How to hire a receiving operator

How to hire a receiving operator, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a receiving operator, 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?

   Yes

   No

   A receiving operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, receiving operators 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.

   Here's a comparison of receiving operator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Receiving Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Receiving Operator	Material moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects. Some operators move construction materials around building sites or excavate earth from a mine... Show more	$15-23
   Machine Operator/Forklift Operator	A machine operator/forklift operator is responsible for operating industrial trucks to move merchandise around the warehouse facilities and other assigned areas. Machine operators/forklift operators also assist with inventory tasks by scanning orders and ensuring the correct merchandise for shipment... Show more	$12-18
   Material Handler/Forklift Operator	A material handler and forklift operator is responsible for transporting and storing various kinds of goods, even including fragile or hazardous shipments. The duties and location will vary depending on the line of work or industry involved... Show more	$13-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pallets
   • OSHA
   • GMP
   • Inventory Control
   • CIP
   • Cleanliness
   • RF
   • Rail Cars
   • Shipping Receiving
   • Quality Customer Service
   • Customer Orders
   • Unload Trucks
   • PPE
   • Cycle Counts

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage safety processes ensuring cleanliness, organization, correct labeling, signage and standardize processes.
   • Train in GMP's and HAACP.
   • Update and verify patients Medicaid insurance via EPACES files.
   • Learned and control computer operations for raw receiving bays and CIP systems.
   • Complete master sanitation charts and CIP all raw cream and milk silos.
   • Replenish and put away products for specific locations according to RF selection.

   More receiving operator duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, receiving operators' average salary in north carolina is 35% less than in colorado.
   • Seniority. Entry-level receiving operators 33% less than senior-level receiving operators.
   • Certifications. A receiving operator 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 operator's salary.

   Average receiving operator salary

   $40,484yearly

   $19.46 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level receiving operator salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average receiving operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Colorado	$51,741	$25
   2	North Dakota	$51,299	$25
   3	Nebraska	$48,647	$23
   4	Arkansas	$46,337	$22
   5	Wisconsin	$44,614	$21
   6	Nevada	$44,365	$21
   7	California	$44,274	$21
   8	Pennsylvania	$44,246	$21
   9	Minnesota	$43,645	$21
   10	Illinois	$43,322	$21
   11	Indiana	$43,064	$21
   12	Idaho	$42,502	$20
   13	New Jersey	$42,400	$20
   14	Texas	$40,185	$19
   15	Louisiana	$38,359	$18
   16	Florida	$36,314	$17
   17	North Carolina	$33,911	$16

   Average receiving operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Blue Diamond Growers	$51,791	$24.90	5
   2	Steel Dynamics	$48,350	$23.25	4
   3	Kemps	$48,123	$23.14	1
   4	Dairy Farmers of America	$47,291	$22.74	94
   5	Prairie Farms Dairy	$46,749	$22.48	1
   6	Apex International Mfg	$44,937	$21.60
   7	Mars	$43,786	$21.05	9
   8	Beam Suntory	$43,722	$21.02
   9	Land O'Lakes	$43,650	$20.99	13
   10	Chobani	$43,128	$20.73	1
   11	Siemens	$43,039	$20.69	2
   12	Behr Holdings Corporation	$42,191	$20.28	3
   13	Axalta	$41,883	$20.14	1
   14	Cass-Clay® Creamery	$41,648	$20.02
   15	Cargill	$41,616	$20.01	49
   16	Barry Callebaut Group	$41,370	$19.89	2
   17	Enviva	$41,340	$19.88	10
   18	Masco	$41,327	$19.87	7
   19	Kerry Holding Co.	$41,235	$19.82	10
   20	Badger Daylighting	$41,139	$19.78	102

4. Writing a receiving operator job description

   A job description for a receiving operator 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 receiving operator job description:

   Receiving operator job description example

   Mill Receiving
   Department: Warehouse
   Reports To: Shift Supervisor Job Scope: The mill receiving personnel are responsible to receive the ingredients Diamond Pet
   Foods requires for production. They document the pounds of ingredients received, maintain running
   inventories, and verify that the ingredients are within specification. Work Environment: Work is primarily performed indoor with operating equipment and loud noise such
   as forklift horns and may be lose particle. Work performed in this job require employee to wear
   bump cap, hearing protection and safety glasses at all time. Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
   • Follow proper testing protocols for incoming ingredients, including sieve, NJR, mycrotoxins,
   and moisture testing. • Become proficient of the plant infrastructure for ingredient storage, including legs, drags,
   and holding bins. o Operating yard-dog and railcar mover, as well as spotting trailers and railcars. • Scale trucks in and out according to policy. • Follow protocols for maintaining accurate ingredient inventories and communicating potential
   shortages. • Perform batching operations when required. • Perform and comply with all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). • Working overtime is MANDATORY and requires full participation. o Maintain Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) in accordance to company policy. • Perform all functions in accordance with sound safety practices and procedure. • Report all safety violations and safety hazards to Safety Manager immediately • Participate in all safety program
   •
   Additional Job Duties: • May perform other duties and functions as assigned by supervisor. Qualifications • Must have ability to work under pressure, maintaining a positive, professional attitude with
   employees and truck drivers. • Must have ability to accept temporary assignment changes to assist other areas of the plant. • Must be capable of lifting 50 pounds of product routinely, and climbing a ladder to
   maintenance equipment from a catwalk. • Must be certified to operate forklifts. • Must maintain assigned portion of master sanitation schedule. • Must work in a safe, professional manner at all times. • Must report accidents or property damage to supervisor immediately. Other Qualifications o Must have excellent communication skills to communicate with other employees and
   supervisors. 0 Flexibility to be available to help cover for other employees when call upon. • Ability to read bin level and work schedule OTHER o As an absolute condition of employment, employee are required upon offer of employment to
   sign an authorization to release information for a background check and take a pre-employment
   physical designated by Diamond Pet Food, which include drug test, hearing test and lifting exam.
   Diamond Pet Foods will pay for the examination. Satisfactory clearance to perform essential job
   functions will be required for employment.
   • The statement contained in this job description reflect general details as necessary to
   describe the principle functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skills typically require,
   and the scope of responsibility. It should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work
   requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including working other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise to balance the work load.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right receiving operator 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 receiving operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit receiving operators 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 receiving operator job on Zippia to find and recruit receiving operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting receiving operators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 receiving operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the receiving operator 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 important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new receiving operator 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.

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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