How to hire a warehouse specialist

How to hire a warehouse specialist, step by step

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

What does a warehouse specialist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your warehouse specialist 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 specialist 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?

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   A warehouse specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, warehouse specialists 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 presents warehouse specialist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Warehouse Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Warehouse Specialist	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$13-20
   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:

   • Customer Service
   • Logistics
   • Pallets
   • Shipping Receiving
   • Inventory Control
   • Safety Regulations
   • Basic Math
   • Math
   • Storage Locations
   • Safety Rules
   • OSHA
   • Safety Procedures
   • Data Entry
   • Electric Pallet Jack

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Perform daily inventory management duties consisting of: cycle counting, RF scanning, maintain database records and systems.
   • Pick and pack pharmaceutical product inventory with optimum accuracy using warehouse management system and RF scanners.
   • Perform raw material sampling, inventory counts, HAZMAT shipments.
   • Conduct quality control at HAZMAT storage facility; process any corrections on errors as well.
   • Train to follow OSHA safety guidelines and practices, use a forklift, and other automate equipment.
   • Attend OSHA regulate safety certification classes.

   More warehouse specialist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, warehouse specialists' average salary in south carolina is 31% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level warehouse specialists 35% less than senior-level warehouse specialists.
   • Certifications. A warehouse specialist 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 specialist's salary.

   Average warehouse specialist salary

   $35,015yearly

   $16.83 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level warehouse specialist salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 1, 2026

   Average warehouse specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Nevada	$40,091	$19
   2	California	$38,516	$19
   3	New York	$37,888	$18
   4	Minnesota	$37,762	$18
   5	Arizona	$37,436	$18
   6	Wisconsin	$37,335	$18
   7	Pennsylvania	$37,199	$18
   8	Colorado	$36,926	$18
   9	Virginia	$36,827	$18
   10	Ohio	$36,388	$17
   11	Illinois	$35,834	$17
   12	Tennessee	$35,284	$17
   13	Oklahoma	$35,221	$17
   14	Missouri	$35,079	$17
   15	North Carolina	$34,788	$17
   16	Iowa	$34,628	$17
   17	Texas	$33,901	$16
   18	Arkansas	$33,117	$16
   19	Alabama	$32,896	$16
   20	Georgia	$32,583	$16

   Average warehouse specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Tata Group	$44,970	$21.62	4
   2	SF-Marin Food Bank	$43,247	$20.79
   3	Uline	$41,401	$19.90	64
   4	Bayer	$40,477	$19.46	13
   5	Vista Outdoor	$40,098	$19.28
   6	Raytheon Technologies	$39,156	$18.82	11
   7	ABB	$39,077	$18.79	28
   8	L3Harris	$38,930	$18.72	12
   9	General Electric	$38,882	$18.69	30
   10	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$38,861	$18.68	29
   11	Air Liquide	$38,573	$18.54	1
   12	Philips	$38,443	$18.48	3
   13	Wyatt Technology	$38,405	$18.46
   14	Fluor Corporation	$38,210	$18.37	12
   15	Chewy	$37,977	$18.26	11
   16	General Dynamics	$37,973	$18.26	22
   17	ICU Medical	$37,844	$18.19	11
   18	McLane	$37,808	$18.18	96
   19	Western Alliance Bank	$37,686	$18.12	8
   20	Bechtel Corporation	$37,660	$18.11	7

4. Writing a warehouse specialist job description

   A warehouse specialist 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 specialist job description:

   Warehouse specialist job description example

   About Us
   
   EIS is a leading North American distributor of process materials, production supplies, specialty wire and cable and value-added fabricated parts for the electrical OEM, motor repair and assembly markets.
   
   Our culture is highly innovative, collaborative and focused on building and maintaining relationships that allow us to surpass our customers' expectations. We embrace the qualities that make each of our team members unique and develop each other's skillsets so that together we can be stronger than the sum of our parts.
   
   Warehouse Associate Job Description
   
   Receives goods and logs them into the system. Prepares goods and products for shipment and logs them into the system. Keeps accurate records of all transactions.
   
   Warehouse Associate Responsibilities
   
   Receives materials and supplies into the warehouse. Visually examines for damage or shortage before entering into inventory or storage area. Maintains the cleanliness and safety of the warehouse and production area. Stripes and respools wire to meet customer specific requirements. Uses the inventory control system to track the status of goods and materials. Prepares products and goods for shipment. Assures proper packaging to avoid damage. Prepares associated paperwork including shipping labels, invoice and instructions. Uses the inventory control system to track the status of goods and materials. Other warehouse duties as needed Warehouse Associate Qualifications Completion of high school and trade school or six months of related experience or equivalent combination of formal education/training and experience. Demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail. Physical ability to receive and store goods and materials, including ability to lift up to 50 lbs. Ability to stand for long periods of time. Ability to use computer system to track goods and materials. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively verbally.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

   Once you've selected the best warehouse specialist 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 also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them 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 specialist. 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 warehouse specialist?