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Profession JRI–30 / Admin

Will AI replace shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks?

Shipping and receiving clerks verify and record incoming and outgoing shipments, ensuring accuracy against manifests and invoices. Core tasks include packing, labeling, and routing materials, as well as preparing shipping documents and maintaining records.

The risk spectrum — where Shipping and Receiving Clerk sits
Shipping and Receiving Clerk vs the 82 other jobs
Risk rank30 / 83
Automation timeline2-5 years
Median salary$45,260
Projected growth-7.7% (2024–34)
01 / Your plan

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Updated Aug 10, 2026

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02 / Job market

Official outlook: shrinking.

Within the 83 professions
Salary$45,260
$31k$171k
Growth-7.7% (2024–34)
-25.9%33.5%

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a -7.7% change in employment for this occupation between 2024 and 2034, from a current base of 816,870 people employed earning a median of $45,260 a year.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–34 & OEWS May 2025.

AI adoption in postings →

JRI demand index / weekly, base 100115
Aug 3Aug 10

Collected weekly through our own intake pipeline across live job postings; normalised index, not absolute counts.

03 / Real salaries

Shipping and Receiving Clerk salaries by city

Median pay from real records (H-1B filings and tech job postings), across the cities with most observations.

See real salaries →

04 / How to enter

How to become a shipping and receiving clerk.

Typical preparation

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Education

These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

Experience

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed.

Job training

Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Getting in is one thing — the day-to-day runs on a specific set of tools and skills:

Skills employers ask for

From real job postings for this role — click to explore who asks for them.

Source: O*NET 30.0 database (CC BY 4.0).

07 / FAQ

What people ask.

01Will AI replace shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks?
Currently rated 68 on the risk index, Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks face an automation window of 2-5 years. Standardized verification and label generation are increasingly automated, while discrepancy resolution, damaged-goods handling, and carrier coordination remain human work. The 816870 people employed in this occupation face a growth outlook of -7.7% for 2024–34.
02How soon or how fast could that happen for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks?
Automation may take hold on a 2-5 year horizon, focusing first on repetitive documentation checks and label printing. Non-routine carrier issues and damaged goods still require judgment. The -7.7% change projected for 2024–34 and the high-risk rating of 68 both point to ongoing pressure.
03What skills keep Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks relevant?
Inventory management software is flagged as high-demand for these clerks. Critical thinking and effective communication are medium-demand skills, helping with discrepancy resolution and carrier coordination. Comfort with SAP software, Microsoft Excel, and barcode labeling software rounds out the digital toolset.
04What preparation is needed to become a Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk?
A high school diploma is the standard educational requirement. Speaking, active listening, and reading comprehension are each rated medium among the skills needed to enter, which supports the core work of comparing shipments against manifests and invoices. Training in inventory management systems and WMS software usually comes on the job.
05What related roles could Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks pivot to?
Related roles include Stockers and Order Fillers, at 46 on the risk index, and Logisticians, at 55. A clerk could target either path, with the stocker role carrying a lower index value. The transition likely requires building the broader process skills these positions emphasize.
06Is this a good career to start in 2026 for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks?
Salary figure 45260 and employment count 816870 set the baseline. The outlook for 2024–34 is -7.7%, and automation could arrive within 2-5 years, so the high-risk rating of 68 matters for a 2026 start. Developing inventory management software skills is the clearest adaptation lever.
07Which tools do Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks use?
Warehouse management systems (WMS), SAP software, inventory management systems, Microsoft Excel, barcode labeling software, and FileMaker Pro appear in the evidence as typical tools. These support tasks such as packing, labeling, and preparing shipping documents. Comfort with WMS and Excel in particular aligns with the verification work that remains in the role.