How to hire a stock clerk

How to hire a stock clerk, step by step

Here's a step-by-step stock clerk hiring guide:

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

What does a stock clerk do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your stock clerk job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a stock clerk for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A stock clerk's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, stock clerks 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 stock clerk salaries for various roles:

   Type of Stock Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Stock Clerk	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$10-17
   General Merchandise Clerk	This individual works in the GM section of a store. They interact with customers and assist them as they purchase merchandise... Show more	$12-20
   Merchandise Stocker	A merchandise stocker is an employee who ensures that shelves and aisles are stocked with the merchandise in retail stores or warehouses. Merchandise stockers must receive the goods, unload or unpack them, mark them with codes to be identified, and stock them on shelves... Show more	$11-16

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Stock Shelves
   • Customer Service
   • Basic Math
   • Math
   • Cleanliness
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Cash Handling
   • Pallet Jack
   • Stock Merchandise
   • Stock Room
   • Shovels
   • Customer Complaints
   • Product Knowledge
   • Merchandise Displays

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Assist customers unloading and reloading trucks scanning customers groceries and customer service
   • Perform essential duties such as customer service, restocking merchandise, inventory management and maintaining store cleanliness.
   • Gain respect of peers and management through commitment to upholding company policies and maintaining cleanliness of facility and following safety regulations.
   • Stock shelves and run the cash register.
   • Assist in activity management, help with reading and math skills.
   • Quoted markets and place orders with floor brokers for arbitrage trade.

   More stock clerk duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your stock clerk job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A stock clerk salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a stock clerk in Arkansas may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level stock clerk usually earns less than a senior-level stock clerk. Additionally, a stock clerk with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average stock clerk salary

   $14.05hourly

   $29,226 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level stock clerk salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

   Average stock clerk salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$34,556	$17
   2	California	$32,478	$16
   3	New York	$30,998	$15
   4	Michigan	$28,953	$14
   5	Washington	$28,683	$14
   6	Minnesota	$28,585	$14
   7	Illinois	$28,030	$13
   8	Colorado	$27,556	$13
   9	South Carolina	$27,314	$13
   10	North Carolina	$25,940	$12
   11	Nevada	$25,799	$12
   12	Maryland	$25,753	$12
   13	Indiana	$25,509	$12
   14	Missouri	$25,353	$12
   15	Utah	$25,314	$12
   16	Nebraska	$25,211	$12
   17	Montana	$25,091	$12
   18	Texas	$24,646	$12
   19	Tennessee	$24,560	$12
   20	Arkansas	$24,341	$12

   Average stock clerk salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Cargill	$37,342	$17.95	15
   2	Northrop Grumman	$37,144	$17.86	6
   3	Vista Outdoor	$35,725	$17.18
   4	Lifespan	$35,613	$17.12
   5	Hormel Foods	$34,961	$16.81	13
   6	The Culinary Institute of America	$34,955	$16.81
   7	Ukpeagvik IOoOupiat Corporation	$33,800	$16.25	38
   8	Ring Power Cat	$32,869	$15.80	1
   9	New York State Restaurant Association	$32,575	$15.66
   10	Teledyne Technologies Incorporated	$32,362	$15.56	6
   11	kubota	$32,338	$15.55
   12	EVRAZ North America	$32,155	$15.46	2
   13	DoorDash	$31,914	$15.34	17
   14	Medstar Health	$31,801	$15.29
   15	Milford Regional Medical Center	$31,787	$15.28
   16	Beaumont Health	$31,757	$15.27
   17	Jacobs Engineering Group	$31,727	$15.25
   18	West Fraser	$31,617	$15.20	2
   19	Buffalo Schools	$31,546	$15.17
   20	NCI	$31,468	$15.13

4. Writing a stock clerk job description

   A stock clerk 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 stock clerk job description:

   Stock clerk job description example

   Hamilton Company is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of manual, semi-automated and robotic products for precision fluid measuring. We specialize in the development, manufacturing and customization of precision measurement devices, automated liquid handling stations, and sample management systems. For more than 60 years, Hamilton has been satisfying customer needs by combining quality materials with skilled workmanship, ensuring the highest level of performance of every precision fluid measuring device we manufacture.
   Responsibilities
   
   Hamilton Company is looking for a Warehouse Person/Stock Clerk to work with our team. Under the immediate supervision of the Inventory Control Supervisor, the Warehouse Person/Stock Clerk is responsible for the accurate routing of incoming parts from Purchase Orders, finished Shop Orders and parts returned from the floor. The Warehouse Person/Stock Clerk will be required to be familiar with standard concepts, practices and procedure within all aspects of the department.
   
   Other responsibilities may include:
   Operate various warehouse equipment, i.e. pallet rider, pallet jack Pull orders accurately and quickly Review daily reports to control correct part movements Provide required parts to shipping for Sales Order requirements Kit work orders as scheduled by Production Control Verify entries on the Material Move Sheet to insure correctness of entries Assist the leadperson in the investigation of inventory discrepancies and correct accordingly Maintain a neat and organized warehouse utilizing space efficiently
   
   Qualifications
   
   Knowledge of stocking products with FIFO Knowledge of "Best Practice" method necessary Familiar with Windows based operating systems Familiar with Warehouse management systems Strong organization skills needed to maintain accurate records Strong problem solving skills Ability to handle multiple tasks and priorities in a fast paced environment Team player maintaining a professional and respectful attitude with both management and co-workers Excellent interpersonal skills Excellent oral and written communication skills Ability to meet short deadlines Able to lift and bend repeatedly Able to lift up to 40lbs repeatedly Able to stand for long periods of time
   
   Education/Experience
   
   Must have High School diploma or equivalent. Experience using UPS, FedEx and DHL shipping systems Experience packing product for shipping (cartons and pallets) Prior warehouse and inventory control experience necessary Stock room, order pulling (both automated and manual methods) experience Experience in cycle counting methods regarding inventory control Current certification for stand up pallet rider, stand up high-reach forklift, and pallet jack
   
   Additional Information
   
   Diverse portfolio of exciting and innovative design projects.
   Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
   Commitment to sustainable design.
   Competitive Compensation.
   Excellent Benefits Package (medical, dental, vision insurance, paid time off, disability insurance,
   401k, tuition reimbursement, and much more).
   Solid Stable Company.
   Drug-free workplace.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right stock clerk 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 stock clerk job on Zippia to find and recruit stock clerk candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with stock clerk candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of 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 stock clerk

   Once you've selected the best stock clerk 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new stock clerk. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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 stock clerk?