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

What is a shipping clerk, packing and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a shipping clerk, packing. For example, did you know that they make an average of $13.49 an hour? That's $28,049 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -3% and produce -38,100 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreShipping Clerk, PackingUS Average

Salary

2.2

Avg. Salary $28,049

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.3

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

10.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 6.51%

Black or African American 11.46%

Hispanic or Latino 20.16%

Unknown 4.12%

White 57.03%

Gender

female 52.85%

male 47.15%

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

Key steps to become a shipping clerk, packing

Explore shipping clerk, packing education requirements

Most common shipping clerk, packing degrees

High School Diploma

50.9 %

Associate

15.6 %

Diploma

15.0 %

Start to develop specific shipping clerk, packing skills

Skills	Percentages
Shipping Receiving	31.66%
Computer System	18.20%
Hand Tools	14.28%
USPS	5.32%
Fed-Ex	5.04%

Complete relevant shipping clerk, packing training and internships

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

Research shipping clerk, packing duties and responsibilities

Manage paperwork for international sales, such as international invoice, shipper letters, and packing list.
Affix shipping labels on pack skids or stencils identifying shipping information on crates.
Maintain clear and open communication with customers regarding shipping logistics to ensure product deliver according to customer's expectations.
Move motorcycles and snowmobiles with forklift.

Apply for shipping clerk, packing jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a shipping clerk, packing job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

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

How do shipping clerks, packing rate their job?

-/5

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Shipping clerk, packing reviews

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