How to hire a warehouse clerk

How to hire a warehouse clerk, step by step

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

What does a warehouse clerk do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a warehouse clerk, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   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 warehouse clerk 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of warehouse clerks and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Warehouse Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Warehouse 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.	$12-18
   Customer Service, Warehouse	A customer service warehouse is primarily in charge of providing customer support, mainly through calls and correspondence. Their responsibilities typically revolve around answering inquiries, addressing and troubleshooting problems, processing refunds, maintaining records of all transactions, and referring them to other services when necessary... Show more	$12-17
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Work Ethic
   • Data Entry
   • Logistics
   • Customer Service
   • Pallets
   • Patients
   • Hand Tools
   • Shipping Receiving
   • Ladders
   • Basic Math
   • Math
   • Safety Regulations
   • Customer Orders
   • Purchase Orders

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Coordinate and manage shipping for complete pallets to different work sites internationally.
   • Check the MRP system for shortages on release work orders or sales orders and issue as required.
   • Update training and work instructions pursuant to ISO guidelines.
   • Have used various MRP systems for inventory with superior knowledge.
   • Train and certify in the use of ESD equipment and practices.
   • Process all BOL via SAP/TWMS for external, rail and barge shipments.

   More warehouse clerk duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your warehouse clerk job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A warehouse 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 warehouse clerk in Georgia may be lower than in Hawaii, and an entry-level warehouse clerk usually earns less than a senior-level warehouse clerk. Additionally, a warehouse 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 warehouse clerk salary

   $15.18hourly

   $31,564 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level warehouse clerk salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average warehouse clerk salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$33,705	$16
   2	Oregon	$33,383	$16
   3	Washington	$32,782	$16
   4	North Dakota	$32,450	$16
   5	Minnesota	$31,979	$15
   6	Illinois	$31,936	$15
   7	Pennsylvania	$31,032	$15
   8	Nevada	$30,048	$14
   9	Wisconsin	$29,816	$14
   10	Indiana	$29,735	$14
   11	Utah	$29,493	$14
   12	Colorado	$28,907	$14
   13	Ohio	$28,107	$14
   14	Arizona	$27,309	$13
   15	Missouri	$25,664	$12
   16	Virginia	$24,775	$12
   17	Texas	$24,621	$12
   18	Tennessee	$24,429	$12
   19	North Carolina	$24,368	$12
   20	Oklahoma	$23,726	$11

   Average warehouse clerk salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$39,038	$18.77	12
   2	Uline	$38,998	$18.75	45
   3	PPG	$38,813	$18.66	2
   4	Cargill	$37,552	$18.05	40
   5	SunPower	$37,006	$17.79	2
   6	Systemax	$36,277	$17.44
   7	Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.	$36,240	$17.42
   8	United Natural Foods	$36,215	$17.41	38
   9	Air Hydro Power	$36,119	$17.36	1
   10	Philips	$36,071	$17.34	2
   11	Supermicro	$35,789	$17.21
   12	Cummins	$35,596	$17.11	4
   13	Scientific Games	$35,553	$17.09	3
   14	Staples	$35,369	$17.00	91
   15	AAON	$35,232	$16.94	9
   16	MSC Industrial Direct Co	$35,121	$16.89	13
   17	POWDR	$35,021	$16.84
   18	Medline	$34,921	$16.79	77
   19	Brunswick	$34,677	$16.67	23
   20	FedEx	$34,669	$16.67	106

4. Writing a warehouse clerk job description

   A warehouse 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 warehouse clerk job description:

   Warehouse clerk job description example

   At Jabil we strive to make ANYTHING POSSIBLE and EVERYTHING BETTER. With over 260,000 diverse, talented and dedicated employees across 100 locations in 30 countries, our vision is to be the most technologically advanced and trusted manufacturing solutions provider. We combine an unmatched breadth and depth of end-market experience, technical and design capabilities, manufacturing know-how, supply chain insights and global product management expertise to enable success for the world's leading brands. We are driven by a common purpose to make a positive impact for each other, our communities, and the environment.
   
   SUMMARYHandles and maintains flow of materials and products in manufacturing areas according to established guidelines.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.· Responsible for receiving material including dock to stock, RI, MRO, PCB's, floor returns, and performing the appropriate system transactions.· Responsible for issuing material from stock including transfers, kits, manual pulls, CIR's, OTOR's, and performing the appropriate system transactions.· Ensure accuracy by performing all transactions correctly and verifying.· Cycle counting.· Maintaining 5S order and cleanliness at all times.· Adhere to all safety rules and use required protective equipment.· Adhere to all safety and health rules and regulations associated with this position and as directed by supervisor.· Comply and follow all procedures within the company security policy.MINIMUM REQUIREMENTSHigh school diploma or equivalent preferred; or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
   -Forklift support both sit down and stand up equipment
   
   -Back up driver support
   
   -Agreed schedule 7:00am-3:35pm
   
   BE AWARE OF FRAUD: When applying for a job at Jabil you will be contacted via correspondence through our official job portal with a jabil.com e-mail address; direct phone call from a member of the Jabil team; or direct e-mail with a jabil.com e-mail address. Jabil does not request payments for interviews or at any other point during the hiring process. Jabil will not ask for your personal identifying information such as a social security number, birth certificate, financial institution, driver's license number or passport information over the phone or via e-mail. If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, contact the Federal Bureau of Investigations internet crime hotline (www.ic3.gov), the Federal Trade Commission identity theft hotline (www.identitytheft.gov) and/or your local police department. Any scam job listings should be reported to whatever website it was posted in.
   
   Jabil, including its subsidiaries, is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right warehouse 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 warehouse clerk job on Zippia to find and recruit warehouse clerk 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 warehouse clerks, 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 warehouse clerk

   Once you've found the warehouse clerk 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.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new warehouse 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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