How to hire a stocker

How to hire a stocker, step by step

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

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

What does a stocker do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The stocker hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

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

   This list shows salaries for various types of stockers.

   Type of Stocker	Description	Hourly rate
   Stocker	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$11-17
   Merchandiser	Merchandisers are employees working for a retail company. Merchandisers are mainly responsible for the store's products... Show more	$11-18
   Produce Clerk	Produce clerks are responsible for ensuring that the grocery store's fruits and vegetables are displayed orderly and pleasantly to the customers. They check to produce to guarantee that it is fresh and has no defects... Show more	$12-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pallets
   • Strong Customer Service
   • Stock Merchandise
   • Stock Shelves
   • Cleanliness
   • Store Shelves
   • Dexterity
   • Math
   • Basic Math
   • Customer Service
   • Electric Pallet Jack
   • Hand Trucks
   • Alertness
   • Unload Trucks

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Require to possess basic math and reading skills as well as complete all Walmart training programs.
   • Rotated/Stock perishables and other items on store shelves, swept/mop store floors, clean store shelves and freezers.
   • Stock dairy department and any customer assistance need.
   • Distribute inventory with accuracy -provide customer service -cleane store-Analyzed inventory and used math skills to report deficiencies
   • Provide courteous and professional customer service by locating products, bagging and unload groceries and presenting general store information.
   • Level concrete using trowels and shovels.

   More stocker duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, stockers' average salary in indiana is 29% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level stockers 33% less than senior-level stockers.
   • Certifications. A stocker 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 stocker's salary.

   Average stocker salary

   $14.39hourly

   $29,936 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level stocker salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

   Average stocker salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$34,188	$16
   2	California	$33,585	$16
   3	Oregon	$31,735	$15
   4	Massachusetts	$31,664	$15
   5	Maine	$31,654	$15
   6	New York	$31,635	$15
   7	Minnesota	$31,339	$15
   8	New Hampshire	$30,936	$15
   9	Delaware	$30,657	$15
   10	New Jersey	$30,277	$15
   11	Pennsylvania	$30,067	$14
   12	Maryland	$29,928	$14
   13	Utah	$29,552	$14
   14	Michigan	$29,337	$14
   15	Ohio	$29,269	$14
   16	Virginia	$29,244	$14
   17	Illinois	$29,102	$14
   18	Wisconsin	$28,987	$14
   19	Nebraska	$28,774	$14
   20	Mississippi	$27,883	$13

   Average stocker salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Costco Wholesale	$36,817	$17.70	363
   2	Keurig Dr Pepper	$33,242	$15.98	227
   3	Green Mountain Coffee Roasters	$33,208	$15.97
   4	City of McLendon Chisholm	$33,063	$15.90
   5	Gordon Food Service	$32,937	$15.84	3
   6	Office Depot	$32,654	$15.70	21
   7	Oriental Trading	$32,636	$15.69
   8	American Woodmark	$32,626	$15.69	3
   9	Natural Markets Food Group	$32,582	$15.66
   10	United Natural Foods	$32,474	$15.61	11
   11	KeHE	$32,088	$15.43	22
   12	MSC Industrial Direct Co	$32,019	$15.39	6
   13	Fruit of the Loom	$31,963	$15.37
   14	Genuine Parts	$31,886	$15.33	58
   15	Kleen Test Products	$31,827	$15.30
   16	WebstaurantStore	$31,820	$15.30	3
   17	Harbor Wholesale	$31,742	$15.26	1
   18	Hy-Vee	$31,690	$15.24	67
   19	CVS Health	$31,664	$15.22	59
   20	Southern Glazer's	$31,634	$15.21	69

4. Writing a stocker job description

   A stocker 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a stocker job description:

   Stocker job description example

   Admiral Beverage believes in investing in its people, business partners, and communities, to continually grow and offer the best products and services in the region. With the strength of a large company combined with a small-town, friendly, family-driven mindset; we are here to grow with you. Admiral offers: competitive wages, a full-scale benefit program including health, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) and retirement programs, paid leave and holidays, and much, much more!
   
   Current Admiral Beverage Employees (excluding Contractors): Please apply via your internal Workday Account.
   NOT A REMOTE POSITION
   
   LOVELAND / GREELEY / FT. COLLINS
   
   Job Description
   
   Primary Location:
   Ft Collins, Colorado
   
   Beverage Stocker / Merchandiser: Displays and arranges beverage products on shelves, displays, and other areas to draw attention to potential customers. Provides excellent customer service to store owners and customers. Effectively resolves complaints or grievances. Candidates must demonstrate a high level of accuracy, and ability to work without direct supervision. Must be able to lift up to 70 pounds. This position requires a valid driver's license. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, and occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.
   
   Arranges products according to prearranged plan or own ideas approved by management.Places price and descriptive signs on backdrop, fixtures, merchandise, or floor.Transfers product from customer stock room to floor displays in order to comply with "Sell By" dates, maximize product in store and minimize product in stock room.Orders product for assigned accounts in accordance with established procedures to ensure no out of stocks conditions.Originates display ideas or follows suggestions or schedule of Merchandiser Manager and Sales Manager.Communicate effectively on a daily basis with key store personnel on any service or product needs.Constructs or assembles display aids from company provided Point of Sale (POS) materials.Wear company provided uniform and present professional and well-groomed appearance to customers and market place.Other duties may be assigned by the immediate supervisor or other supervisor at any time.
   
   We want to know how you heard about us! Be sure to select an option when you fill out your application- Employee Referral, Social Media, Indeed, ZipRecruiter or CareerBuilder #CB

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find stockers 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 stocker job on Zippia to find and recruit stocker 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 stockers, 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.

   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 stocker

   Once you've selected the best stocker 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 stocker. 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 stocker?