Stockers and order fillers work behind the scenes in stores or warehouses.
You’ll be responsible for fulfilling warehouse orders that are then sent to stores, or stocking store shelves.
This can be a good entry-level job, particularly if you don’t have a lot of education or experience.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of being a stocker or an order filler.
Table of Contents
Pros of Being a Stocker or Order Filler
Being an order filler or stocker does provide plenty of benefits.
Let’s check out some of the most important.
- Overtime opportunity
- Some job autonomy
- Move around the building
- Get exercise
- No experience required
- No special education needed
- Opportunity to move up in the company
- Employee discounts
- Flexible Hours
- Lots of positions open in different companies
1. Overtime Opportunity
One benefit of this type of job is the opportunity for overtime.
Depending on the store or warehouse where you work, you may be able to pick up overtime hours, which can give your paycheck a good boost.
2. Some Job Autonomy
If you hate feeling watched or micro-managed, you may enjoy this type of work.
Once you know what you need to do, you will probably be left to do it on your own.
You may work with a small team of coworkers, but there’s not a lot of direct supervision.
3. Move Around the Building
Hate being stuck in one place for 8 hours?
Stockers and order pickers move around the building they work in.
You may pick orders from different areas of a warehouse, or stock different areas of a store.
4. Get Exercise
Because you are moving around often, you’ll probably get plenty of exercise.
You may spend a lot of time walking.
You may also need to reach or squat to grab items and put them in their proper place.
These activities all count as exercise, so it’s a great way to increase your fitness level while you work.
5. No Experience Required
Most companies are happy to hire you for these positions even if you don’t have any previous experience.
It’s a great entry level job, and allows you to gain valuable experience.
However, if you do have previous experience in this type of job, you may find it easier to get hired.
6. No Special Education Needed
You won’t need any special education or a degree to begin your career as a stocker or order filler.
Some companies do require a high school diploma.
You will need basic reading and math skills to do the job.
Analytical and organizational skills are helpful as well.
Some order fillers use forklifts or hand trucks.
Most companies are happy to train you on this equipment, so you won’t need experience beforehand.
7. Opportunity to Move up in the Company
It’s unlikely that being a stocker or order filler is your dream job, but it can be a stepping stone.
If you want to work for a particular company, this role can get you in the door.
Once you are hired by the company, you have the chance to work your way up to better positions.
8. Employee Discounts
Many companies offer discounts for their employees.
If you enjoy buying from a particular company, this position can save you some money.
It also allows you to get familiar with the company’s products, which can allow you to make an informed choice.
9. Flexible Hours
Some companies allow you to work flexible hours in these positions, particularly if you are a stocker in a store.
This can be great if you have other obligations, like a family or school.
10. Lots of Positions Open in Different Companies
Nearly every company that sells products has positions as an order filler, stocker, or both.
In fact, each time you walk into a store, the products are there because of people working in these positions.
This gives you lots of opportunities to find a company that you want to work for.
Cons of Being a Stocker or Order Filler
Being a stocker or order filler does have its fair share of cons.
Let’s discuss the ones that you should know about.
- Can be repetitive or monotonous
- May be a hot or cold environment
- Inconvenient hours
- Low wages
- Physical labor
- Fast pace
- Limited experience
- Must be self motivated
- Mistakes Can Lead to Reprimands
- Can be mentally tiring
1. Can be Repetitive or Monotonous
The first downside of being a stocker or order filler is that it can be repetitive.
You may be doing the same thing each day, which can get monotonous over time.
Even if you are working with different products, the basics of your job will likely be similar from day to day.
2. May be a Hot or Cold Environment
Depending on where you work, you may need to work in a cold or hot environment.
Some items need to be kept cold, so you may work in a refrigerated area, at least part of the time.
If you are an order filler in a warehouse, you may work without air conditioning.
These extreme temperatures can be difficult to cope with.
3. Inconvenient Hours
Those flexible hours may not be the hours you want, particularly if you are a store stocker.
Stores usually want stockers to work at night or early morning, when the store is closed or there are fewer customers.
You may also need to work weekends or holidays, because items need to be stocked often.
Large warehouses that hire order fillers may have two or three shifts, so you may be working nights in this position as well.
4. Low Wages
The wages for these positions are fairly low.
Depending on where you work, a stocker or order filler may be one of the lowest paid positions, or a medium pay position.
The average pay for an order filler is $12 to $18 per hour.
The average pay for a stocker is $15 an hour.
5. Physical Labor
These jobs provide you with plenty of exercise, but this isn’t always a good thing.
It’s physical labor, which can get tiring at the end of the day.
Stooping, squatting, and reaching can be tough on your body.
You may also need to carry items that are heavy.
6. Fast Paced
You may be expected to work at a fast pace.
This can vary greatly, depending on the company you work for, and the season.
When or before stores have their busiest times, you can expect your work to increase.
7. Limited Experience
When working in these positions, you do get some experience with the company.
However, your experience will be limited.
You won’t get experience in other areas, like shipping and receiving or being a cashier, unless you cross train.
8. Must Be Self-Motivated
You’ll need to be self-motivated to succeed in your job.
If you work on an assembly line, for example, you are expected to keep up with everyone else.
This helps you regulate your speed.
If you are a fast food employee, pressure from customers will keep you on your toes.
As a stocker or order filler, you don’t have this type of outside pressure.
However, you probably will have a quota, or an amount you are expected to complete each day.
This means you’ll need to motivate yourself, and work at a steady pace.
9. Mistakes Can Lead to Reprimands
This is true of any job, but there’s certainly plenty of room for error when stocking or filling orders.
In most cases, it’s easy to trace any mistakes back to you, which can lead to a verbal or even written reprimand.
10. Can Be Mentally Tiring
In addition to being physical labor, these jobs require some mental effort.
You’ll need to locate and choose the right products, and get the right amount of them.
You may need to place the right number of products in the correct place.
Over the course of days or weeks, this can be mentally tiring.
20 Pros and Cons of Being a Stocker or Order Filler – Summary Table
| Pros of Being a Stocker or Order Filler | Cons of Being a Stocker or Order Filler |
|---|---|
| 1. Overtime Opportunity | 1. Can be Repetitive or Monotonous |
| 2. Some Job Autonomy | 2. May be a Hot or Cold Environment |
| 3. Move Around the Building | 3. Inconvenient Hours |
| 4. Get Exercise | 4. Low Wages |
| 5. No Experience Required | 5. Physical Labor |
| 6. No Special Education Needed | 6. Fast Paced |
| 7. Opportunity to Move up in the Company | 7. Limited Experience |
| 8. Employee Discounts | 8. Must Be Self-Motivated |
| 9. Flexible Hours | 9. Mistakes Can Lead to Reprimands |
| 10. Lots of Positions Open in Different Companies | 10. Can Be Mentally Tiring |
Should I be an Order Filler or Stocker?
Wondering if you should be an order filler or stocker?
It depends on several factors.
Are you self-motivated?
Are you analytical enough to handle the work?
Are you ok with working at a fast pace?
Are you physically capable of walking, bending, and carrying heavy objects for an 8 hour shift?
Are you comfortable handling power equipment?
If you answered yes to these questions, an order filler or stocker may be a good job for you.
These positions allow you to get experience at a company, which can allow you o move up to other positions within the company over time.
However, if you want to avoid physical labor or uncomfortable working conditions, this may not be the best job for you.
You may also be required to work overtime, nights, weekends, or holidays.
If you aren’t comfortable with this, being an order filler or stocker isn’t ideal for you.
