How to hire a receiving inspector

Receiving inspector hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring receiving inspectors in the United States:

HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
The median cost to hire a receiving inspector is $1,633.
Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per receiving inspector on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
There are currently 6,424 receiving inspectors in the US and 24,791 job openings.
Chandler, AZ, has the highest demand for receiving inspectors, with 7 job openings.
Smyrna, TN has the highest concentration of receiving inspectors.

How to hire a receiving inspector, step by step

To hire a receiving inspector, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a receiving inspector:

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

What does a receiving inspector do?

Receiving associates are responsible for receiving, unloading, and stocking merchandise in stockrooms. They check the quality and quantity of each product before stocking them. It is also their job to keep a record of incoming merchandise in the store's computer system. Other tasks include verifying documents and reports against the unloaded merchandise and updating sales reports regularly and accurately. Additionally, they maintain and manage stockroom records, inventories, and reports ensuring that everything is in order and systematic.

Learn more about the specifics of what a receiving inspector does

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Identify your hiring needs

First, determine the employments status of the receiving inspector you need to hire. Certain receiving inspector roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

Determine employee vs contractor status

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

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

Type of Receiving Inspector	Description	Hourly rate
Receiving Inspector	Quality control inspectors examine products and materials for defects or deviations from specifications.	$14-24
Test Operator	The job of a test operator is to test the functionality of electronic components, assemblies, units, parts, and systems in a manner consistent with standard procedures. As a test operator, you will perform a variety of duties that include working with engineers to ensure accurate procedures are being followed, perform different mechanical assembly operations, and inspecting products for the correct orientation and placement... Show more	$12-23
Inspector General	An inspector general is responsible for doing audit reports and inspections to ensure that no possible fraud, misconduct, corruption, or power abuse in the government or private sector occurs. Their role is to monitor and inspect the agencies' effectiveness, assess possible mismanagement of a company, and improve the economy... Show more	$14-35

Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:
- Calipers
- Micrometers
- Engineering Drawings
- Aerospace
- GD
- CMM
- Certifications
- Article Inspection
- Non-Conformance
- Inspection Equipment
- IPC
- Purchase Orders
- Optical Comparator
- Hand Tools
Check all skills
Responsibilities:
- Review, and accept, or reject AS9102 forms, and certifications.
- Maintain ISO standards of the products and ensure that there is proper handling of inspection tools.
- Maintain the QA incoming and first article database.
- Used gauges and SPC charts to measure the conformance of the product.
- Inspect incoming rolls including roll face and journals with micrometers for size and defects.
- Experience with and ability to operate/use measuring instruments, hand gauges, microscopes, comparators.
More receiving inspector duties

Make a budget

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

Location. For example, receiving inspectors' average salary in alabama is 47% less than in district of columbia.
Seniority. Entry-level receiving inspectors 40% less than senior-level receiving inspectors.
Certifications. A receiving inspector 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 inspector's salary.

Average receiving inspector salary

$39,175yearly

$18.83 hourly rate

Entry-level receiving inspector salary

$30,000 yearly salary

Updated December 5, 2025

Average receiving inspector salary by state

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	Connecticut	$56,884	$27
2	Washington	$52,887	$25
3	Ohio	$48,264	$23
4	Montana	$44,359	$21
5	Arizona	$43,046	$21
6	Massachusetts	$42,154	$20
7	Virginia	$42,053	$20
8	California	$41,999	$20
9	Utah	$41,511	$20
10	Colorado	$41,508	$20
11	Oklahoma	$41,217	$20
12	Minnesota	$39,743	$19
13	Florida	$37,232	$18
14	Michigan	$36,691	$18
15	Pennsylvania	$35,398	$17
16	North Carolina	$35,240	$17
17	Wisconsin	$35,171	$17
18	Texas	$33,015	$16
19	Illinois	$32,377	$16
20	Alabama	$31,257	$15

Average receiving inspector salary by company

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
1	Alere	$53,725	$25.83
2	Empower Media Marketing	$52,790	$25.38
3	AMOT	$51,929	$24.97
4	MD Helicopters	$50,864	$24.45
5	Abbott	$50,192	$24.13	8
6	Northrop Grumman	$50,183	$24.13	18
7	Sanmina	$49,237	$23.67	13
8	Belcan	$48,464	$23.30	15
9	Motorola Solutions	$47,870	$23.01
10	Alene Candles	$46,491	$22.35
11	Lockheed Martin	$46,261	$22.24	67
12	OSI Systems	$46,056	$22.14
13	Jet Propulsion Laboratory	$45,766	$22.00
14	Ducommun	$45,529	$21.89	10
15	General Dynamics	$45,404	$21.83	38
16	Raytheon Technologies	$45,248	$21.75	25
17	Donatech	$44,912	$21.59
18	NEOTech	$44,625	$21.45
19	SpaceX	$44,551	$21.42	15
20	Comlux the Aviation Group	$43,872	$21.09

Writing a receiving inspector job description
A good receiving inspector 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 a receiving inspector job description:
Receiving inspector job description example

• Ability to work in an ISO 8 cleanroom, with required cleanroom gowning such as lab coat, hairnet, beardnets, and latex-free gloves at all times while in the cleanroom performing daily task.

• Perform visual inspection duties per SOP, verifying identity, quantity, and potential defects as defined for the product; accept or reject product during inspection process.

• Re-palletize, label, and handle cartons.

• Communicate any shipping damages, product shortages, or rejected material via e-mail notification to necessary departments.

• Inspect customer product returns, enter disposition of RGA.

• Ensure all damaged or rejected material is labeled and segregated from approved material, re-box and/or re-bag damaged cartons/material when needed.

• Prepare rejected material for return to supplier.

• Follow controlled ISO and Environmental/Heath/Safety procedures.

• Have good housekeeping skills, keeping areas and equipment clean and organized.

• Measure cartons and add dimensions to PC-based system (box-size database).

• Ability to understand inventory functions and material movement nomenclature.

• Perform reinspection of existing inventory when needed to assist with case investigations.

• Assist in other areas of the company as needed.

• Reliable attendance, ability to be on time for shift start, willingness to work overtime as needed.

• Willingness to perform other activities and projects as directed by management.

• Expected Travel: 0 %.

Required Education:

• 2-years’ experience warehouse receiving and visual inspection of product

Other Experience:

• Experience and knowledge of ISO 9001 or ISO 13485 is a plus.

• Knowledge of medical parts and components is a plus.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand for long durations of time.

• Ability to lift 50 lbs.

• Must have good vision.

Required Skills:

• Must speak and understand English, good verbal and written communication skills.

• Must be PC literate.

• Detail oriented.

• Ability to use a pallet-jack and fork truck.

• Must work well with others, have a can do, team player attitude.
Post your job
To find receiving inspectors 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 inspectors they would recommend.
- Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level receiving inspectors 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 inspector job on Zippia to find and recruit receiving inspector candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
During your first interview to recruit receiving inspectors, 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. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.
The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.
Send a job offer and onboard your new receiving inspector
Once you have selected a candidate for the receiving inspector 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 receiving inspector first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.
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 receiving inspector?

Hiring a receiving inspector comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting receiving inspectors 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 receiving inspector recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $39,175 per year for a receiving inspector, 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 receiving inspectors in the US typically range between $14 and $24 an hour.

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Updated December 5, 2025

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How to hire a receiving inspector