How to hire a Pantry Worker

How to hire a pantry worker, step by step

Here's a step-by-step pantry worker hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a pantry worker job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new pantry worker
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post A Pantry Worker Job For Free, Promote It For A Fee

Post Free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your pantry worker 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 pantry worker 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a pantry worker to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a pantry worker that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of pantry workers.

   Type Of Pantry Worker	Description	Hourly Rate
   Pantry Worker	Food preparation workers perform many routine tasks under the direction of cooks, chefs, or food service managers. Food preparation workers prepare cold foods, slice meat, peel and cut vegetables, brew coffee or tea, and perform many other food service tasks.	$10-18
   Kitchen Staff	The kitchen staff consists of preparation workers who execute several routine tasks as directed by chefs, food service managers, and cooks. These works should have the ability to follow cooking instructions and deliver well-prepared meals... Show More	$11-17
   Sandwich Artist	Sandwich artists are employees at any restaurant that specializes in sandwiches. They manage the sandwich station and answer any inquiries that customers may have on the different ingredients available... Show More	$8-14

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Culinary
   • Food Products
   • Food Handling
   • Safety Procedures
   • Food Donations
   • Room Service
   • Food Service
   • Food Boxes
   • Cold Food
   • Food Preparation
   • Cash Registers
   • Food Storage

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage saut station, fry station, grill station, and steamer station.
   • Assemble care packages and distribute groceries to the community.
   • Assist with planning and directing food preparation and culinary activities along with safely handling and storing all products appropriately.
   • Put away food and supplies order according to the fifo system.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your pantry worker job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A pantry worker salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, pantry workers' average salary in louisiana is 46% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level pantry workers earn 42% less than senior-level pantry workers.
   • Certifications. A pantry worker with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a pantry worker's salary.

   Average pantry worker salary

   $13.96hourly

   $29,031 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level pantry worker salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated March 16, 2025

4. Writing a Pantry Worker Job Description

   A pantry worker 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 pantry worker job description:

   Pantry Worker job description example

   The Food Pantry worker is responsible for assisting in receiving and packing food, making sure food is sorted, stocked, and stored appropriately. The Food Pantry worker is responsible for filling all online pantry orders. The Food Pantry worker is responsible for maintaining all health and safety procedures/policies according to Food Bank of Central New York and Community Action guidelines.
   
   Expectations for all Family Center staff include: respectful, non-judgmental treatment of all people.
   
   ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES: THE MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS POSITION INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
   Ensure that non-perishable food items are properly rotated. Distribute food items to customers accessing the food pantry. Filling online pantry orders. Prepare the food pantry by stocking and stacking items in an orderly manner. Ensures an accurate inventory at all times. Going to the warehouse to retrieve food. Ensure that food quality is maintained through appropriate rotation of food. Ensure proper refrigeration of frozen items and perform rotation as needed. Ensure maintenance and cleanliness of the food pantry. Make sure that all surfaces in the food pantry are sanitized in accordance with the standards of the organization. Perform other duties as assigned. MINIMUM REQUIRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS EDUCATION: High School Diploma or GED EDUCATION ALTERNATIVE: N/A
   CERTIFICATES AND/OR LICENSES: N/A
   WORK EXPERIENCE: N/A
   SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: N/A
   SKILLS OR OTHER ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS POSITION: Exceptional communication skills; organizational and time management skills; able to balance multiple priorities; ability to remain calm under pressure; adaptable and flexible. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Food pantry and warehouse (food storage).
   EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS: Must be able to pass background clearance. Occasional local travel during normal work hours. Must have a valid driver's license.
   EQUIPMENT USED: laptop/computer, printer
   PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to handle multiple priorities and deadlines. Able to lift/carry food boxes averaging 50 pounds. Hours: 20 Hours Per Week
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

   To find pantry workers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any pantry workers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level pantry workers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your pantry worker job on Zippia to find and recruit pantry worker candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit pantry workers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up 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 pantry worker

   Once you've selected the best pantry worker 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.

   To prepare for the new pantry worker first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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 pantry worker?