How to hire a warehouse packer

How to hire a warehouse packer, step by step

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

What does a warehouse packer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The warehouse packer 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

   Hiring the perfect warehouse packer 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.

   Here's a comparison of warehouse packer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Warehouse Packer	Description	Hourly rate
   Warehouse Packer	Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.	$12-17
   Packer/Shipper	The role of packers/shippers is to prepare products for shipping. They are responsible for labeling, packing, cleaning, and maintaining shipping containers... Show more	$12-18
   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:

   • Pallets
   • Pallet Jack
   • Customer Orders
   • Dollies
   • Assembly Line
   • Safety Rules
   • Package Processing Equipment
   • Quality Standards
   • RF Scanner
   • Defective Products
   • Computer System
   • Inspect Containers
   • Food Products
   • Safety Regulations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Pack shipments for customers and send out through FedEx.
   • Utilize FedEx shipping software by creating and editing shipping labels for each customer.
   • Work as a team player with fellow employees to ensure the operation run smoothly.
   • Pile boxes onto pallets and have the pallets send off to the workers with forklift to arrange for shipping
   • Downstock products from upper-level storage when customer-accessible items run low.
   • Maximize efficiency by critically evaluating resources by utilizing on-the-spot math and visualizing complete orders to minimize error before building a pallet.

   More warehouse packer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your warehouse packer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A warehouse packer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, warehouse packers' average salary in louisiana is 36% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level warehouse packers earn 31% less than senior-level warehouse packers.
   • Certifications. A warehouse packer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a warehouse packer's salary.

   Average warehouse packer salary

   $14.61hourly

   $30,384 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level warehouse packer salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 30, 2026

   Average warehouse packer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Minnesota	$32,646	$16
   2	Oregon	$32,047	$15
   3	California	$31,651	$15
   4	Nevada	$31,195	$15
   5	Illinois	$30,919	$15
   6	Colorado	$30,760	$15
   7	New York	$30,585	$15
   8	Wisconsin	$30,050	$14
   9	Utah	$29,914	$14
   10	Michigan	$29,727	$14
   11	Missouri	$29,320	$14
   12	Pennsylvania	$29,026	$14
   13	Indiana	$29,002	$14
   14	Ohio	$28,609	$14
   15	Kansas	$28,413	$14
   16	North Dakota	$27,911	$13
   17	Tennessee	$26,856	$13
   18	Mississippi	$26,572	$13
   19	Georgia	$26,407	$13
   20	Texas	$26,310	$13

   Average warehouse packer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	United Natural Foods	$39,230	$18.86	10
   2	Target	$37,503	$18.03	12
   3	Shoppers Food	$36,772	$17.68
   4	CVS Health	$33,460	$16.09	34
   5	Amazon	$33,345	$16.03	20
   6	The Home Depot	$32,963	$15.85	2,434
   7	Sysco	$32,748	$15.74	127
   8	Fellowes Brands	$32,688	$15.72
   9	FedEx	$32,648	$15.70	194
   10	Novolex	$32,355	$15.56	66
   11	MSC Industrial Direct Co	$32,346	$15.55	6
   12	The RealReal	$32,143	$15.45	5
   13	EFP	$31,920	$15.35
   14	Under Armour	$31,799	$15.29
   15	Kimball Midwest	$31,605	$15.19	4
   16	WestRock	$31,585	$15.19	27
   17	Gordon Food Service	$31,423	$15.11	24
   18	HD Supply	$31,324	$15.06	101
   19	KeHE	$31,194	$15.00	14
   20	D&W Fine Pack	$30,801	$14.81	2

4. Writing a warehouse packer job description

   A warehouse packer 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 packer job description:

   Warehouse packer job description example

   Job DescriptionJob Description

   Are you tired of working in fast food or dead end jobs? Do you want a fast paced rewarding position with great pay and full benefits at 90 days?

   If so we have the job for you!

   Functions

   This position will start out as a packer, fulfilling orders quickly and efficiently for shipment. Items will be packaged and boxed for shipment.

   Later will be cross trained into a runner, providing, assembly, and breaking down shipping boxes and other supplies.

   Requirements

   *Must have a positive attitude, willingness to learn, and be able to keep-up a fast while picking and packing items for shipment in a warehouse setting.

   *Be able to stand in one place for extended periods of time and also be able to lift 30 pounds, regularly, bend, stoop, and carry items.

   Desired Experience

   Some relevant work experience desirable, but can also train those who have the right attitude.

   Experience with pallet jacks and forklifts a bonus.

   Compensation

   Starting Pay is $16.00 per/hour for a 1-2 day evaluation period based upon performance.

   If approved then $17.00 per/hour

   And after 90 days the associate is eligible for $18.00 per/hour and benefits package.

   About us :

   Express Employment Professionals works with job seekers to help find the right job for their skills and experience. As one of the leading staffing companies in North America, Idaho and Coeur d’Alene, we’re ready to help you take the next step in your career.

   Express Employment Professionals of Coeur d’Alene has helped strong applicants build their career since 2003. This office has staffed for over 800 companies in North Idaho, and in 2019 we put more than 550 associates to work. Globally, Express employs more than 500,000 people across more than 800 locally owned franchises worldwide.

   #CIDEP2

   PandoLogic. Keywords: Packager, Location: Post Falls, ID - 83854

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting warehouse packers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 warehouse packer

   Once you've found the warehouse packer 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 packer. 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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