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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 83 other jobs
Risk rank30 / 84
Automation timeline2-5 years
Median salary$45,260
Projected growth-7.7% (2024–34)
01 / Your plan

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What you'll learn
Customer ServiceWarehouse OperationsForklift
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Updated Sep 21, 2026

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02 / Job market

Official outlook: shrinking.

Within the 84 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 100657
Jul 13Sep 7

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.

Houston$39,676New York$45,760

Range shows p25–p75; the dot is the median. Sources carry a documented bias — see the full salary page.

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:

Foundations
Core skills
Tools

Full skill path with courses →

07 / FAQ

What people ask.

01Will AI replace shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks?
Automation is expected to handle standardized verification and label generation, yet the occupation remains dependent on humans for resolving discrepancies, damaged goods, and carrier coordination. The data show a high risk level and an automation timeline of 2-5 years. This occupation employed 816870 people in the latest count, with a projected change of -7.7% for the 2024–34 period.
02How soon could automation affect Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks?
Standardized verification could become automated within 2-5 years, according to the evidence. Damaged goods and carrier negotiations still call for human judgment during that period. Clerks who strengthen inventory software skills may remain valuable, while routine label work becomes more mechanical.
03What skills keep Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks relevant?
Inventory management software appears as the top skill to acquire, followed by critical thinking and effective communication. Speaking, active listening, and reading comprehension are the typical entry skills. The occupation's description also stresses attention to detail and the ability to use digital tools for tracking and reporting, which helps clerks handle non-routine situations.
04What preparation is needed for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks?
A high school diploma is the usual educational requirement. From there, workers typically learn on the job using tools such as warehouse management systems, SAP software, and Microsoft Excel. Familiarity with barcode labeling software and inventory management systems is also common in this occupation.
05What related roles can Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks move into?
Stockers and Order Fillers and Logisticians appear as adjacent roles in the data. The description notes that clerks who gain inventory management software and data analysis skills can adapt to evolving systems, focusing on exception handling and process improvement.
06Is Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks a good career to start in 2026?
For 2026, the occupation is classified as high risk, with a projected change of -7.7% over the 2024–34 period. The annual wage is 45260 and the last reported employment count is 816870. Since the automation window is 2-5 years, entry-level routine work may shrink, but demand for workers who manage inventory software and resolve exceptions could continue.