How to hire a receiving associate

How to hire a receiving associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step receiving associate hiring guide:

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

What does a receiving associate do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The receiving associate hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A receiving associate's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, receiving associates 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 receiving associates and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Receiving Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Receiving Associate	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$12-18
   Distribution Clerk	A distribution clerk is in charge of processing and managing products for shipments and deliveries, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. They work at warehouse facilities responsible for monitoring shipments, participating in loading and unloading packages, and inspecting them to ensure their quality and quantity... Show more	$12-18
   Shipper Receiver	A shipper receiver is responsible for processing and packaging items for shipment and receiving incoming merchandise for warehouse storage. Shipper receivers assist in loading and unloading items from the distribution trucks, checking inventory receipts, inspecting the quality and quantity of the items, preparing shipping documents, and ensuring the cleanliness and orderliness of storage areas... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Shipping Receiving
   • Sales Floor
   • Unload Trucks
   • Customer Service
   • Pallets
   • Safety Procedures
   • Stock Merchandise
   • Safety Standards
   • Electric Pallet Jack
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Stock Shelves
   • Customer Orders
   • Customer Inquiries
   • Groceries

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Assist in the daily managing of fresh product using the FIFO accounting principal.
   • Receive customer shipments and enter them into AS400 freight tracking system, verifying accuracy of BoL and customer orders.
   • Train and certify per OSHA standards on various motorize warehouse equipment.
   • Prepare outbound shipments and make necessary logistics arrangements.
   • Operate POS systems for all departments store wide.
   • Move product to appropriate inventory location, and enter into ERP system.

   More receiving associate duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, receiving associates' average salary in oklahoma is 35% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level receiving associates 36% less than senior-level receiving associates.
   • Certifications. A receiving associate 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 receiving associate's salary.

   Average receiving associate salary

   $15.21hourly

   $31,642 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level receiving associate salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average receiving associate salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$35,774	$17
   2	Oregon	$34,839	$17
   3	California	$33,811	$16
   4	New York	$33,601	$16
   5	Connecticut	$33,394	$16
   6	Pennsylvania	$32,853	$16
   7	Minnesota	$32,758	$16
   8	North Dakota	$32,546	$16
   9	Arizona	$32,095	$15
   10	Ohio	$31,169	$15
   11	Illinois	$30,993	$15
   12	Nevada	$30,646	$15
   13	Virginia	$30,391	$15
   14	North Carolina	$29,749	$14
   15	Colorado	$29,392	$14
   16	Missouri	$28,498	$14
   17	Texas	$28,280	$14
   18	Michigan	$28,172	$14
   19	Indiana	$27,835	$13
   20	Tennessee	$27,294	$13

   Average receiving associate salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Zoetis	$38,467	$18.49	1
   2	Cardinal Health	$37,902	$18.22	167
   3	NEOTech	$36,876	$17.73
   4	Staples	$36,730	$17.66	82
   5	GeoLogics	$36,664	$17.63
   6	Cambria	$36,518	$17.56
   7	Sunrise Windows & Doors	$36,284	$17.44
   8	Flowserve	$35,951	$17.28	6
   9	MasterBrand Cabinets	$35,787	$17.21	7
   10	Butterball	$34,962	$16.81	6
   11	VisionCorp Rep	$34,668	$16.67	4
   12	Leading Technology Composites	$34,628	$16.65
   13	Carlile Transportation	$34,605	$16.64
   14	Ryder System	$34,195	$16.44	159
   15	Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center	$33,829	$16.26
   16	MSI	$33,680	$16.19	1
   17	REI	$33,445	$16.08	11
   18	Remedy Intelligent Staffing	$33,354	$16.04
   19	Memorial Healthcare System	$33,253	$15.99
   20	TPI	$33,039	$15.88	14

4. Writing a receiving associate job description

   A receiving associate 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 a receiving associate job description:

   Receiving associate job description example

   Job Title
   Receiving Associate
   Location(s)
   San Diego - BioLegend
   Job Summary
   We are looking for energetic people who appreciate the value of team work and customer satisfaction. Although this position primarily deals with inbound logistics, we work hand in hand with order fulfillment too. Much of the job can be repetitive but we like to supplement daily tasks with comradery and professional development.This position is responsible for inspecting and receiving all inbound deliveries. Delivering materials to appropriate departments according to approved standing operating procedures “SOP's”. This position is also responsible for processing purchase orders into our ERP system and storing products in stockrooms and warehouses.BioLegend is a global leader in bioscience developing world class, cutting edge antibodies and reagents for research, manufactured in our state of the art facility in San Diego, CA. BioLegend offers a wide variety of perks including a buffet, Wellness café, and an onsite Gym. There is a big emphasis in professional development learning committees.
   
   Essential Functions
   Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   Performing receiving inspections and distribution of raw materials, lab supplies, equipment, and other received items Follows MDSAP, ISO 9001 and ISO13485 procedures and company policies Organizing and maintaining cleanliness Monitoring warehouse supplies and stock rooms Obeying all safety/Health regulations including personal protection equipment “PPE”Able to perform NAV entries Be able to track documents and maintaining logs Perform daily 5S
   
   iACT Competencies
   innovate - Be better, keep improving, be more efficient, creative, and be in the forefront of development Aspire - Have desire, purpose, and ambition challenging ourselves to push the limits and reach new heights Collaborate - Foster teamwork, common goals, selflessness, communication and mutual support Transform - Adapt, learn, re-invent and change for future development and growth
   
   Minimum Qualifications - Education and Experience
   High School Diploma or equivalent Enthusiasm and ability to create and maintain successful business relationships inside and outside the company
   
   Preferred Qualifications - Education and Experience
   Experience working in BiotechnologyWorking in a warehouse setting Able to operate a forklift
   
   Work Environment & Physical Demands
   Warehouse
   80% in a warehouse enclosed setting, some outdoor activity when receiving or distributing between buildings. 20% in a lab setting while maintaining proper PPE when delivering materials. Exposure to -20c freezer rooms, 4c -8c cold rooms, fumes, and chemicals. Equipment used for this job setting is an OSHA approved industrial forklift, Electric pallet jacks, and push carts. Physical task will be pushing, lifting, bending, walking, reaching, climbing stairs.
   PerkinElmer is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, or veteran status or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. PerkinElmer is committed to a culturally diverse workforce.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find receiving associates for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any receiving associates they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level receiving associates with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your receiving associate job on Zippia to find and recruit receiving associate candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit receiving associates, 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 receiving associate

   Once you've found the receiving associate candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new receiving associate. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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