Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks fall under the Office and Administrative Support category in the U.S. occupational classification. Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks earn a median salary of $43,190 per year, ranking in the top 80% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -7.7% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks earn?

The median annual wage for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks is $43,190. That puts shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks at #644 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks is -7.7%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 862K positions in 2024 to 795K in 2034, a net change of -67K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy.
2. 2.Pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare materials for shipping, using hand tools, power tools, or postage meter.
3. 3.Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes.
4. 4.Confer or correspond with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, or nonconformance to specifications.
5. 5.Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials.
6. 6.Compute amounts, such as space available, shipping, storage, or demurrage charges, using computer or price list.
7. 7.Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock.
8. 8.Deliver or route materials to departments using handtruck, conveyor, or sorting bins.

Top skills for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk?

Many shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
  $74,260 median
• First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
  $66,140 median
• Brokerage Clerks
  $62,940 median
• Postal Service Clerks
  $61,630 median
• Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
  $57,770 median
• Postal Service Mail Carriers
  $57,490 median

Common questions parents ask about shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks