How long does it take to become a Shipping Clerk?

It takes 4 years of professional experience to become a shipping clerk. That is the time it takes to learn specific shipping clerk skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

How To Become A Shipping Clerk: What It Is and Career Path

What is a shipping clerk and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

A shipping clerk manages the shipment of goods from a company to customers or other businesses. They receive orders, prepare documents, and ensure the correct packing and labeling of products. Shipping clerks work with carriers to arrange for transportation and track shipments. They also manage inventory and maintain shipment records. A shipping clerk must have strong organizational and communication skills. They typically work in warehouses or distribution centers and may use software to manage shipments.

ScoreShipping ClerkUS Average

Salary

2.5

Avg. Salary $31,858

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 6.73%

Black or African American 10.89%

Hispanic or Latino 21.50%

Unknown 4.09%

White 56.07%

Gender

female 41.02%

male 58.98%

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 clerk?

Pros

Opportunity to work in a variety of industries
Can work as part of a team or independently
Chance to work with different types of technology and equipment
Potential for overtime pay or bonuses
May have opportunities to travel or work in different locations

Cons

May require long periods of standing or sitting in one place
Can be physically demanding, including lifting heavy packages
May have to work weekends, holidays, or odd hours
Working with hazardous materials can be dangerous if not handled properly
Jobs may be subject to automation or outsourcing in the future

Key steps to become a shipping clerk

Explore shipping clerk education requirements

Most common shipping clerk degrees

High School Diploma

43.9 %

Associate

21.4 %

Bachelor's

18.1 %

Start to develop specific shipping clerk skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	12.04%
Shipping Receiving	8.33%
Data Entry	7.44%
Ups	5.75%
FedEx	5.75%

Complete relevant shipping clerk training and internships

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

Research shipping clerk duties and responsibilities

Maintain a close-knit relationship with freight brokers to negotiate and attain the best possible pricing for LTL and truckload shipments.
Print documents by either using fed ex or ups or grind or will call.
Process shipments via FedEx, DHL & TNT, using different account numbers by comparing rates and weights.
Schedule big pick ups, make BOL and print labels for next day or other dates if ready to print.

Prepare your shipping clerk resume

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

Build a professional shipping 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 clerk resume.