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What does a receiving clerk do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
What does a receiving clerk do

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.

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Receiving clerk responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real receiving clerk resumes:

  • Assist in the daily managing of fresh product using the FIFO accounting principal.
  • Master POS (point-of-sale) in order to process cash, check and credit transaction.
  • Scan and charge ticket quantities, pull parts, issue to shipping department and process daily UPS/ FedEx parts order shipments.
  • Communicate with patients, doctors, visitors, and other professionals via telephone, fax, written correspondence or in person.
  • Verify patients information via computer.
  • Prepare shipping containers using stencils and documentation sleeves.
  • Operate POS register and interact effectively with clients.
  • Verify accuracy of inventory quantities quarterly using RF scanner.
  • Utilize RF scanner device to identify products receive and damage merchandise.
  • Perform investigation into inventory discrepancies and makes adjustments as necessary in WMS.
  • Compare shipping BOL with computer generate purchase order and receiving document for accuracy and reconcile differences.
  • Maintain clean and sanitary operating environment; responsible for maintaining cleanliness of receiving area including loading dock and trash areas.
  • Inspect and responsible for all electrical pallet jack operational utility.
  • Monitor receives and unloads of incoming material and compares information on packing slip with assign shipping number (ASN).
  • Maintain accurate inventory of shipping list to provide to department which includes weight, carrier information, and verification of ASN.

Receiving clerk skills and personality traits

We calculated that 21% of Receiving Clerks are proficient in Customer Service, Purchase Orders, and Data Entry. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Customer-service skills, and Detail oriented.

We break down the percentage of Receiving Clerks that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 21%

    Inventory control familiarity, shipping receiving, customer service focused energetic work attitude, adaptive team player.

  • Purchase Orders, 10%

    Received incoming materials and compared information on packing slips with purchase order to verify accuracy of shipment.

  • Data Entry, 10%

    Increased warehouse efficiency in tracking material transaction history by optimizing usable space and accurate data entry and filing.

  • Pallets, 8%

    Inspected and responsible for all electrical pallet jack operational utility.

  • Cleanliness, 6%

    Assist the Warehouse Supervisor with consolidation, organization and cleanliness of the stores/warehouse area.

  • Inventory Control, 4%

    Maintained/Updated WMS/database/for inventory control purposes.

Most receiving clerks use their skills in "customer service," "purchase orders," and "data entry" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential receiving clerk responsibilities here:

Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a receiving clerk to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what receiving clerks do because "material recording clerks are frequently in contact with suppliers, vendors, or managers and need to convey their company’s needs effectively." Additionally, a receiving clerk resume shows how receiving clerks use communication skills: "performed bin audits when necessary skills used data entry, inventory control, communication"

Customer-service skills. Another essential skill to perform receiving clerk duties is customer-service skills. Receiving clerks responsibilities require that "material recording clerks may interact with customers in order to respond to problems or complaints." Receiving clerks also use customer-service skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "put away into racks using rf scanner so pickers can pick for our customers. "

Detail oriented. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of receiving clerks is detail oriented. This skill is critical to many everyday receiving clerk duties, as "material and product inspecting clerks must pay attention to detail when checking items for defects, some of which are small and difficult to spot." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "use of rf scanners and good eye for detail in dealing with high value items. "

Math skills. For certain receiving clerk responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of a receiving clerk rely on this skill, as "material recording clerks may need to calculate shipping costs or take measurements." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what receiving clerks do: "invoice management, basic math, data entry. "

See the full list of receiving clerk skills

The three companies that hire the most receiving clerks are:

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Compare different receiving clerks

Receiving clerk vs. Warehouse technician

A warehouse technician is responsible for monitoring the incoming and outgoing goods and services in the warehouse or distribution centers. Warehouse technicians verify shipment details, assist with packaging items, move merchandise to storage areas, inspect the quality of items for release, and escalate defective products for immediate replacement. They also operate various warehouse equipment and machinery, conduct maintenance repairs, and loading and unloading items from the delivery trucks. A warehouse technician must have excellent time-management and organizational skills, especially on processing orders and creating reports for inventory receipts.

