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The differences between materials clerks and receiving clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a materials clerk has an average salary of $32,109, which is higher than the $31,482 average annual salary of a receiving clerk.
The top three skills for a materials clerk include data entry, purchase orders and patient care. The most important skills for a receiving clerk are customer service, purchase orders, and data entry.
| Materials Clerk | Receiving Clerk | |
| Yearly salary | $32,109 | $31,482 |
| Hourly rate | $15.44 | $15.14 |
| Growth rate | 1% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 222,503 | 237,705 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 38 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
A materials clerk is in charge of recording and monitoring the inventory of materials in different establishments, mostly in warehouses and retail facilities. They typically receive and inspect supplies to verify its quality and quantity, handle the documentation procedures, review requisitions and invoices, and update records as needed. Most of the time, they have the authority to accept and reject deliveries according to documents and materials. Moreover, aside from keeping accurate records, a materials clerk must maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Usually assigned at a warehouse or retail store, a receiving clerk's primary role is to accept product deliveries upon arrival and sign necessary documents, prioritizing the accuracy of all invoices. It is also the task of a receiving clerk to unload heavy packages, verify its contents, place it in the appropriate storage place, and keep records for inventory. They must process returns should it be necessary. There are also instances where a receiving clerk may have to engage with retailers and vendors, ensuring that all shipments arrive in time.
Materials clerks and receiving clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Clerk | Receiving Clerk | |
| Average salary | $32,109 | $31,482 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $40,000 | Between $25,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | Petaluma, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Amphenol | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a materials clerk and a receiving clerk in terms of educational background:
| Materials Clerk | Receiving Clerk | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between materials clerks' and receiving clerks' demographics:
| Materials Clerk | Receiving Clerk | |
| Average age | 38 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.0% Female, 47.0% | Male, 60.2% Female, 39.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 7.0% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.5% Asian, 6.7% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |