What does a warehouse worker do?

Warehouse workers are mostly responsible for managing shipments, keeping track of inventory, and organizing storage. One of your first tasks is to accept shipments. Once shipments arrive, someone will add each item to the inventory. Much of your job consists of managing storage. In such a capacity, you will organize the warehouse space and find an appropriate and efficient place for each product or collection. A collection of goods will often be on pallets, or your job is to palletize them. Another important task is to stack products in a stable manner so they do not topple. Eventually, your job progresses to labeling and getting the outgoing products ready for shipment out.

 

View Roles
1

What is the average warehouse worker salary ?

Expect your average annual salary as a warehouse worker to be across all sectors except management, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Your median salary will range between $706 and $808 per week. There is not much variation between warehousing sectors when it comes to wages. The following list shows industry salary differences within the warehouse and storage categories.

  • General laborers - $17.64 per hour
  • Clerk - $18.13 per hour
  • Stocker - $18.40 per hour
  • Heavy machinery operator - $20.19 per hour

How to increase your salary

Like changing regions, stacking experience will not drastically increase your salary as a warehouse worker. After 10 years of working in a warehouse, statistics suggest your wages will increase by $2 an hour. The most effective way to increase your salary as a warehouse worker is to move up the ranks. One of the first steps is to get promoted to a trainer and then eventually a manager. Managers earn about $1,900 weekly. Obtaining additional education to become certified will also help you advance in the field.  Further potential promotions include working as an auditor, an inspector in charge of quality control, or a scheduler. Increases also occur when you try your hand at becoming a company consultant, a job where you are approaching the highest tiers of the supply chain industry.

Warehouse Worker Jobs
2

Warehouse worker job description

A career as a warehouse worker is among the most physically demanding. It provides a viable way to make an impact on the supply chain industry behind the scenes as well as front and center. Robots have not yet been able to replace a warehouse worker's intellectual input in organizing and categorizing goods for inventory. You will learn about your responsibilities, work environment, and equipment in this section.

3

What is the career outlook for a warehouse worker?

The job market for warehouse workers has a projected growth of 7% over the decade between 2020 and 2030. A steady growth rate that is on par with the national average for most jobs reflects the stability of the warehouse worker job field. The increase in e-commerce ensures job security in a field that already has a persistent demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts there will be almost a million available jobs in the industry annually. 

 

4

What education do you need as a warehouse worker?

You do not need a formal education to become a warehouse worker. There are plenty of entry-level jobs. However, if you seek higher-paying opportunities, the more skills you acquire, the further you will advance. Additional considerations involve training and licenses to operate forklifts and other heavy equipment.

5

FAQs

If you are considering a career in warehouse work, you likely have some additional questions about the role. The following frequently asked questions can give you some additional insight into what you can expect when working in this position.

thank you for subscribing to your personalised job alerts.