How to hire a shipping clerk

How to hire a shipping clerk, step by step

Here's a step-by-step shipping clerk hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a shipping clerk job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new shipping clerk
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a shipping clerk do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your shipping clerk job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a shipping clerk for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A shipping clerk's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, shipping clerks from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of shipping clerks and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Shipping Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Shipping Clerk	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$12-18
   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... Show more	$13-20
   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... Show more	$13-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Shipping Receiving
   • Data Entry
   • Ups
   • FedEx
   • Logistics
   • Customer Orders
   • Outbound Deliveries
   • Purchase Orders
   • Load Trucks
   • Electric Pallet Jack
   • RF
   • Inventory Control
   • Computer System

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Create and run reports as necessary to track ordering trends.
   • Used mathematics to insure time are not waste folding new boxes.

   More shipping clerk duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your shipping clerk job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A shipping clerk salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, shipping clerks' average salary in south dakota is 36% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level shipping clerks earn 36% less than senior-level shipping clerks.
   • Certifications. A shipping clerk with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a shipping clerk's salary.

   Average shipping clerk salary

   $15.32hourly

   $31,858 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level shipping clerk salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

   Average shipping clerk salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Oregon	$37,542	$18
   2	California	$36,662	$18
   3	Minnesota	$34,641	$17
   4	Illinois	$32,448	$16
   5	Ohio	$31,792	$15
   6	Iowa	$31,540	$15
   7	Utah	$31,473	$15
   8	Michigan	$31,152	$15
   9	Arizona	$30,990	$15
   10	Pennsylvania	$30,936	$15
   11	Indiana	$30,650	$15
   12	Kansas	$30,020	$14
   13	Texas	$29,511	$14
   14	Missouri	$29,511	$14
   15	Tennessee	$29,185	$14
   16	Georgia	$28,535	$14
   17	North Carolina	$28,268	$14
   18	Mississippi	$27,715	$13
   19	South Carolina	$27,008	$13
   20	Florida	$26,907	$13

   Average shipping clerk salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	BD	$43,000	$20.67	3
   2	Astronics	$42,172	$20.27	2
   3	Steel Dynamics	$41,471	$19.94	8
   4	Cubic	$41,245	$19.83
   5	Schneider Electric Industrial Services	$40,129	$19.29	5
   6	Johnson Controls	$39,828	$19.15	5
   7	Qep	$39,656	$19.07
   8	IDEX	$39,497	$18.99	3
   9	Graco	$39,447	$18.96	2
   10	Broadridge	$39,423	$18.95	6
   11	FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA	$38,754	$18.63	11
   12	Church & Dwight Co.	$38,750	$18.63
   13	Valmont Industries	$38,658	$18.59	17
   14	East Penn Manufacturing	$38,632	$18.57	7
   15	PepsiCo	$38,561	$18.54	32
   16	Abbott	$38,492	$18.51	2
   17	ResMed	$38,454	$18.49
   18	Micro Metals Inc.	$38,441	$18.48
   19	Cargill	$38,347	$18.44	17
   20	Eaton	$38,151	$18.34	21

4. Writing a shipping clerk job description

   A good shipping clerk job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a shipping clerk job description:

   Shipping clerk job description example

   Perdue Foods is part of Perdue Farms, a family-owned company heading into it's second century of growth and innovation. With a goal of becoming the most trusted name in premium proteins, we create products for consumers and for retail and foodservice customers around the globe, while changing the way animals are raised for food.
   **Summary**
   
   Provides basic administrative and/or clerical support generally to specific department. Works under close supervision.
   
   **Principal and Essential Duties & Responsibilities**
   
   Answers phones including fielding questions, re-directing calls and taking messages and/or orders.Maintains general company record systems to uphold accurate files.Utilizes office equipment such as printers, fax machines, etc.Operates a computer at a basic level. Handles emails, data entry, calendar, scheduling apps and printing. Monitors stocks of office supplies, reports and re-stocks when there are shortages.Sorts and distributes incoming mail and prepares outgoing mail, including envelopes, packages, etc.
   
   **Minimum Education**
   
   High School or equivalent
   
   **Experience Requirements**
   
   0 to 2 years. Knowledge of standard software applications, such as Microsoft Office. Excellent communication and organizational skills.
   
   **Experience Preferred**
   
   **Environmental Factors and Physical Requirements**
   
   1. Position is mostly sedentary but may require occasional moving to other offices or buildings. 2. May need to move light equipment or supplies from one place to another. 3. May need to access files, supplies and equipment. 4. Work activity is in an office, open-partitioned, cubicle environment. 5. When in a plant environment: Exposure primarily consists of wet and moist floors which include metal and plastic grating surfaces. May be exposed to temperatures of 28 degrees to 100 degrees Fahrenheit with both ambient and 100% humidity. May handle product 25 degrees to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. May be exposed to noise ranges of 50 db to 110 db. May be exposed to all chemicals used in poultry, food, processing facility. Must wear and use protective and safety equipment required for the job as directed by the Company.
   
   _Perdue Farms, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status._

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right shipping clerk for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your shipping clerk job on Zippia to find and recruit shipping clerk candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit shipping clerks, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new shipping clerk

   Once you have selected a candidate for the shipping clerk position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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