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What is a shipping and receiving associate and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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In warehouses and retail stores, the shipping and receiving associate is responsible for managing the incoming and outgoing goods. They are in charge of ensuring that all orders are accounted for and that materials are shipped or received on time. Furthermore, a big part of their job is to make sure that all goods are complete to avoid theft or pilferage.

Additional duties of a shipping and receiving associate typically include maintaining logistics paperwork, supervising the delivery and receiving of goods, unloading and loading cargo, and coordinating with delivery personnel as needed. The basic requirement for this job is a high school diploma or GED.

Experience, on the other hand, is not always needed as most employers provide basic training on the job. Nevertheless, having experience in a similar role is a great advantage. Furthermore, one must be physically fit to be a shipping and receiving associate since this job may involve lifting heavy objects and standing for long periods.

As for the salary, shipping and receiving associate makes an average of $28 per hour or roughly $28,000 a year.

ScoreShipping And Receiving AssociateUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $32,408

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.3

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
10.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.74%

Asian 7.16%

Black or African American 10.99%

Hispanic or Latino 20.89%

Unknown 4.17%

White 56.06%

Gender

female 17.86%

male 82.14%

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

Shipping and receiving associate career paths

Key steps to become a shipping and receiving associate

  1. Explore shipping and receiving associate education requirements

    Most common shipping and receiving associate degrees

    High School Diploma

    43.0 %

    Bachelor's

    23.8 %

    Associate

    19.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific shipping and receiving associate skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Shipping Receiving22.98%
    Pallets10.93%
    Customer Service9.50%
    Hand Tools4.34%
    Logistics3.83%
  3. Complete relevant shipping and receiving associate training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New shipping and receiving associates 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 shipping and receiving associate based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real shipping and receiving associate resumes.
  4. Research shipping and receiving associate duties and responsibilities

    • Transport goods from racks, shelves, and vehicles using carts, dollies, hand trucks or other moving equipment.
    • Keep strict batch records according to FDA, USDA and DEA mandates for QA purposes.
    • Exceed daily pickups for endoscopes from FedEx utilizing company van.
    • Coordinate inbound/outbound cargo with commercial carriers such as FedEx and DHL shipments as necessary.
  5. Prepare your shipping and receiving associate resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your shipping and receiving associate 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 shipping and receiving associate resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable shipping and receiving associate resume templates

    Build a professional shipping and receiving associate 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 shipping and receiving associate resume.
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    Shipping And Receiving Associate Resume
    Shipping And Receiving Associate Resume
    Shipping And Receiving Associate Resume
    Shipping And Receiving Associate Resume
  6. Apply for shipping and receiving associate jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a shipping and receiving associate job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first shipping and receiving associate job

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Average shipping and receiving associate salary

The average shipping and receiving associate salary in the United States is $32,408 per year or $16 per hour. Shipping and receiving associate salaries range between $26,000 and $39,000 per year.

Average shipping and receiving associate salary
$32,408 Yearly
$15.58 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do shipping and receiving associates rate their job?

-/5

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Shipping and receiving associate reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2022
Pros

It saves time and makes work easier and enhance greater output


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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

Fast pace, dealing with customer service, work is always changing

Cons

Management stuck in the same position no room for growth


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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

I am forced to think intuitively and I have come to find out that I enjoy thinking this way.

Cons

Stress plus the amount of pressure that can be put on you at a moment's notice


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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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