How to hire a picker

How to hire a picker, step by step

Here's a step-by-step picker hiring guide:

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

What does a picker do?

Post a picker job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your picker 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 picker 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a picker to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a picker that fits the bill.

   This list presents picker salaries for various positions.

   Type of Picker	Description	Hourly rate
   Picker	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$12-17
   Order Selector	It is an order selector's general responsibility to attend on customers' inquiries and provide their needs accurately. Order selectors' duties also include verifying orders and checking its availability on the inventory, keeping the products' packaging safe and damage-free, maneuvering warehouse equipment and tools for more efficient processing, managing customers' complaints and resolving it immediately, and organizing merchandise... Show more	$13-22
   Order Builder	An order builder is who picks up customer order entries to fill the orders and prepares the consignments for shipment. You are the person in the order processing chain who will pack up the orders as recorded in entries and organize them for transportation to the receiving customers... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Industrial Trucks
   • Pallets
   • Electric Pallet Jack
   • Customer Orders
   • Stand-Up Forklift
   • RF Scanner
   • Safety Standards
   • Assembly Line
   • Scan Gun
   • Safety Procedures
   • Load Trucks
   • RF Gun
   • Warehouse Environment
   • Safety Regulations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Used WMS and RF systems to pick and stage customer specify orders and lead a team of employees.
   • Operate an epj (electric pallet-jack) while using a rf hand hold scan gun under the red prairie system.
   • Pick merchandise for CVS stores fast and accurately.
   • Pick orders from a vocollect headset or a RF scanner.
   • Maintain the cleanliness, organization, and safety of the warehouse.
   • Sit down fork truck and also a stand up reach truck certification.

   More picker duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your picker job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A picker 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 picker in Maryland may be lower than in Oregon, and an entry-level picker usually earns less than a senior-level picker. Additionally, a picker 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 picker salary

   $14.80hourly

   $30,779 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level picker salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average picker salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Nevada	$34,099	$16
   2	Washington	$33,320	$16
   3	Utah	$32,124	$15
   4	Massachusetts	$31,485	$15
   5	Minnesota	$30,940	$15
   6	Wisconsin	$30,667	$15
   7	Colorado	$30,522	$15
   8	Arizona	$30,496	$15
   9	New York	$29,881	$14
   10	Illinois	$28,829	$14
   11	Pennsylvania	$28,774	$14
   12	Ohio	$28,055	$13
   13	Indiana	$27,676	$13
   14	Texas	$27,667	$13
   15	Kentucky	$26,790	$13
   16	Tennessee	$26,419	$13
   17	South Carolina	$26,415	$13
   18	Mississippi	$26,404	$13
   19	Georgia	$25,301	$12
   20	Florida	$24,875	$12

   Average picker salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Schnitzer Steel	$38,482	$18.50
   2	United Natural Foods	$38,329	$18.43	12
   3	Chewy	$37,399	$17.98	11
   4	Dairy Farmers of America	$36,089	$17.35	46
   5	ETE REMAN	$35,420	$17.03
   6	Henry Schein	$35,312	$16.98	11
   7	Hormel Foods	$35,284	$16.96	6
   8	Kemps	$34,860	$16.76	3
   9	UPS	$34,706	$16.69	57
   10	American Woodmark	$34,571	$16.62	3
   11	MSC Industrial Direct Co	$34,282	$16.48	5
   12	International Paper	$33,920	$16.31	9
   13	Donaldson	$33,767	$16.23	24
   14	Staples	$33,486	$16.10	51
   15	Grainger	$33,460	$16.09	30
   16	Rite Aid	$33,460	$16.09
   17	Avnet	$32,968	$15.85
   18	Amazon	$32,824	$15.78	32
   19	HD Supply	$32,810	$15.77	59
   20	W.B. Mason	$32,807	$15.77	8

4. Writing a picker job description

   A job description for a picker 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 picker job description:

   Picker job description example

   2555 Peru Dr.

   McCarran, NV 89437

   The Job You Will Perform:

   · Ability to stand for long periods of time, to preform various tasks

   · Inspect samples using industry appropriate methods, comparing standards, measuring dimensions and examining functionality.

   · Daily quality checks to adhere to standards and procedures that comply with customer and manager requirements.

   · Report inspection results by completing reports, summarizing re-works, wastes, and inputting data into a daily production log.

   · Communicate effectively to team on quality control measures to improve product excellence

   · Other duties as assigned by manager/supervisor

   The Skills You Will Bring:

   · Effective communication with department and peers

   · Eagerness to learn and determine new techniques and methods

   The Benefits You Will Enjoy:

   · Paid time off including Vacation and Holidays

   · Retirement, pension, and 401k Matching Program

   · Medical & Dental

   · Life & Disability Insurance

   The Career You Will Build:

   · Leadership training

   · Promotional opportunities

   The Impact You Will Make:

   We continue to build a better future for people, the plant, and our company! IP has been a good steward of sustainable practices across communities around the world for more than 120 years. Join our team and you’ll see why our team members say they’re Proud to be IP .

   The Culture You Will Experience:

   International Paper promotes employee well-being by providing safe, caring and inclusive workplaces. You will learn Safety Leadership Principles and have the opportunity to opt into Employee Networking Circles such as IPVets, IPride, Women in IP, and the African American ENC. We invite you to bring your uniqueness, creativity, talents, experiences, and safety mindset to be a part of our increasingly diverse culture.

   The Company You Will Join:

   International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global supplier of renewable fiber-based products. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable worldwide commerce, and pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal care products that promote health and wellness. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 38,000 colleagues globally. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2021 were $19.4 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting InternationalPaper.com.

   International Paper is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

   Company DescriptionReno Molded Fiber offers a competitive wage rate and we also offer an excellent benefits package that includes medical, dental, disability, life and accident insurance, as well as a 401(k) plan and pension plans.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right picker 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 picker job on Zippia to find and recruit picker 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 pickers, 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 picker

   Once you have selected a candidate for the picker 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 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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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 picker?