How to hire a warehouse picker

How to hire a warehouse picker, step by step

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

What does a warehouse picker do?

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

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your warehouse picker 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 warehouse picker 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

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

   Type of Warehouse Picker	Description	Hourly rate
   Warehouse Picker	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
   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
   Picker	Pickers are responsible for choosing the correct range of merchandise on the shelves based on the clients' orders. Pickers carefully prepare the items from the stock, ensuring that everything is free of any damage before shipping... Show more	$12-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pallets
   • Electric Pallet Jack
   • Customer Orders
   • Basic Math
   • Work Ethic
   • Warehouse Environment
   • Math
   • RF Scanner
   • Safety Standards
   • Warehouse Equipment
   • Shipping Receiving
   • Industrial Trucks
   • Hand Trucks
   • Load Trucks

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Used WMS and RF systems to pick and stage customer specify orders and lead a team of employees.
   • Train for safe operation of PIVs and warehouse logistics.
   • Work the night shift as a picker/packer using a pallet jack, stacking, wrapping, and loading pallets onto trucks.
   • Assemble medical equipment-Deliver medical supplies to patients homes and medical facilities-Prepare supplies and packaging for delivery-Load packages according to borough
   • Operate power equipment including: order pickers, tuggers, reach trucks, and counterbalance forklifts.

   More warehouse picker duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, warehouse pickers' average salary in alabama is 35% less than in oregon.
   • Seniority. Entry-level warehouse pickers 33% less than senior-level warehouse pickers.
   • Certifications. A warehouse picker 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 picker's salary.

   Average warehouse picker salary

   $15.51hourly

   $32,263 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level warehouse picker salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

   Average warehouse picker salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Oregon	$39,139	$19
   2	California	$36,276	$17
   3	Nevada	$36,118	$17
   4	Iowa	$34,824	$17
   5	Michigan	$34,777	$17
   6	Colorado	$34,493	$17
   7	Wisconsin	$34,150	$16
   8	New Jersey	$33,514	$16
   9	New York	$33,439	$16
   10	Utah	$33,038	$16
   11	Pennsylvania	$32,820	$16
   12	Ohio	$32,241	$16
   13	Missouri	$31,383	$15
   14	Illinois	$31,342	$15
   15	Indiana	$30,315	$15
   16	Virginia	$29,811	$14
   17	Texas	$29,794	$14
   18	Oklahoma	$29,459	$14
   19	Mississippi	$29,235	$14
   20	Tennessee	$28,808	$14

   Average warehouse picker salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Chewy	$38,283	$18.41	2
   2	Rite Aid	$37,672	$18.11
   3	PepsiCo	$37,548	$18.05	34
   4	United Natural Foods	$37,161	$17.87	18
   5	Staples	$36,976	$17.78	74
   6	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$36,744	$17.67	6
   7	The Coca-Cola Company	$36,676	$17.63	59
   8	McLane	$36,643	$17.62	76
   9	Tyson Foods	$36,224	$17.42
   10	Anheuser-Busch	$36,223	$17.41	9
   11	Keurig Dr Pepper	$35,989	$17.30	92
   12	HD Supply	$35,979	$17.30	68
   13	The RealReal	$35,862	$17.24	3
   14	Trek Bicycle	$35,384	$17.01	4
   15	Accel	$35,240	$16.94
   16	North American Corporation	$35,057	$16.85
   17	Great Lakes	$35,056	$16.85
   18	The Next Level	$34,829	$16.74	1
   19	Deli Express	$34,766	$16.71	6
   20	The Hillman Group	$34,555	$16.61	5

4. Writing a warehouse picker job description

   A warehouse picker 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 picker job description:

   Warehouse picker job description example

   C ome work at a place where innovation and teamwork come together to support the most exciting missions in the world!
   + Join our team today! Payrate $21.00
   
   + Direct Hire 5 :00am - 1:30pm Monday thru Friday Overtime as Needed
   
   + 10 Paid Days Off in 1st Year
   
   + Referral Bonuses Available
   
   + We have amazing benefits and discounts to keep you and your fur/fin/feathered babies healthy and happy!
   
   + Equipment Experience a PLUS- Electric Pallet Jack
   
   + We offer a Safe, Diverse, and Inclusive Work Environment
   
   To facilitate the timely and accurate preparation of pet supplies to be shipped to the Petco stores and to receive warehouse stock goods. This job is composed of several tasks which are generally routine in nature and are repeated several times during the course of the day and are part of the Petco Labor Management System in which productivity standards must be met. This is a safety sensitive position that requires drug testing.Essential Job Functions: Through previous background and experience, the candidate must demonstrate, with or without an accommodation, the ability to:- Operate Material Handling equipment including but not limited to: pallet jacks and standup lifts.- Maintain established productivity standards.- Continuously lift merchandise up to 50 pounds daily for entire shift duration.- Use voice activated computer headset to select merchandise.- Use hand-held RF devices as needed to scan merchandise bar codes- Conduct basic math computations, with or without a calculator.Supervisory Responsibility:Although this position generally does not entail supervising other employees, management may on occasion delegate additional responsibility to include providing functional guidance and training to others.Work Environment:In addition to extensive bending, carrying, lifting (in excess of 50 pounds routinely), and climbing, the nature of this position entails constant exposure to heat, cold, dirt, dust, fumes, and noise within the warehouse. While some job duties may occasionally be conducted outdoors, the majority of work is performed indoors at one location. Risk of injury in this type of work should not be overlooked.
   
   Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right warehouse picker 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 picker job on Zippia to find and recruit warehouse picker candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with warehouse picker candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 picker

   Once you've selected the best warehouse picker 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.

   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 picker. 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 picker?