How long does it take to become a Stower?

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a stower. That is the time it takes to learn specific stower skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

How To Become A Stower: What It Is and Career Path

What is a stower and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A stower is responsible for safely and efficiently storing products in designated locations. They use equipment such as pallet jacks, forklifts, and conveyors to move items from receiving to storage areas. Stowers must follow strict inventory control procedures to ensure accurate tracking of products and timely retrieval when needed. They also maintain the organization of the warehouse to promote a safe environment. A stower must be physically fit, detail-oriented, and able to work in a fast-paced environment.

ScoreStowerUS Average

Salary

2.1

Avg. Salary $27,464

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

7.1

Growth Rate 1%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.96%

Asian 6.69%

Black or African American 8.46%

Hispanic or Latino 19.63%

Unknown 5.50%

White 58.75%

Gender

female 30.14%

male 69.86%

Age - 35

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35

Stress Level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

6.1

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Stower?

Pros

Potential to earn overtime pay and bonuses
Access to on-the-job training and skill development
Opportunity for career advancement within the company
Chance to work with innovative technology and equipment
Opportunities for team-building and social activities with coworkers

Cons

Working in a noisy environment can be stressful or distracting
Shift work may disrupt sleep schedules and family life
Pressure to meet productivity goals can create stress or anxiety
Possibility of encountering difficult or hostile coworkers or supervisors
Seasonal work may provide inconsistent income and job security

Key steps to become a stower

Explore stower education requirements

Most common stower degrees

High School Diploma

44.1 %

Bachelor's

23.5 %

Associate

18.2 %

Start to develop specific stower skills

Skills	Percentages
PET	23.45%
Pallets	18.31%
Basic Math	10.07%
Cleanliness	7.29%
Math	6.72%

Complete relevant stower training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New stowers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a stower based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real stower resumes.

Research stower duties and responsibilities

Operate material handling equipment in safe and efficient manner; including forklifts, balers, and compactors.
Itemize and total customer purchases at checkout counter, using POS terminal, and accept various forms of payment.
Use all equipment in deli/bakery/bistro such as the refrigerators, freezers, slicers, and ovens according to company guidelines.
Operate POS cash registers, closing/opening tills, balancing the cash drawer, and ensure customers are greeted and serve quickly.

Prepare your stower resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your stower resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a stower resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Stower Resume templates

Build a professional Stower resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Stower resume.

Apply for stower jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a stower job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do stowers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Stower reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2022

Pros

Working by myself and traveling