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

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A shipping and receiving clerk manages a company’s incoming and outgoing shipments of goods. They receive, inspect, and record incoming shipments, and prepare and package outgoing shipments. This includes verifying orders and tracking inventory. Shipping and receiving clerks also operate forklifts and pallet jacks in a warehouse or loading dock. They communicate with carriers to schedule pickups, track shipments, and resolve issues. A shipping and receiving clerk ensures the efficient and accurate flow of goods.

ScoreShipping And Receiving ClerkUS Average
Salary
2.6

Avg. Salary $33,438

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.3

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
10.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 6.76%

Black or African American 10.95%

Hispanic or Latino 21.57%

Unknown 4.09%

White 55.92%

Gender

female 28.35%

male 71.65%

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 shipping and receiving clerk?

Pros

  • Good pay and benefits

  • Physical activity keeps you active

  • The work is challenging but rewarding

  • Opportunities for overtime and bonuses

  • You can gain experience in logistics and supply chain management

Cons

  • The work can be repetitive

  • Working in a warehouse can be noisy and dirty

  • There may be strict deadlines to meet

  • Working night shifts or weekends may disrupt your personal life

  • There is a risk of injury if proper safety procedures are not followed

Shipping and receiving clerk career paths

Key steps to become a shipping and receiving clerk

  1. Explore shipping and receiving clerk education requirements

    Most common shipping and receiving clerk degrees

    High School Diploma

    49.0 %

    Associate

    18.9 %

    Bachelor's

    14.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific shipping and receiving clerk skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Shipping Receiving24.37%
    Customer Service10.58%
    Safety Regulations5.93%
    Purchase Orders4.89%
    Electric Pallet Jack4.24%
  3. Complete relevant shipping and receiving clerk training and internships

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

    • Provide the necessary freight receipt information (international, DHL, USPS, FEDEX, etc . )
    • Sit downs, stand ups, cherry pickers, electric and propane, large industrial type lifts as well.
    • Detail orient & strong math skills.
    • Receive all incoming shipments within GMP guidelines.
  5. Prepare your shipping and receiving clerk resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your shipping and receiving clerk 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 clerk 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 clerk resume templates

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

    Now it's time to start searching for a shipping and receiving clerk 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 clerk job

Zippi

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Average shipping and receiving clerk salary

The average shipping and receiving clerk salary in the United States is $33,438 per year or $16 per hour. Shipping and receiving clerk salaries range between $28,000 and $39,000 per year.

Average shipping and receiving clerk salary
$33,438 Yearly
$16.08 hourly

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How do shipping and receiving clerks rate their job?

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Shipping and receiving clerk reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2022
Pros

Love working in logistics, implementing lean 6 sigma.

Cons

Really enjoy everything


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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

Cons

To be surcharge when there's a damage on goods through accident


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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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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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