CareerFacts

All careers › Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks

Receiving clerk: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$45,260median pay per year, or $21.76 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $34,650lowest 10% earn less
  2. $38,20025th percentile
  3. $45,260median
  4. $51,57075th percentile
  5. $62,190top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

A receiving clerk, which BLS counts as a shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk, had median pay of $45,260 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to fall 7.6% from 2025 to 2035[2], though openings still come up every year[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-7.6%[2]
Openings per year
61,300[3]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do receiving clerks make?

The median wage for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks was $45,260 a year, or $21.76 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $46,810 a year, or $22.50 an hour[7].

That median is below the $50,980 median for all occupations[5].

Pay varies widely. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $34,650 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $62,190[4]. BLS explains that a percentile wage is a boundary and that it does not publish a starting salary[8].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[4][9] $34,650 $16.66
25th percentile[4][9] $38,200 $18.37
Median[1] $45,260 $21.76
75th percentile[4][9] $51,570 $24.79
90th percentile[4][9] $62,190 $29.90

These figures cover wage and salary workers, full or part time. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or benefits[10]. About 816,870 people held these jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest state median at $51,590, followed by the District of Columbia and Hawaii at $49,660 each[12]. Mississippi had the lowest listed median at $38,620[12].

The most jobs were in California (88,760), Texas (87,280) and Florida (44,040)[13].

Among metro areas, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had the highest median at $56,370, followed by Walla Walla, WA at $55,960[14]. The metro areas with the most jobs were New York-Newark-Jersey City (38,970 jobs, median $46,550) and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (33,250 jobs, median $45,980)[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[12]$51,59019,500
District of Columbia$49,660680
Hawaii$49,6601,390
Massachusetts$49,24014,370
Vermont$49,080780
New Hampshire$47,9604,090
Alaska$47,900890
Minnesota$47,89013,210
Iowa$47,5907,170
Oregon$47,54011,210
Wisconsin$47,49020,980
Indiana$47,32027,600
Maryland$47,28013,980
Maine$47,1602,470
Colorado$47,13015,610
New York$47,10030,750
Illinois$46,76033,030
North Dakota$46,7301,520
California$46,52088,760
Connecticut$45,8106,480
Pennsylvania$45,78030,940
Rhode Island$45,5202,420
New Jersey$45,44029,440
Arizona$45,41020,280
Ohio$45,27035,880
Michigan$45,14024,980
Tennessee$44,92016,680
Virginia$44,29020,380
Delaware$44,1202,630
Kansas$44,1106,530
Nebraska$44,1105,670
South Dakota$43,6802,740
Georgia$43,63028,150
Montana$43,5901,560
Missouri$43,48011,650
South Carolina$43,43014,160
Nevada$43,21012,390
North Carolina$43,04020,150
Wyoming$43,000730
Kentucky$42,83016,130
Texas$42,19087,280
Idaho$41,4304,900
Oklahoma$41,0606,530
Florida$40,70044,040
Arkansas$40,5007,650
Louisiana$40,1807,650
West Virginia$39,9402,660
Utah$39,05015,750
Alabama$38,9407,720
New Mexico$38,8603,420
Mississippi$38,62011,330

How to become a receiving clerk

The path in is short.

New workers may start by counting stock and marking inventory, then move to harder tasks such as recordkeeping[18]. Safety rules are part of training[19].

In an O*NET survey of 28 workers, 75% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 12% said an associate degree and 11% said a bachelor's degree[20]. With more training or education, some clerks move up to jobs such as purchasing agent in their company[21].

What receiving clerks do

O*NET describes the work as keeping records of incoming and outgoing shipments[22]. Typical tasks include:

For the wider group of material recording clerks, BLS lists communication skills and math skills as useful[24][25].

Where they work

In the wider material recording clerk group, workers usually work in an office inside a warehouse or plant, and they also spend time on the floor handling packages or conveyor systems[26][27]. Manufacturing was the largest employer at 28%[28].

Some clerks lift heavy items and bend often, which can cause injury[29]. Most work full time, and some work nights, weekends or holidays[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 7.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 827,700 to 765,000 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[31].

Still, about 61,300 openings a year are projected[3]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[3]. Each year, 3.4% of workers leave the labor force and 5.1% move to another occupation[32].

BLS names technology as a reason for fewer workers, since it helps workers process packages faster. Growth in online sales offsets part of that drop[33].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job with a low barrier to entry. It asks for a high school diploma, no related experience and short training[6]. Pay was below the all-occupations median, though the top 10% earned more than $62,190[5][4]. Jobs are projected to shrink, but openings from turnover continue[2][3]. Someone who values quick entry may find it suits them, and someone who wants a growing field may want to compare related jobs.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[34].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a receiving clerk make an hour?
The median was $21.76 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $16.66 and the 90th was $29.90[9].
What education do you need to be a receiving clerk?
A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry education, with no related experience needed[6].
How long does it take to become a receiving clerk?
Training is short-term and on the job[6]. BLS says it lasts up to 1 month for most material recording clerks, a wider group[16][17].
Is receiving clerk work in demand?
Employment is projected to fall 7.6% from 2025 to 2035[2], but about 61,300 openings a year are projected[3].
What is the highest paying state for receiving clerks?
Washington, with a median of $51,590[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks in the US was $45,260 per year and $21.76 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks is projected to decline 7.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 827,700 to 765,000 jobs (a change of -62,800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: about 61,300 openings for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks: 10th percentile $34,650, 25th percentile $38,200, 75th percentile $51,570, 90th percentile $62,190. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks was $46,810 per year and $22.50 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks: 10th percentile $16.66, 25th percentile $18.37, 75th percentile $24.79, 90th percentile $29.90. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 816,870 people were employed as Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks jobs: California 88,760; Texas 87,280; Florida 44,040; Ohio 35,880; Illinois 33,030. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $56,370; Walla Walla, WA $55,960; Kahului-Wailuku, HI $55,950; Napa, CA $55,520; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $54,910; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $54,640; Fairbanks-College, AK $53,080; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $52,590. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 38,970 (median $46,550); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 33,250 (median $45,980); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 29,670 (median $44,310); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 26,030 (median $47,740); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 22,670 (median $41,590); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 16,280 (median $44,850). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Material Recording Clerks" covers Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. O*NET 43-5071.00 survey of workers (28 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 75%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 12%, Bachelor's Degree 11% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET description of Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks. O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of material recording clerks in 2025: Manufacturing 28%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks: 3.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks: Productivity change, demand change - share decreases as continued adoption of technologies increases the ability of workers to process shipped and received packages. The share decreases are partially offset by the increased demand for shipping and receiving services due to the increased online sales. BLS Employment Projections
  34. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.