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Shipping clerk vs shipping associate

The differences between shipping clerks and shipping associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a shipping clerk and a shipping associate. Additionally, a shipping associate has an average salary of $33,137, which is higher than the $31,858 average annual salary of a shipping clerk.

The top three skills for a shipping clerk include customer service, shipping receiving and data entry. The most important skills for a shipping associate are pallets, customer service, and phone calls.

Shipping clerk vs shipping associate overview

Shipping ClerkShipping Associate
Yearly salary$31,858$33,137
Hourly rate$15.32$15.93
Growth rate-3%-3%
Number of jobs205,150171,689
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 44%High School Diploma, 40%
Average age4343
Years of experience1212

What does a shipping clerk do?

A Shipping Clerk is responsible for managing shipment procedures and handling the tasks of receiving, preparing, and approving them for delivery. Among the duties of a Shipping Clerk also involves processing orders and ensuring all details are accurate, producing the necessary labels and receipts, weighing and examining packages, and organizing schedules of deliveries and pick-ups. Furthermore, a Shipping Clerk must also observe procedures, coordinate with every personnel involved, communicate with clients, and maintain an accurate inventory record at all times.

What does a shipping associate do?

Shipping associates prepare, package, and ship items ordered through digital channels. They must ensure goods are packaged to minimize risk of damages. They maintain ingoing and outgoing shipments and prepare shipping labels.

Shipping clerk vs shipping associate salary

Shipping clerks and shipping associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Shipping ClerkShipping Associate
Average salary$31,858$33,137
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $39,000Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying CityTualatin, ORSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companyBDNestlé
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between shipping clerk and shipping associate education

There are a few differences between a shipping clerk and a shipping associate in terms of educational background:

Shipping ClerkShipping Associate
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 44%High School Diploma, 40%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Shipping clerk vs shipping associate demographics

Here are the differences between shipping clerks' and shipping associates' demographics:

Shipping ClerkShipping Associate
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 59.0% Female, 41.0%Male, 75.3% Female, 24.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.5% Asian, 6.7% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 7.4% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between shipping clerk and shipping associate duties and responsibilities

Shipping clerk example 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.
  • Show more

Shipping associate example responsibilities.

  • Pick up mail and packages from USPS facilities.
  • Pick up & deliver mail to & from USPS processing center.
  • Create bill of ladings for LTL shipments for both international and domestic.
  • Develop a working knowledge of WMS systems to research inventory or print bills of lading.
  • Prepare paperwork & make pick-up arrangements for shipments to be transport by way of LTL trucks.
  • Gain basic understating of logistics and large-scale management.
  • Show more

Shipping clerk vs shipping associate skills

Common shipping clerk skills
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Shipping Receiving, 8%
  • Data Entry, 7%
  • Ups, 6%
  • FedEx, 6%
  • Logistics, 6%
Common shipping associate skills
  • Pallets, 12%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Phone Calls, 7%
  • Math, 7%
  • Safety Procedures, 6%
  • WMS, 6%

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