Business & Finance
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
Verify and maintain records on incoming and outgoing shipments involving inventory. Duties include verifying and recording incoming merchandise or material and arranging for the transportation of products. May prepare items for shipment.
Median salary (BLS)
$45,260
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$35k – $62k
Job outlook
No separate BLS projection for this specific role
AI exposure
Plan a path to Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
Education
Typical entry: No degree required
Plan my path to this →How to qualify
EstimateCost to qualify
$500–$3,150
Time to qualify
1 yr
Renewal
—
- 1
High school diploma or GED
CourseExpected by most employers; if you need the GED, test fees run $0–$150 depending on the state.
$0–$150 · 3 months · varies by state source
- 2
On-the-job training
ExperienceEmployer-provided and typically paid — days to a few months for most no-degree roles.
Cost varies · 3 months source
- 3
Industry certification (optional for many roles)
CertificationRole-dependent — e.g. CPA, Series 7/65, PMP, SHRM. Not always required, but often expected for advancement.
$500–$3,000 · 6 months source
Estimated typical U.S. route for "Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.
Typical progression
Junior Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
Entry / Junior
$34,650
~2 yrs to advance
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
Established
$45,260
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
Senior
$53,725
Key skills
A typical day
- •Examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy.
- •Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock.
- •Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials.
- •Pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare materials for shipping, using hand tools, power tools, or postage meter.
- •Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Business & Finance
Explore all- University of Pennsylvania6% admit · $112,000 grad pay
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology4% admit · $124,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- University of California, Berkeley11% admit · $97,000 grad pay
- New York University12% admit · $84,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.