What Does a Receiving Clerk Do?
Receiving clerks manage incoming shipments by inspecting, documenting, and organizing goods as they arrive at a facility. They verify that deliveries match purchase orders and report any discrepancies or damage. This role is key to maintaining accurate inventory and supporting smooth warehouse operations.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Materials Control Associate, Order Fulfillment Specialist, Receiver, Receiving Associate, Receiving Coordinator, Shipper, Shipping Clerk, Shipping Coordinator.
Receiving Clerk Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a receiving clerk include:
- Receive and unload incoming shipments from trucks and delivery vehicles.
- Inspect delivered goods for damage, defects, or discrepancies against purchase orders.
- Record received items in inventory management systems with accurate quantities and descriptions.
- Organize and store received materials in designated warehouse locations.
- Notify purchasing or management of any shortages, overages, or damaged goods.
- Process return shipments and coordinate with vendors for replacements or credits.
- Maintain a clean and organized receiving dock area.
- Operate material handling equipment such as pallet jacks and hand trucks.
- File and organize receiving documents including packing slips and delivery receipts.
- Coordinate with internal departments to prioritize and distribute received materials.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a receiving clerk, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Inventory management systems
- Inspection and quality verification
- Documentation and record keeping
- Material handling equipment operation
- Organizational skills
- Basic computer proficiency
- Physical stamina
- Communication and teamwork
Education and Training
A high school diploma or GED is typically required for receiving clerk positions. Employers generally provide on-the-job training covering receiving procedures, inventory software, and safety guidelines. Experience with warehouse management systems (WMS) or enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is helpful. Some positions may require forklift certification or the ability to obtain it. Courses in supply chain management or inventory control can give candidates a competitive edge.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $38,200 - $51,570 per year, with a median of $45,260.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks.
BLS projects employment of shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks to decline about 8 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 61,300 openings a year. Receiving clerks are consistently needed in warehouses, distribution centers, retail operations, and manufacturing plants. The growth of e-commerce and complex supply chains has increased the volume of inbound shipments that require processing. Experienced receiving clerks can move into inventory control specialist, warehouse supervisor, or purchasing assistant roles. Workers who develop strong organizational skills and proficiency with inventory technology are well-positioned for career growth.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks.
Receiving Clerk Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $34,650 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $38,200 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $45,260 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $51,570 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $62,190 |
Highest-Paying States for Receiving Clerks
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Washington ($51,590), District of Columbia ($49,660), Hawaii ($49,660), Massachusetts ($49,240), Vermont ($49,080). Pay is lowest in Alabama ($38,940), New Mexico ($38,860), Mississippi ($38,620).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,940 |
| Alaska | $47,900 |
| Arizona | $45,410 |
| Arkansas | $40,500 |
| California | $46,520 |
| Colorado | $47,130 |
| Connecticut | $45,810 |
| Delaware | $44,120 |
| District of Columbia | $49,660 |
| Florida | $40,700 |
| Georgia | $43,630 |
| Hawaii | $49,660 |
| Idaho | $41,430 |
| Illinois | $46,760 |
| Indiana | $47,320 |
| Iowa | $47,590 |
| Kansas | $44,110 |
| Kentucky | $42,830 |
| Louisiana | $40,180 |
| Maine | $47,160 |
| Maryland | $47,280 |
| Massachusetts | $49,240 |
| Michigan | $45,140 |
| Minnesota | $47,890 |
| Mississippi | $38,620 |
| Missouri | $43,480 |
| Montana | $43,590 |
| Nebraska | $44,110 |
| Nevada | $43,210 |
| New Hampshire | $47,960 |
| New Jersey | $45,440 |
| New Mexico | $38,860 |
| New York | $47,100 |
| North Carolina | $43,040 |
| North Dakota | $46,730 |
| Ohio | $45,270 |
| Oklahoma | $41,060 |
| Oregon | $47,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,780 |
| Rhode Island | $45,520 |
| South Carolina | $43,430 |
| South Dakota | $43,680 |
| Tennessee | $44,920 |
| Texas | $42,190 |
| Utah | $39,050 |
| Vermont | $49,080 |
| Virginia | $44,290 |
| Washington | $51,590 |
| West Virginia | $39,940 |
| Wisconsin | $47,490 |
| Wyoming | $43,000 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 92% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 87% use email every day
- 74% work against deadlines every day
- 70% are on the phone every day
- 49% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 37% wear safety gear such as gloves, safety glasses or a hard hat every day
- 36% spend more than half the workday on their feet
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 75% |
| Associate's degree | 12% |
| Bachelor's degree | 11% |
Tools and Software Receiving Clerks Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy organized work with data, records and clear procedures as well as hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Time Management.
Knowledge areas used most: Administrative, Computers and Electronics, Production and Processing, Mathematics, English Language.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 2 of 5, which means some preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 43-5071.00 (Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.