How to hire a warehouse associate

How to hire a warehouse associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step warehouse associate hiring guide:

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

What does a warehouse associate do?

Post a warehouse associate job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The warehouse associate 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 warehouse associate's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, warehouse associates 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 warehouse associate salaries for various roles:

   Type of Warehouse Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Warehouse Associate	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$12-19
   Material Handler/Warehouse	A warehouse material handler is responsible for assisting warehouse operations, moving merchandise from one place to another, labeling products, performing quality check procedures, packaging goods, and loading and unloading items from distribution vehicles. Warehouse material handlers operate warehouse tools and equipment for production, as well as ensuring the adequacy of stock inventory needed for orders and deliveries... Show more	$12-18
   General Warehouse Worker	A general warehouse worker takes responsibility for doing various duties in warehousing. General warehouse workers receive and process incoming materials and stock, pick and file orders, and pack and ship these orders... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pallets
   • Work Ethic
   • Customer Service
   • Basic Math
   • Warehouse Environment
   • Math
   • Customer Orders
   • Hand Trucks
   • Shipping Receiving
   • Safety Regulations
   • Sales Floor
   • Groceries
   • Inventory Control
   • Warehouse Operations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Rotate stock by code and receiving date - FIFO.
   • Create and ship documents for customs using DHL software.
   • Utilize RF gun for scanning duties include closing out invoices and assigning load plans.
   • Perform all tasks according to OSHA regulations and also attend daily safety tool box meetings.
   • Utilize a hand-held RF unit to select products/quantities for retail orders in a high volume warehouse.
   • Require consistent heavy lifting, math skills (primarily measurements), and fierce attention to detail.

   More warehouse associate duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, warehouse associates' average salary in louisiana is 25% less than in north dakota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level warehouse associates 35% less than senior-level warehouse associates.
   • Certifications. A warehouse associate 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 warehouse associate's salary.

   Average warehouse associate salary

   $15.80hourly

   $32,863 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level warehouse associate salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

   Average warehouse associate salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Oregon	$36,050	$17
   2	Washington	$36,013	$17
   3	Minnesota	$35,710	$17
   4	California	$35,700	$17
   5	Nevada	$35,043	$17
   6	Colorado	$34,146	$16
   7	Pennsylvania	$33,705	$16
   8	Utah	$33,326	$16
   9	New Jersey	$33,201	$16
   10	Illinois	$32,980	$16
   11	Nebraska	$32,627	$16
   12	Ohio	$32,624	$16
   13	Arizona	$32,137	$15
   14	Maine	$32,074	$15
   15	Indiana	$31,938	$15
   16	Kansas	$31,875	$15
   17	Missouri	$31,377	$15
   18	Virginia	$31,291	$15
   19	Oklahoma	$30,550	$15
   20	Texas	$30,208	$15

   Average warehouse associate salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Uline	$43,489	$20.91	72
   2	United Natural Foods	$43,223	$20.78	36
   3	Alpenrose Dairy	$42,624	$20.49
   4	ALDI USA	$41,606	$20.00	55
   5	Danaher	$41,108	$19.76	12
   6	Dairy Farmers of America	$40,650	$19.54	78
   7	Bunge	$40,431	$19.44	4
   8	US Foods	$40,200	$19.33	308
   9	Schnitzer Steel	$39,843	$19.16
   10	PepsiCo	$39,083	$18.79	41
   11	Owens Corning	$39,059	$18.78	6
   12	Reyes Holdings	$38,835	$18.67	110
   13	Olympic Steel	$38,698	$18.60	9
   14	Sherwin-Williams	$38,691	$18.60	7
   15	BD	$38,578	$18.55	4
   16	Qep	$38,529	$18.52	6
   17	Value City Furniture	$38,321	$18.42	13
   18	BCP	$38,268	$18.40
   19	Benjamin Moore	$38,143	$18.34	2
   20	Abercrombie & Fitch Co	$38,135	$18.33	426

4. Writing a warehouse associate job description

   A warehouse associate 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 warehouse associate job description:

   Warehouse associate job description example

   As a Freight Handler at Walmart Supply Chain, you will have a critical role in moving product through our Distribution network to the Stores to service our Customers. Your role is critical in providing our customers with the product they expect at an everyday low price.
   
   You can expect the work to be very physically demanding with an extremely high focus on your safety and the safety of others. You will be lifting heavy cases in extreme climates. The flow of freight is very fast-paced, and productivity expectations are high.
   Duties and Responsibilities
   
   Freight Handling Handles and processes freight in a safe and correct manner through the facility to the Stores. Loads, unloads, orderfills, packs, and/or processes freight in an accurate and timely manner. Tells management about unsafe working conditions, damaged products, or improper procedures in the facility. Uses freight handling equipment in a safe and correct manner. Maintains a clean work environment to ensure safety and compliance. Complies with company policies, procedures, and standards of ethics and integrity. Ensures freight quality and integrity. Performs additional duties as assigned
   #supplychainjobs
   
   About Walmart
   
   At Walmart, we help people save money so they can live better. This mission serves as the foundation for every decision we make, from responsible sourcing to sustainability-and everything in between. As a Walmart associate, you will play an integral role in shaping the future of retail, tech, merchandising, finance and hundreds of other industries-all while affecting the lives of millions of customers all over the world. Here, your work makes an impact every day. What are you waiting for?
   
   Walmart, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer- By Choice. We believe we are best equipped to help our associates, customers, and the communities we serve live better when we really know them. That means understanding, respecting, and valuing diversity- unique styles, experiences, identities, abilities, ideas and opinions- while being inclusive of all people.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find warehouse associates 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 warehouse associate job on Zippia to find and recruit warehouse associate candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit warehouse associates, 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.

   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 warehouse associate

   Once you've found the warehouse associate candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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 warehouse associate. 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a warehouse associate?