Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between distribution clerks and shipping and receiving clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a distribution clerk and a shipping and receiving clerk. Additionally, a shipping and receiving clerk has an average salary of $33,438, which is higher than the $32,142 average annual salary of a distribution clerk.
The top three skills for a distribution clerk include data entry, shipping receiving and patients. The most important skills for a shipping and receiving clerk are shipping receiving, customer service, and safety regulations.
| Distribution Clerk | Shipping And Receiving Clerk | |
| Yearly salary | $32,142 | $33,438 |
| Hourly rate | $15.45 | $16.08 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 86,473 | 224,166 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A distribution clerk is in charge of processing and managing products for shipments and deliveries, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. They work at warehouse facilities responsible for monitoring shipments, participating in loading and unloading packages, and inspecting them to ensure their quality and quantity. They also process and pack items according to protocols, review documentation, keep records of transactions, and maintain work areas' cleanliness. Moreover, a distribution clerk may also perform clerical tasks such as managing calls and correspondence, arranging schedules, and preparing documents.
Shipping and receiving clerks manage all incoming and outgoing packages in a warehouse or logistics facility. They ensure that all outgoing packages are packed accurately based on the order form and secured properly based on company standards. They then ensure that the parcels are shipped and delivered. Shipping and receiving clerks also manage the receipt of all incoming packages. They check whether these incoming packages are addressed to the company. They also check if all received packages are complete and in good condition. Shipping and receiving clerks ensure that all incoming and outgoing packages are recorded and that the inventory is updated at all times.
Distribution clerks and shipping and receiving clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Distribution Clerk | Shipping And Receiving Clerk | |
| Average salary | $32,142 | $33,438 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $39,000 | Between $28,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Eureka, CA | Kent, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | SF-Marin Food Bank | Steel Dynamics |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a distribution clerk and a shipping and receiving clerk in terms of educational background:
| Distribution Clerk | Shipping And Receiving Clerk | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between distribution clerks' and shipping and receiving clerks' demographics:
| Distribution Clerk | Shipping And Receiving Clerk | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.5% Female, 49.5% | Male, 71.7% Female, 28.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 7.1% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.6% Asian, 6.8% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |