Post job

How to hire a shipping assistant

Shipping assistant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring shipping assistants in the United States:

  • There are a total of 449,902 shipping assistants in the US, and there are currently 15,634 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a shipping assistant is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per shipping assistant on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Lenox, PA, has the highest demand for shipping assistants, with 6 job openings.

How to hire a shipping assistant, step by step

To hire a shipping assistant, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a shipping assistant:

Here's a step-by-step shipping assistant hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a shipping assistant job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new shipping assistant
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
jobs
Post a shipping assistant job for free, promote it for a fee
  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a shipping assistant, 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 shipping assistant 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.

    The following list breaks down different types of shipping assistants and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Shipping AssistantDescriptionHourly rate
    Shipping AssistantMaterial 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
    ReceiverA receiver is responsible for confirming receipt of items delivered from distribution centers to the warehouse. Receivers carefully evaluate order invoices, ensuring the correct quantity of the items, and inspect the merchandise for any possible mislabeling and defects... Show more$12-18
    Warehouse ClerkA warehouse clerk is an employee responsible for the process of ordered goods while keeping the warehouse well-organized and clean. Warehouse clerks accept company products' deliveries, inspect them for any damages, and store them accordingly in the warehouse... Show more$12-18
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Shipping Receiving
    • Pallets
    • Data Entry
    • Purchase Orders
    • Logistics
    • Pallet Jack
    • Customer Orders
    • Cycle Counts
    • Computer System
    • Inventory Control
    • Outbound Shipments
    • Sales Orders
    • International Shipments
    • Sales Associates
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Complete documentation and manage inventory levels by utilizing ERP systems.
    • Manifest and confirm LTL pick tickets before shipments.
    • Print out there BOL's give them a trailer/load seal.
    • Weigh, seal and stamp outgoing USPS mail and packages and bag for delivery.
    • Deliver all mail and packages, collecting all outgoing USPS mail and outgoing interoffice mail during delivery rounds.
    • Close out bound trailers with seals and product going out to different areas of Austin, filling in BOL in YMS.
    More shipping assistant duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the shipping assistant job description is a good way to get more applicants. A shipping assistant salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a shipping assistant in North Carolina may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level shipping assistant. Additionally, a shipping assistant with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average shipping assistant salary

    $15.66hourly

    $32,569 yearly

    Entry-level shipping assistant salary
    $26,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 19, 2025

    Average shipping assistant salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Washington$44,786$22
    2California$38,262$18
    3Minnesota$35,446$17
    4Massachusetts$35,116$17
    5Oregon$34,883$17
    6Arizona$34,143$16
    7Wisconsin$34,063$16
    8Ohio$33,346$16
    9Virginia$31,439$15
    10Michigan$31,169$15
    11Nebraska$31,101$15
    12Indiana$30,273$15
    13Oklahoma$29,557$14
    14Georgia$29,370$14
    15Utah$29,126$14
    16Missouri$28,230$14
    17Texas$28,159$14
    18North Carolina$28,100$14
    19Alabama$28,057$13
    20South Carolina$27,869$13

    Average shipping assistant salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Dartmouth$40,600$19.52
    2Metals USA$38,900$18.70
    3Northwest Center$37,986$18.26
    4Hooper$37,715$18.13
    5NOV$37,621$18.091
    6Kellogg$37,164$17.87
    7Danfoss$36,819$17.70
    8Diamond Products Limited$36,560$17.58
    9The Mosaic Company$36,243$17.42
    10Mohawk Industries$36,156$17.382
    11Graphic Packaging International$35,988$17.301
    12Aditi Consulting$35,451$17.04
    13McLane$35,368$17.0020
    14Jensen Meat$35,276$16.96
    15Eurofins$34,951$16.804
    16Schweitzer-Mauduit International$34,949$16.80
    17Nutraceutical$34,275$16.48
    18Bio-Techne$34,211$16.454
    19Alaskan Copper & Brass Co.$34,005$16.35
    20bluemedia$33,445$16.08
  4. Writing a shipping assistant job description

    A job description for a shipping assistant 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 shipping assistant job description:

    Shipping assistant job description example

    Pay: $22-$23/hr. DOE

    Shift: 8AM-4:30PM, Monday- Friday

    This company makes airflow measurement products for commercial HVAC customers!

    They are currently hiring a Crate Builder to assist their Shipping department. They will work under a lead, to help him build wooden crates for large shipments and pack shipments in boxes for shipping.

    DAY IN THE LIFE:

    Each morning, their lead will tell them what they need to get done (ex: I need 4 crates built before noon). That will dictate their day.

    The mornings are typically spent building the crates. This involves measuring the item they are shipping and entering the dimensions into a computer program that then tells you exactly how many pieces of wood you need to cut, and the length. They also will read off blueprints to build the crates. They then use a tape measure to measure out the dimensions. After that, they cut the wood with a panel saw and/or a radial arm saw. From there, they will use a forklift, hoist or buddy lift the item into the crate. Their supervisor will print out the shipping information and take it from there.

    The Crates can be anywhere from 4 ft. x 3 ft. to as large as 12 ft. long/wide. They can weigh up to 2 tons. However, there is not a lot of lifting in this job, they are very aware of ergonomics. But they are on their feet 8 hours/day moving.

    The 2nd half of their day is spent packaging smaller items into boxes and pulling items off shelves to be shipped.

    The lead Peter is really nice and easy to work with. He came through Aerotek as a temp and was converted!

    This job is pretty repetitive once you get the hang of it. Once they are trained, they will work pretty independently and own their part of the department.

    End of month tends to be very busy for them as they try to get orders out. Expect work to pick up and to work OT!

    Skills:

    hand tool, heavy lifting, forklift, saw operation, blueprint reading, carpentry

    About Aerotek:

    We know that a company's success starts with its employees. We also know that an individual's success starts with the right career opportunity. As a Best of Staffing Client and Talent leader, Aerotek's people-focused approach yields competitive advantage for our clients and rewarding careers for our contract employees. Since 1983, Aerotek has grown to become a leader in recruiting and staffing services. With more than 250 non-franchised offices, Aerotek's 8,000 internal employees serve more than 300,000 contract employees and 18,000 clients every year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in talent solutions. Learn more at

    The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find shipping assistants for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your shipping assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit shipping assistant 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 shipping assistants, 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.

    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 shipping assistant

    Once you've selected the best shipping assistant 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 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.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new shipping assistant. 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.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a shipping assistant?

There are different types of costs for hiring shipping assistants. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new shipping assistant employee.

Shipping assistants earn a median yearly salary is $32,569 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find shipping assistants for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $12 and $18.

Find better shipping assistants in less time
Post a job on Zippia and hire the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Hiring shipping assistants FAQs

Search for shipping assistant jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Browse office and administrative jobs