Order Picker and Packer Jobs in Arlington, TX
Order picking and packing is one of the fastest ways into warehouse work in Arlington, with recent local postings paying $18 to $21 an hour. Most openings sit in and around the Great Southwest Industrial District. Here are the current jobs, followed by who is hiring and what it pays.
Current order picker Openings in Arlington, TX
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Order Picker and Packer Work in Arlington
Most picking and packing jobs in Arlington cluster on the east side of the city, in the Great Southwest Industrial District that runs along I-30 and SH 360 into Grand Prairie. The work here leans toward manufacturing and industrial supply rather than giant e-commerce sortation centers: pickers pull MRO parts for a Grainger distribution center in the 76018 ZIP code, pack service parts for the GM Arlington Assembly supplier ring, and package finished product at plastics plants across the Grand Prairie line.
That mix means a lot of weekday day shifts, with some employers running Monday through Friday with no weekends, plus overnight and second-shift work at the plants. Staffing firms with Arlington offices, including one on East Lamar Boulevard, fill a large share of entry-level picking and packing jobs, often as temp-to-hire. Nearly everyone drives, since Arlington has no fixed-route bus, so a reliable car or an Arlington On-Demand ride matters for early starts.
Top Arlington Employers Hiring Order Pickers and Packers
These employers have posted picking and packing roles for Arlington and the Great Southwest Industrial District on their own careers sites:
- Grainger - its Imperial Supplies distribution center in Arlington hires material handlers for order picking, hand packing, kit assembly and put-away on a Monday to Friday schedule.
- International Automotive Components - the GM interior supplier hires first-shift service part handlers and parts packers who pull, inspect and package parts, from $18 an hour.
- Poly-America - the plastics manufacturer in Grand Prairie hires packagers and material handlers, including overnight shifts.
- Kelly Services - the staffing firm places first-shift pick and pack associates at Arlington manufacturing clients at $19 to $21 an hour.
- Snelling - the staffing agency's East Lamar Boulevard office recruits picking and packing, palletizer and inventory control workers for local manufacturing and logistics clients.
Order Picker and Packer Salaries in Arlington
- Entry level: about $16 to $18 per hour for ground-level picking and packing.
- Experienced: roughly $18 to $21 per hour, the range most recent Arlington postings advertise.
- Lead / high-reach: about $21 to $24 per hour for leads and operators who pick from an order-picker or high-reach truck.
These are estimates built from local postings and federal data; nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median for hand packers and order fillers near $36,000 to $37,000 a year. Pay moves with shift (second and third shifts often add a premium), with equipment certification, and with employer type, since manufacturers usually pay more than temp-to-hire staffing roles.
How to Become an Order Picker and Packer in Arlington
Most jobs need only a high school diploma or GED, the ability to pass a background check and drug screen, and the ability to lift about 50 pounds. There is no Texas state license for picking, packing or forklift work. Roles that use an order-picker or other powered truck require OSHA powered industrial truck training, which the employer provides and certifies on its own equipment. For a longer-term path, Tarrant County College offers Level 1 certificates in Warehouse Management and Transportation Management through its Hadley Center of Excellence at the Northwest Campus, and Arlington ISD students can take logistics courses at the Dan Dipert Career and Technical Center on Browning Drive.
What the Job Involves
Pickers follow pick lists or RF-scanner prompts, pull the right items and quantities from shelves, bins or racking, and stage them for packing. Packers check orders for accuracy, box and label items, build kits, wrap pallets and prepare shipments for the dock. Many jobs also include put-away, cycle counts and keeping aisles clean, and most are measured on pick rate and accuracy.
Skills Employers Look For
- Accuracy and attention to detail
- Comfort with RF scanners and labels
- Ability to lift 50 pounds and stay on your feet all shift
- Steady pace against pick-rate goals
- Order-picker or forklift experience for high-rack roles
- Reliable attendance and a way to get to early shifts
Career Path and Advancement
Picking and packing is a common first job in Arlington warehouses and plants. Workers who keep their accuracy high move into forklift and cherry-picker roles, which pay $18.50 to $20.50 an hour at some Arlington auto suppliers, then into inventory control, shipping and receiving, and lead or supervisor jobs. Staffing placements often convert to permanent hires, and a TCC warehouse management certificate helps when moving into planning and coordination work.
Related Careers in Arlington
If order picking and packing appeals to you, take a look at these related Arlington roles:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need experience to be an order picker or packer in Arlington?
Usually not. Most Arlington picking and packing jobs ask for a high school diploma or GED, a background check and drug screen, and the ability to lift about 50 pounds. Training is done on the job.
How much do order pickers and packers make in Arlington?
Recent Arlington postings mostly fall between $18 and $21 an hour. New ground-level pickers may start around $16 to $18, while leads and high-reach operators can earn about $21 to $24.
Do you need a license to work as an order picker in Texas?
No. Texas has no state license for warehouse picking or forklift work. If the job uses an order-picker truck or forklift, OSHA requires your employer to train you, evaluate you on that equipment and certify you, and to re-evaluate you at least every three years.
What shifts do Arlington picking and packing jobs run?
Many industrial distributors in Arlington run weekday day shifts, and some run Monday through Friday with no weekends. Manufacturing plants in the Great Southwest Industrial District also hire for second and overnight shifts, which often pay a little more.
Where are most picking and packing jobs in Arlington?
Most are on the east side, in the Great Southwest Industrial District along I-30 and SH 360, including plants just across the line in Grand Prairie. Expect to drive, since Arlington has no fixed-route bus service.
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