Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
Verify and maintain records on incoming and outgoing shipments involving inventory. Duties include verifying and recording incoming merchandise or material and arranging for the transportation of products. May prepare items for shipment.
Also called: Materials Control Associate · Order Fulfillment Specialist · Receiver · Receiving Associate · Receiving Clerk · Receiving Coordinator
Median pay (national)
$43,190
$32,900–$60,300 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
857,630
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-7.7%
~69,300 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $60,300 versus $32,900 at the bottom 10% — 1.8x. The median of $43,190 leaves roughly 40% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -7.7% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 69,300 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, Washington pays the most for this role (median $49,290, +14% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $21,940 — a 125% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Apple Safari, Inventory management systems, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Excel as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock.
- Deliver or route materials to departments using handtruck, conveyor, or sorting bins.
- Contact carrier representatives to make arrangements or to issue instructions for shipping and delivery of materials.
- Determine shipping methods, routes, or rates for materials to be shipped.
- Examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy.
- Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials.
- Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes.
- Confer or correspond with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, or nonconformance to specifications.
- Compute amounts, such as space available, shipping, storage, or demurrage charges, using computer or price list.
- Pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare materials for shipping, using hand tools, power tools, or postage meter.
Tools & technology
- Apple Safari
- Inventory management systems
- Microsoft Edge
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Mozilla Firefox
- SAP software
- Warehouse management system WMS
- Web browser software
- Accuship Star System
- ADi SmartBOL
- AES MailSTAR
- Aestiva Purchase Order
- Barcode labeling software
- Bill of lading software
Knowledge areas
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training