Material Recording, Scheduling, Dispatching, and Distributing Workers

How to become a Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk

Official title: Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks

Also called: Materials Control Associate, Order Fulfillment Specialist, Receiver, Receiving Associate, Receiving Clerk, Receiving Coordinator, Shipper, Shipping Clerk, Shipping Coordinator, Traffic Assistant

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.

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Material recording clerks typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and are trained on the job.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $45,260 a year The middle half earn $38,200 to $51,570.
About 827,700 people work in this job now, and about 765,000 are projected by 2035. (-7.6%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk?

Material recording clerks typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and are trained on the job.

How much does a Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $45,260 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $38,200 to $51,570.

Is a Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to fall 8% by 2035, from about 827,700 to about 765,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk?

Usually not. Only 12% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.