How to hire a stock handler

How to hire a stock handler, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your stock handler 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 handler 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a stock handler to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a stock handler that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of stock handlers.

   Type of Stock Handler	Description	Hourly rate
   Stock Handler	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$14-22
   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
   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:

   • Pallet Jack
   • Computer System
   • Safety Guidelines
   • Math
   • Pallets
   • Safety Rules
   • Basic Math
   • Hand Trucks
   • RF Scanner
   • OSHA
   • Safety Regulations
   • Cherry Pickers
   • Production Lines
   • Cycle Counts

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the work area for all OSHA compliance and facility safety during schedule shift.
   • Distribute production materials to designate locations on assembly lines observing the first-in-first-out (FIFO) inventory control practice.
   • Work as fast as possible to meet ROSS optimal time.

   More stock handler duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, stock handlers' average salary in louisiana is 34% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level stock handlers 36% less than senior-level stock handlers.
   • Certifications. A stock handler 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 stock handler's salary.

   Average stock handler salary

   $38,051yearly

   $18.29 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level stock handler salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average stock handler salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Alaska	$42,544	$20
   2	Pennsylvania	$41,266	$20
   3	Wisconsin	$40,806	$20
   4	Minnesota	$39,479	$19
   5	Ohio	$38,773	$19
   6	Utah	$38,582	$19
   7	Tennessee	$38,152	$18
   8	North Dakota	$38,002	$18
   9	Illinois	$37,812	$18
   10	Kentucky	$36,862	$18
   11	South Dakota	$36,216	$17
   12	Missouri	$36,145	$17
   13	New York	$35,255	$17
   14	Georgia	$33,448	$16

   Average stock handler salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	PSEG	$53,659	$25.80	2
   2	General Electric	$52,023	$25.01	6
   3	A-dec	$47,428	$22.80
   4	Eversource Energy	$47,302	$22.74	1
   5	MSC Industrial Direct Co	$46,900	$22.55	15
   6	Woodward	$46,859	$22.53	6
   7	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$46,169	$22.20	17
   8	Victoria's Secret	$45,766	$22.00
   9	Mondelēz International	$43,976	$21.14	26
   10	Green Bay Packaging	$43,419	$20.87	2
   11	WestRock	$43,023	$20.68	25
   12	Newell Brands	$42,112	$20.25	1
   13	Aptar	$40,985	$19.70	2
   14	HarperCollins	$40,858	$19.64	1
   15	Great Southern Homes	$40,496	$19.47
   16	Graphic Packaging International	$39,993	$19.23	7
   17	CVS Health	$39,297	$18.89	24
   18	Swanson Health Products	$38,286	$18.41
   19	Hallmark Services Corporation	$38,250	$18.39	1
   20	Levin Furniture	$37,262	$17.91	8

4. Writing a stock handler job description

   A job description for a stock handler 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 stock handler job description:

   Stock handler job description example

   • Basic computer skills
   • High school diploma or the equivalent
   • Willingness to work overtime to meet customer’s needs
   • Internal certification to drive powered equipment within specified time requirements
   • Internal certification to pick DOT-regulated items, if required
   • Physical demands to successfully perform essential job functions (reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities): standing, walking, lifting materials up to 75 pounds (individual or team), carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing stairs, climbing using legs and arms, balancing, stooping, kneeling, repeated bends, reaching high and low, repetitive twisting or pressure involving wrist and hands, hearing, seeing (depth perception and peripheral vision), mental coordination, mental alertness for entire shift, ability to wear personal protective equipment as required, and ability to operate at heights up to 50 feet

   WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
   A career at MSC includes generous benefits, rewards and recognition.

   • Training and growth opportunities
   • Weekends off
   • Paid time off including holidays
   • Incentive bonuses and shift differential
   • Medical, dental, vision, and company-matched 401(k)

   Why MSC
   People. Collaboration. Insight. That’s how you build something that works.

   Built on a foundation of trust, MSC works side by side with our customers to help them drive business results. With more than one million product offerings and 75+ years of experience across industries, MSC strives to help our customers achieve greater productivity, profitability, and growth through inventory management and other innovative supply chain solutions.
   
   We care about our associates and have programs in place to help our 6,500+ team members achieve their potential. When you join our team, you will receive rewards and recognition for your contributions, training and professional development opportunities, as well as a variety of benefits to support you and your family's health, well-being, and financial future.
   
   If you are inspired to learn, take risks, and succeed as a team, you can build a better career at MSC.
   
   Equal Opportunity Statement
   At MSC, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all qualified applicants and our associates without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any category protected by applicable law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find stock handlers 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 stock handlers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level stock handlers 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 stock handler job on Zippia to find and recruit stock handler candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit stock handlers, 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 to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 stock handler

   Once you've selected the best stock handler 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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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.)

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