Office & Administrative Support
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
Also called: Materials Control Associate, Order Fulfillment Specialist, Receiver, Receiving Associate
US median pay
$45,260
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-7.6%
declining
Openings a year (US)
61,300
827,700 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- Examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Compute amounts, such as space available, shipping, storage, or demurrage charges, using computer or price list.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Time Management3.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9/5
- Coordination2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.9/5
- Persuasion2.8/5
- Service Orientation2.6/5
- Instructing2.5/5
Knowledge
- Administrative3.4/5
- Computers and Electronics3.1/5
- Production and Processing3.1/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
- English Language3.0/5
- Administration and Management3.0/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma75%
- Associate's degree12%
- Bachelor's degree11%
Who this job suits
Mostly Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.