Shipping & Receiving Clerk salary
Typical pay is $21.76/hr. Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for U.S..
What the range looks like
- 10th percentile Entry level / starting out
- $16.66/hr
- 25th percentile Below typical
- $18.37/hr
- Median Half earn more, half earn less
- $21.76/hr
- 75th percentile Above typical
- $24.79/hr
- 90th percentile Experienced / specialised
- $29.90/hr
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025) — U.S..
See what's hiring now
3 open shipping & receiving clerks on LocalWork right now.
What a shipping & receiving clerk does
Shipping and receiving clerks control what comes in and goes out of a facility — verifying, recording and routing shipments. A step up from general warehouse work.
Day-to-day duties
- Verify incoming deliveries against paperwork
- Prepare outbound shipments and documentation
- Maintain inventory records in the WMS
- Coordinate with carriers and drivers
- Investigate discrepancies and shortages
Skills employers look for
- Accuracy with numbers and paperwork
- Warehouse management systems
- Working with carriers and drivers
- Spotting a discrepancy before it ships
Requirements
- High school diploma typically
- Computer and scanner literacy
- Some lifting
- Forklift certification often useful
How to get started
- 1 Start in general warehouse work
- 2 Learn the inventory system thoroughly
- 3 Move into shipping and receiving
- 4 Progress to inventory control or logistics coordinator
Job outlook: Every distribution point needs this function, so demand is broad and less cyclical than picking or packing roles.
Common questions about shipping & receiving clerks
How much does a shipping & receiving clerk make?
The median pay for a shipping & receiving clerk nationally is $21.76 an hour — about $45,260 a year full time. That figure comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for U.S. (2025). Half of the roles pay more than this and half pay less, so treat it as the middle of the market rather than a target.
What is the pay range for shipping & receiving clerks?
Most shipping & receiving clerks nationally earn between $16.66 an hour and $29.90 an hour — that is the 10th to the 90th percentile. The spread usually reflects experience, shift, certifications and employer size more than anything else.
How much do entry-level shipping & receiving clerks make?
Pay at the bottom of the range — roughly what someone starting out can expect — is around $16.66 an hour. A quarter of shipping & receiving clerks earn below $18.37 an hour, so the first year or two typically sits in that band.
What do the highest-paid shipping & receiving clerks earn?
The top 10% of shipping & receiving clerks nationally earn about $29.90 an hour or more, roughly 1.4× the median. Getting there usually means experience plus something specific — certifications, supervisory duties, specialised skills or premium shifts.
What does a shipping & receiving clerk do?
Shipping and receiving clerks control what comes in and goes out of a facility — verifying, recording and routing shipments. A step up from general warehouse work. Day to day, that means verify incoming deliveries against paperwork, prepare outbound shipments and documentation, maintain inventory records in the WMS and coordinate with carriers and drivers.
How do you become a shipping & receiving clerk?
The usual route is: (1) start in general warehouse work, (2) learn the inventory system thoroughly, (3) move into shipping and receiving, (4) progress to inventory control or logistics coordinator. Employers typically look for high school diploma typically, computer and scanner literacy and some lifting.
Do you need a certification to work as a shipping & receiving clerk?
Usually not. Most employers hire shipping & receiving clerks without a specific licence, though forklift certification often useful will widen your options and often your pay.
Are shipping & receiving clerks in demand?
There are currently 3 open shipping & receiving clerks listed on LocalWork. Every distribution point needs this function, so demand is broad and less cyclical than picking or packing roles.
Where are shipping & receiving clerks most in demand?
See the metro and rural areas with the highest concentration of this work, ranked from Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
Similar roles
Pay figures are estimates for guidance only, not an offer or guarantee. Advertised ranges come from job postings on LocalWork; government figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual pay depends on experience, certifications, shift and employer.