If we compare the average receiving clerk annual salary with that of a warehouse technician, we find that warehouse technicians typically earn a $3,503 higher salary than receiving clerks make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between receiving clerks and warehouse technicians are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like customer service, purchase orders, and data entry.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, receiving clerk responsibilities require skills like "stock merchandise," "rf scanner," "ex," and "sales floor." Meanwhile a typical warehouse technician has skills in areas such as "warehouse environment," "shipping receiving," "logistics," and "patients." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Warehouse technicians earn the highest salaries when working in the manufacturing industry, with an average yearly salary of $36,898. On the other hand, receiving clerks are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $33,299.On average, warehouse technicians reach similar levels of education than receiving clerks. Warehouse technicians are 0.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Receiving clerk vs. Inventory control clerk

An inventory control clerk is responsible for managing the stock inventory, recording incoming and outgoing deliveries, and inspecting proper labeling before moving the products to the storage areas. Inventory control clerks resolve inventory discrepancies, checking and reviewing product details and reports from the warehouse software database. They also monitor shipment details, confirm orders, and process payments. An inventory control clerk must have excellent knowledge of data processing since this job requires them to perform various administrative and clerical tasks as needed to ensure the smooth operations within the department.

Inventory control clerk positions earn higher pay than receiving clerk roles. They earn a $4,152 higher salary than receiving clerks per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Receiving clerks and inventory control clerks both require similar skills like "customer service," "purchase orders," and "data entry" to carry out their responsibilities.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, receiving clerk responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "pallets," "cleanliness," "safety regulations," and "stock merchandise." Meanwhile, an inventory control clerk has duties that require skills in areas such as "math," "basic math," "management system," and "forklift training." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, inventory control clerks earn a higher salary than receiving clerks. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, inventory control clerks earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $36,946. Whereas receiving clerks have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $33,299.In general, inventory control clerks achieve similar levels of education than receiving clerks. They're 0.3% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Receiving clerk vs. Shipping and receiving associate

Usually, shipping and receiving associates work in retail or a warehouse to manage the incoming and outgoing materials and products. Shipping and receiving associates keep records of all the materials received and shipped. They develop the mailing labels as well as the shipping documents. It is their job to make sure that orders are filled appropriately. The skills necessary for this job include basic math, communication, organization, and attention to detail.

An average shipping and receiving associate eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of receiving clerks. The difference in salaries amounts to shipping and receiving associates earning a $926 higher average salary than receiving clerks.By looking over several receiving clerks and shipping and receiving associates resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "customer service," "purchase orders," and "pallets." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, receiving clerks are more likely to have skills like "data entry," "cleanliness," "stock merchandise," and "rf scanner." But a shipping and receiving associate is more likely to have skills like "shipping receiving," "hand tools," "logistics," and "rf."

Shipping and receiving associates earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $35,683. Comparatively, receiving clerks have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $33,299.shipping and receiving associates typically earn similar educational levels compared to receiving clerks. Specifically, they're 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Receiving clerk vs. Shipping and receiving coordinator

A Shipping and Receiving Coordinator oversees the shipment and deliveries of products in a warehouse or organization. One must have an efficient organization, and communication skills as most of the duties include shipping and receiving merchandise and maintain accurate and proactive control of inventory. Additionally, a Shipping and Receiving Coordinator can have different tasks such as loading and unloading products, stacking up shelves and keeping it up to the standards of company policies, inspect the merchandise, and communicate with customers.

Shipping and receiving coordinators average a higher salary than the annual salary of receiving clerks. The difference is about $900 per year.While both receiving clerks and shipping and receiving coordinators complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like purchase orders, pallets, and inventory control, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between receiving clerks and shipping and receiving coordinators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a receiving clerk might have more use for skills like "customer service," "data entry," "cleanliness," and "safety regulations." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of shipping and receiving coordinators require skills like "shipping receiving," "logistics," "fed-ex," and "assembly line. "

Shipping and receiving coordinators enjoy the best pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $34,535. For comparison, receiving clerks earn the highest salary in the technology industry.shipping and receiving coordinators reach similar levels of education compared to receiving clerks, in general. The difference is that they're 0.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of receiving clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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