259$17.91
    15Generac Holdings$37,221$17.891
    16Trimble$36,915$17.75
    17Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC$36,503$17.55
    18Digi-Key Electronics$36,491$17.5410
    19Principal Financial Group$36,360$17.48
    20Dedicated Computing$34,922$16.79
  4. Writing an order fulfillment specialist job description

    A good order fulfillment specialist job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an order fulfillment specialist job description:

    Order fulfillment specialist job description example

    DURATION:12+ months

    LOCATION: Fort Worth, TX

    This position is worksite based, so 5 days a week in the office.

    The contractor position will support the Reverse Supply Chain operations for the HQ Returns and Investigation team. The returns team is responsible for investigation and resolution to prevent negative customer impact and control inventory. This will require collaborative engagement with our 3rd party logistics vendor and numerous internal partners, including: operations, customer service, IT, billing, and compliance. This role will be responsible for meeting daily service level commitments and is responsible for accuracy above all.

    Daily and weekly Reporting

    Candidate will be expected to establish reporting on production and service levels for all activities supported by the Returns and Investigation team. Reporting will include production, service level, internal and external factors, downstream impacts, customer impacts, and many other metrics and key performance indicators. Candidate should be able to acquire working knowledge of the entire process flow from order creation and data flow through various internal and external applications to the operational process of receipt and disposition of product through the reverse supply chain facilities.

    Qualifications

    • Business acumen, effective oral and written communication skills, proficient with MS Word and Excel.

    • Heavy data entry with an emphasis on speed and accuracy.

    • Complex research involving inventory and billing, accurate record keeping is essential.

    • Ability to communicate effectively throughout multiple levels of the organization.

    • Comfortable with multiple systems and understanding how they interact with one another.

    • Highly developed critical thinking and analytical skills.

    • Comfortable with repetitive tasks with the ability to be flexible when needed.

    • Ability to work in a team environment.

    Some overtime is mandatory, including weekends as needed.

    Company DescriptionAditi Consulting is a leading consultancy that connects tech talent, tech teams, and project solutions to help our clients accelerate their digital journey. We create unique experiences that rely on borderless talent, technology, and customized solutions under your directions or ours.
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right order fulfillment specialist 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 order fulfillment specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit order fulfillment 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 fulfillment 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.

    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 order fulfillment specialist

    Once you've selected the best order fulfillment 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 important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

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

Hiring an order fulfillment specialist comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting order fulfillment specialists involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of order fulfillment specialist recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $32,645 per year for an order fulfillment specialist, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for order fulfillment specialists in the US typically range between $10 and $22 an hour.

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