How to hire a sorter

How to hire a sorter, step by step

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

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

What does a sorter do?

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the sorter you need to hire. Certain sorter 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?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect sorter 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.

   Here's a comparison of sorter salaries for various roles:

   Type of Sorter	Description	Hourly rate
   Sorter		$11-18
   Package Handler	A package handler's primary duty is to place and load correct packages to delivery vehicles and review inventory upon shipments. Package handlers are responsible for analyzing product labels to make sure that the items are accurately processed... Show more	$12-19
   Grader	A grader or lumber grader is an individual who works at a commercial establishment grading lumber, lumber yard, or sawmill. Lumber graders work with softwood and hardwood species for the identification of their grade, dimension, and any other qualities... Show more	$10-22

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Warehouse Environment
   • Industrial Trucks
   • Customer Orders
   • Recyclable Materials
   • Stand-Up Forklift
   • Aided Design
   • Safety Procedures
   • Electric Pallet Jack
   • ZIP Codes
   • Delivery Truck
   • Groceries
   • Unload Packages
   • Postal Service
   • Assembly Line

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Train and apply HAZWOPER program compliance through 29 CFR 1910.120. using full PPE including SCBA implementation.
   • Sort checks on a NCR 3890.
   • Process ATM transactions for off-site machines.
   • Prime trainer for Unisys and NCR proof machines.
   • Count, weigh, record, organize and sort DVDs.
   • Repair the DVD wrappings and re-label the DVDs if need.

   More sorter duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your sorter job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A sorter salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, sorters' average salary in florida is 35% less than in vermont.
   • Seniority. Entry-level sorters earn 38% less than senior-level sorters.
   • Certifications. A sorter with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a sorter's salary.

   Average sorter salary

   $15.13hourly

   $31,465 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level sorter salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average sorter salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Maine	$38,534	$19
   2	North Dakota	$36,809	$18
   3	Kansas	$36,612	$18
   4	Washington	$36,086	$17
   5	Indiana	$35,840	$17
   6	New York	$35,711	$17
   7	Minnesota	$35,474	$17
   8	Massachusetts	$35,391	$17
   9	Connecticut	$35,072	$17
   10	Wisconsin	$34,085	$16
   11	Utah	$33,999	$16
   12	Colorado	$33,996	$16
   13	Oregon	$33,289	$16
   14	Kentucky	$33,021	$16
   15	Pennsylvania	$32,742	$16
   16	Ohio	$32,117	$15
   17	Illinois	$31,909	$15
   18	Nebraska	$31,708	$15
   19	Missouri	$31,005	$15
   20	Tennessee	$29,900	$14

   Average sorter salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Steel Dynamics	$41,991	$20.19	2
   2	Seneca Foods	$40,971	$19.70
   3	Jubilee Ministries	$39,795	$19.13
   4	Cargill	$38,932	$18.72	6
   5	SRI Surgical Express	$38,594	$18.55	3
   6	UPS	$38,537	$18.53	2
   7	Chewy	$38,160	$18.35
   8	Lydall, Inc.	$37,708	$18.13	1
   9	Campbells	$37,372	$17.97
   10	Waste Connections	$37,296	$17.93	4
   11	FedEx	$37,135	$17.85	99
   12	Harsco	$36,724	$17.66
   13	Waste Management	$36,485	$17.54	6
   14	MacLean-Fogg	$35,413	$17.03	1
   15	Amazon	$35,313	$16.98
   16	WestRock	$35,305	$16.97
   17	Staples	$35,287	$16.96
   18	Gordon Food Service	$35,245	$16.94	7
   19	Unifrax	$34,862	$16.76
   20	Freedom Graphic Systems	$34,809	$16.74	2

4. Writing a sorter job description

   A sorter 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 sorter job description:

   Sorter job description example

   As a Sorter, you will be responsible for sorting parts that weigh between 2-10lbs. You will also be expected to put parts away in their target places, pushing a cart full of parts to the storage area for parts. So if you are someone that pays close attention to detail and also likes to organize and sort things then this is the position for you. Come join one of the leading manufacturers in agricultural equipment!
   \#P3
   
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   **About Kelly** ** **
   
   At Kelly, we're always thinking about what's next and advising job seekers on new ways of working to reach their full potential. In fact, we're a leading advocate for temporary/nontraditional workstyles, because we believe they allow flexibility and tremendous growth opportunities that enable a better way to work and live (plus, did we mention we provide a ton of benefits ?). Connecting great people with great companies is what we do best, and our employment opportunities span a wide variety of workstyles, skill levels, and industries around the world.
   
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   Kelly complies with the requirements of California's state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right sorter 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 sorter job on Zippia to find and attract quality sorter candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as ag hires, farm job, farming work , joe produce, picking jobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit sorters, 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.

   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.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new sorter

   Once you've decided on a perfect sorter candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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 sorter 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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How much does it cost to hire a sorter?