How To Become A Shipper Receiver: What It Is and Career Path

What is a shipper receiver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A shipper receiver is an individual responsible for managing the movement of goods in and out of a facility. They oversee the inbound and outbound shipments, verifying the accuracy of orders and ensuring that all items are properly packaged and labeled. The shipper receiver handles all paperwork associated with shipping and receiving, including bills of lading, packing slips, and customs documentation. They work closely with suppliers, carriers, and customers to coordinate the timely delivery of goods.

ScoreShipper ReceiverUS Average

Salary

2.6

Avg. Salary $33,536

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.3

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

10.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.87%

Asian 7.42%

Black or African American 9.41%

Hispanic or Latino 19.53%

Unknown 4.28%

White 58.48%

Gender

female 15.90%

male 84.10%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a shipper receiver?

Pros

Opportunity for learning and growth
Hands-on work that is physically active
Potential for overtime and increased pay
Opportunities to develop skills in organization and time management
Job security in a growing industry

Cons

Physically demanding work that can be tiring
Potentially dangerous working conditions, such as dealing with hazardous materials or operating heavy machinery
Long hours, including weekends and holidays
Inconsistent schedules or shifts that can disrupt personal life
Stressful work environment due to time-sensitive tasks and deadlines

Key steps to become a shipper receiver

Explore shipper receiver education requirements

Most common shipper receiver degrees

High School Diploma

52.8 %

Associate

15.9 %

Bachelor's

13.9 %

Start to develop specific shipper receiver skills

Skills	Percentages
Shipping Receiving	24.53%
Pallets	9.39%
Customer Orders	5.45%
Purchase Orders	4.73%
Basic Math	3.94%

Complete relevant shipper receiver training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New shipper receivers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a shipper receiver based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real shipper receiver resumes.

Research shipper receiver duties and responsibilities

Certify in 49CFR and IATA training.
Have knowledge of limit quantity and bulk shipments in accordance to HAZMAT regulations
Pick and package individual items to be ship according to USPS international standard procedures.
Direct inbound or outbound logistics operations, such as transportation or warehouse activities, safety performance, or logistics quality management.

Prepare your shipper receiver resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your shipper receiver resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a shipper receiver resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable shipper receiver resume templates

Build a professional shipper receiver resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your shipper receiver resume.