Forklift Operator
Move, stack and load materials safely with forklifts and other powered trucks.
- $46,420
- 1–5 days
Transportation & Logistics career
Warehouse Associate
Also called: Warehouse Worker · Picker/Packer · Material Handler · Fulfillment Associate
What warehouse associates do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a warehouse associate do?
Warehouse associates receive incoming freight, store inventory, pick and pack orders, and load shipments in warehouses and fulfillment centers, using scanners and warehouse systems to keep inventory accurate. The median pay is $40,240 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Days (on the job), and employment is projected to grow +1.8% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$40,240$19.35/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+1.8%2025–35, slower than average
- Openings per year340,500Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationNo formal educational credentialBLS classification
- Time to trainDays (on the job)Typical program length
- U.S. jobs2,940,300Employment, 2025
What warehouse associates do
Warehouse associates are the hands of the supply chain. They unload trucks, check shipments against purchase orders, put products away, pick items for orders, pack them securely and stage them for shipping: scanning everything so the warehouse management system knows exactly where inventory is.
Most positions require no experience and offer training on day one. Warehouses hire constantly, and associates who are reliable, accurate and safe can quickly move into equipment operation, inventory control and team lead roles.
Typical duties
- Unload and receive inbound shipments
- Check items against purchase orders and report damages
- Put away inventory to storage locations
- Pick orders using RF scanners or pick lists
- Pack, label and stage orders for shipping
- Perform cycle counts and keep inventory accurate
- Keep work areas clean, organized and safe
Work environment and schedule
Associates work in warehouses, distribution centers and fulfillment centers, often large, busy facilities that may be hot or cold. The job involves standing, walking, lifting and repetitive motions around moving equipment.
Schedule: Full-time and part-time shifts, including nights, weekends and 10- or 12-hour shifts. Overtime is common during holiday peak season.
A day in the life
- Stretch-and-flex warm-up and safety huddle; get the day’s productivity goals.
- Unload a floor-loaded trailer, stacking cartons onto pallets.
- Receive the freight: count, scan and note a damaged carton on the receiving report.
- Pick orders with an RF scanner, following the optimized pick path.
See a full day in the life of a warehouse associate →
Warehouse Associate salary
Half of warehouse associates earned more than $40,240 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $31,270 for the lowest 10% to $55,140 for the top 10%.
Full warehouse associate pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a warehouse associate
- Apply
- Complete onboarding and safety training
- Hit your rates safely
- Add skills
- Move up
No formal education is required, though a high school diploma is often preferred. Training happens on the job, and employers may offer forklift certification.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a warehouse associate →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Receiving and putaway
- Order picking with RF scanners
- Packing and labeling
- Inventory counts
- Safe lifting
People skills
- Reliability
- Accuracy
- Teamwork
- Stamina
All warehouse associate skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- No experience needed: hiring is constant
- Quick start and on-the-job training
- Overtime and shift differentials
- Clear path into equipment, inventory and leadership roles
Cons
- Physically demanding and repetitive
- Productivity rates can be stressful
- Night, weekend and peak-season hours
- Lower pay until you add skills or certifications
Certifications and licenses
- Forklift certification: Employer-provided training and evaluation required by OSHA to operate powered trucks.
- MSSC Certified Logistics Associate (CLA): Entry-level logistics credential.
- MSSC Certified Logistics Technician (CLT): Mid-level credential covering warehouse operations.
- OSHA 10 General Industry: Introductory workplace safety training.
Career path
- Warehouse Associate: Receive, pick, pack and ship.
- Equipment Operator or Inventory Clerk: Operate forklifts or manage counts.
- Team Lead: Coordinate associates and hit targets.
- Supervisor or Operations Manager: Lead shifts and facilities.
Learn the job before day one
Our Warehouse Associate training (6 hours, $59.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as pick an order with an RF scanner and receive a shipment against a purchase order, safety and how to land your first job.
Related careers
Truck Driver
Haul freight safely across town or across the country with a CDL.
- $58,640
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Logistics Coordinator
Plan and track how products move from suppliers to customers, on time and on budget.
- $82,320
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Customer Service Representative
Help customers solve problems by phone, chat and email, and keep them coming back.
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Compare: Warehouse Associate vs. Forklift Operator · Warehouse Associate vs. Truck Driver · Warehouse Associate vs. Logistics Coordinator · Warehouse Associate vs. Customer Service Rep
Warehouse Associate FAQ
Do you need experience to work in a warehouse?
Usually not. Most warehouses provide on-the-job training for new associates.
How can warehouse workers earn more?
Get forklift trained, work overtime or night shifts, learn inventory control and move into lead or supervisor roles.
Is warehouse work hard?
It’s physically demanding, with lots of walking and lifting, but many people like the active pace and clear goals.
How much does a warehouse associate make?
The median annual wage for warehouse associates was $40,240 ($19.35 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $31,270 and the highest 10% earned more than $55,140.
How long does it take to become a warehouse associate?
Most people need about Days (on the job) of training. No formal education is required, though a high school diploma is often preferred. Training happens on the job, and employers may offer forklift certification.
Do you need a degree to be a warehouse associate?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “no formal educational credential” as the typical entry-level education, plus short-term on-the-job training.
More warehouse associate questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 53-7062 (Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.