Warehouse worker job description template

What a warehouse worker does

Warehouse workers pick, pack, ship, and receive the products a business depends on. The pace is fast and the work is physical, which is why honest job descriptions matter here more than almost anywhere else. Say how much lifting is involved, how productivity is measured, what the shifts are, and whether the facility is climate controlled. New hires who know what to expect are far more likely to make it past the first month.

Warehouse worker job description template

Copy the description, replace everything in [brackets], and cut any line that isn't true for your job. The duties and requirements are a starting point written by HR practitioners, not a legal standard, so edit them to match the real work.

Warehouse worker

Details
- Department: [Department]
- Reports to: [Manager title]
- Location: [City, State, or remote]
- Employment type: [Full-time, part-time, or seasonal]
- FLSA status: Nonexempt
- Pay range: [$X to $Y per hour]

About [Company]
[Two or three sentences about what your company does, who it serves, and why people like working here.]

Job summary
We're hiring a warehouse worker to pick, pack, ship, and receive orders accurately and safely so our customers get what they need on time.

What you'll do
- Pick and pack orders accurately using handheld scanners.
- Receive, inspect, and put away incoming shipments.
- Load and unload trucks and containers.
- Label, wrap, and stage outgoing shipments.
- Count inventory and report damaged or missing items.
- Keep work areas clean, organized, and safe.
- Follow safety procedures and use protective equipment.
- Meet productivity and accuracy targets.

What you'll need
- Ability to lift up to [50] pounds and stand and walk for the full shift.
- Ability to work [shift] including weekends and overtime when needed.
- Basic math and reading for labels and orders.
- Minimum age of 18 to operate powered equipment.

Nice to have
- Previous warehouse or distribution experience.
- Forklift or pallet jack certification.
- Experience with a warehouse management system.

Skills
Accuracy, Speed, Safety awareness, Teamwork, Reliability, Physical stamina.

Physical demands and work environment
Warehouse or distribution center, which may not be climate controlled. Requires lifting, bending, reaching, and standing for the full shift.

Pay and benefits
[$X to $Y per hour], based on experience and location. [List benefits, such as health insurance, retirement plan match, paid time off, and training.]

Equal opportunity
[Company] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview, contact [name] at [email or phone].

How to customize it for your job

• State the shift, hourly rate, and any shift differential.
• Say how productivity is measured and shared.
• Be clear about lifting weight and temperature.
• Mention whether you train forklift drivers.

Then check it against the HRTally job description standard, our 10-point checklist, and run it through the inclusive language swap list. Both take about five minutes.

How much to pay a warehouse worker

Half of US laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand earned more than $19.35 an hour in May 2025, and half earned less, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That national figure is a starting point, not a pay range. Pay for the same job can differ by 30 percent or more between metro areas, so check the BLS occupation profile for state and metro data before you set your range.

For hourly roles, the legal floor matters as much as the market rate. Check the current rate where the job is based in our minimum wage by state table, and the state's overtime and break rules in our state labor law library.

To convert between hourly and annual pay, use our salary to hourly calculator. If you hire in a state or city with a pay transparency law, the range must appear in the posting itself. Our pay transparency laws guide lists where, and our guide to salary bands explains how to set ranges you can defend.

Exempt status, licenses, and legal notes

FLSA status: Nonexempt (overtime eligible). Job titles don't decide overtime eligibility. Duties and pay do. Our guide to exempt vs non-exempt employees walks through each test, and the overtime calculator shows what a nonexempt employee is owed.

Warehouse workers are nonexempt. California, Washington, New York, Minnesota, Oregon, and Illinois have warehouse worker protection laws that require employers to disclose productivity quotas in writing and prohibit quotas that interfere with meal breaks, rest breaks, or bathroom use. OSHA requires training before anyone operates a forklift or other powered industrial truck, and workers under 18 can't operate them under federal child labor rules.

This is general information for US employers, not legal advice. Laws change and vary by state and city, so confirm the current rules or talk to employment counsel before you rely on them.

Interview questions to ask

Ask every candidate the same core questions and score answers against the same criteria. Structured interviews are fairer and predict job performance better than open conversation.

1. Tell me about a time you had to keep up with a demanding pace at work.
2. What would you do if you noticed a safety hazard?
3. How do you make sure you pick the right item every time?
4. Are you comfortable working [shift] and weekends?

When you're ready to schedule, use our interview invitation email template. For a full hiring process, read the recruitment process guide.

Frequently asked questions