What Does a Shipping Clerk Do?
Shipping clerks prepare outgoing shipments by packaging, labeling, and documenting goods for transport. They verify order accuracy, coordinate with carriers, and maintain shipment records. This position is essential to warehouse and distribution operations, ensuring customers receive the correct products on time.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Materials Control Associate, Order Fulfillment Specialist, Receiver, Receiving Associate, Receiving Clerk, Receiving Coordinator, Shipper, Shipping Coordinator.
Shipping Clerk Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a shipping clerk include:
- Prepare outgoing shipments by picking, packing, and labeling items according to order specifications.
- Verify that orders match packing lists and shipping documentation before dispatch.
- Weigh and measure packages to determine shipping costs and appropriate carriers.
- Generate shipping labels, bills of lading, and customs documentation using shipping software.
- Schedule carrier pickups and coordinate loading activities at the shipping dock.
- Maintain organized records of all outgoing shipments and tracking numbers.
- Inspect outgoing packages for damage and ensure proper protective packaging.
- Communicate with sales and customer service teams regarding shipping schedules and delays.
- Operate packing equipment including tape machines, stretch wrappers, and scales.
- Assist with physical inventory counts and cycle count procedures.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a shipping clerk, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Shipping software and label generation
- Order verification and quality checking
- Packaging techniques and materials handling
- Record keeping and data entry
- Basic math and measurement
- Organizational skills
- Physical stamina for lifting and standing
- Attention to detail
Education and Training
A high school diploma or GED is the standard requirement for shipping clerk positions. On-the-job training typically covers company-specific shipping procedures, software systems, and safety protocols. Familiarity with shipping platforms such as UPS WorldShip, FedEx Ship Manager, or ShipStation is beneficial. Some employers prefer candidates with warehouse experience or coursework in logistics. Forklift certification can be a plus for roles that involve loading activities.
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. Shipping clerk positions remain widely available in warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities. As e-commerce continues to drive higher shipment volumes, companies need reliable personnel to manage outbound logistics. Workers who develop expertise in shipping software and demonstrate accuracy and efficiency can advance to shipping supervisor, logistics coordinator, or warehouse manager roles. While automation is increasing in some facilities, human oversight of shipping processes remains important.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks.
Shipping 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 |
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 Shipping 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:
Applying for a Shipping Clerk Job
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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.