Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks earn a median of $45,260 per year ($21.76/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 7.6% through 2035, with about 61,300 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- Commonly called: Shipping Clerk
- SOC 43-5071
- Office and Administrative Support
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk in four numbers
- Median pay
- $45,260a year, or $21.76/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $35KTop 10% $62K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -7.6%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−7.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −7.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 61,300827,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025827.7K
- Projected 2035765K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 827.7K Projected 2035 765K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school74.9%
- Certificate0.5%
- Some college1.9%
- Associate's11.9%
- Bachelor's10.8%
Highest education held by shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks Segment Value High school 74.9% Certificate 0.5% Some college 1.9% Associate's 11.9% Bachelor's 10.8%
Also advertised as: Materials Control Associate, Order Fulfillment Specialist, Receiver, Receiving Associate, Receiving Clerk, Receiving Coordinator.
Pay
How much do shipping clerks make?
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks earn a median of $45,260 a year ($21.76 an hour, or about $3,770 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $34,650 and the top 10% more than $62,190 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is Washington, with a median of $51,590. See Shipping clerk salary in Washington and every other state. By city, pay is highest around Seattle ($61,880 average): salary in every city.
Every shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$45,260
Middle half earn $38,200 to $51,570
- 10th
- $34,650
- 25th
- $38,200
- 75th
- $51,570
- 90th
- $62,190
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $34,650 |
| 25th | $38,200 |
| Median | $45,260 |
| 75th | $51,570 |
| 90th | $62,190 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $45,260
- Median hourly wage
- $21.76/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $46,810
- People employed
- 816,870
Versus all US occupations
At $45,260, Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks earn 11% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $5,720 a year.
Versus office and administrative support occupations
Inside the Office and Administrative Support group, where the middle occupation pays $49,230, this is 8% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $62,190 or more while the bottom 10% earn $34,650, a gap of 1.8×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 12% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Washington posts the highest raw median ($51,590), but once local prices are taken into account Iowa leads at $54,226 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay shipping clerks the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Washington | $51,590 | $48,209 | 19,500 |
| 2District of Columbia | $49,660 | $45,186 | 680 |
| 3Hawaii | $49,660 | $45,166 | 1,390 |
| 4Massachusetts | $49,240 | $46,560 | 14,370 |
| 5Vermont | $49,080 | $50,103 | 780 |
| 6New Hampshire | $47,960 | $46,042 | 4,090 |
| 7Alaska | $47,900 | $46,796 | 890 |
| 8Minnesota | $47,890 | $48,560 | 13,210 |
| 9Iowa | $47,590 | $54,226 | 7,170 |
| 10Oregon | $47,540 | $45,994 | 11,210 |
Job outlook
Is shipping clerk a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -7.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | −7.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks to change -7.6% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 62,800 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 61,300 openings are projected each year, 7.4% of the 827,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of material recording clerks is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
As e-commerce continues to grow, companies are expanding their use of automated storage and retrieval tools to meet rising demand for products and for faster delivery. These types of technologies, including radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and collaborative robots, will improve the efficiency of many warehouse operations, reducing demand for various material recording clerks.
AI exposure: high
BLS places this occupation in its high relative AI exposure category, above the middle of the pack: a substantial share of the work overlaps with what AI can do.
Getting in
How to become a shipping clerk
Material recording clerks typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and are trained on the job.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)74.9%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree11.9%
- Bachelor's Degree10.8%
- Some College Courses1.9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate0.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 74.9% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 11.9% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 10.8% |
| Some College Courses | 1.9% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a shipping clerk do?
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.
Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.
Day-to-day tasks
- Examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy.
- Confer or correspond with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, or nonconformance to specifications.
- Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes.
- Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock.
- Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials.
- Pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare materials for shipping, using hand tools, power tools, or postage meter.
- 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.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most material recording clerks work full time. Some work nights and weekends or holidays.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking3.3
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Active Listening3.1
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Writing2.6
- Active Learning2.4
- Mathematics2.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 3.3 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.6 |
| Active Learning | 2.4 |
| Mathematics | 2.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Time Management3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Coordination2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
- Persuasion2.8
- Service Orientation2.6
- Instructing2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
| Persuasion | 2.8 |
| Service Orientation | 2.6 |
| Instructing | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Internet browser software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Access software
- Accounting software
- Compliance software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Document management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a shipping clerk?
Women make up 33.7% of shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks, against 47.1% of all employed people: more men than in the workforce as a whole.
20.9% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs.
The median worker is 40.6 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 33.7%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 40.6All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 20.9%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 604,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 33.7% | 47.1% |
| White | 70.9% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 16.7% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 7.4% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 24.9% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 20.9% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 13.7% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a shipping clerk?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 7 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Conventional7.0
- Realistic4.0
- Enterprising3.1
- Social1.4
- Investigative1.2
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk
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- Office and Administrative Support
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More office and administrative support careers
Median annual pay, with shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks highlighted
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant$76,590
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant$55,570
- Public Safety Telecommunicator$53,040
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk$50,670
- Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$50,610
- Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk$45,260
- Teller$43,030
- Receptionist and Information Clerk$38,010
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant | $76,590 |
| Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant | $55,570 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $53,040 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk | $50,670 |
| Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | $50,610 |
| Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,540 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk | $45,260 |
| Teller | $43,030 |
| Receptionist and Information Clerk | $38,010 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk appears on
Questions
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk: frequently asked questions
How much do shipping clerks make?
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks earn a median of $45,260 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 11% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $21.76/hr. The middle half earn between $38,200 and $51,570. The top 10% earn $62,190 or more.
How much do shipping clerks make an hour?
The median hourly wage for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks is $21.76 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $45,260 annual median works out to about $3,770 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a shipping clerk?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks earn less than $34,650 a year and the bottom quarter less than $38,200 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Which states pay shipping clerks the most?
The highest state medians for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks are Washington ($51,590), District of Columbia ($49,660), Hawaii ($49,660) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Iowa moves to the top at $54,226.
What kind of shipping clerk earns the most?
BLS does not split shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $62,190, against a median of $45,260 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are Washington ($51,590), District of Columbia ($49,660), Hawaii ($49,660).
Do you need a degree to become a shipping clerk?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 74.9% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
How long does it take to become a shipping clerk?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for shipping clerks is a high school diploma or equivalent. Once hired, BLS lists short-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing some preparation.
Is shipping clerk a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 7.6% over 2025–2035, a loss of 62,800 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 61,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a shipping clerk do?
Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. A core O*NET task: examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software, Internet browser software.
Do shipping clerks work 40 hours a week?
Yes, for most. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 29% of shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks usually work more than 40 hours a week, 70% work exactly 40 and 1% work fewer. 99% say their schedule is regular and 1% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a shipping clerk?
O*NET scores Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks highest on the Conventional, Realistic and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ESTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of shipping clerks are women?
Women make up 33.7% of shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks, against 47.1% of all employed people: more men than in the workforce as a whole. 20.9% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs. The median worker is 40.6 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.