How much does a shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk make?
The median shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk in the United States earns $45,260 per year, about $21.76 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 43-5071.
Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk salary range
Pay for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $34,650 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $62,190. The average (mean) wage of $46,810 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,650 | $16.66 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $38,200 | $18.37 | |
| Median (50th) | $45,260 | $21.76 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $51,570 | $24.79 | |
| 90th percentile | $62,190 | $29.90 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks (SOC 43-5071), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks earn the most in Washington at $51,590 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $38,620. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $51,590 | 19,500 |
| District of Columbia | $49,660 | 680 |
| Hawaii | $49,660 | 1,390 |
| Massachusetts | $49,240 | 14,370 |
| Vermont | $49,080 | 780 |
| New Hampshire | $47,960 | 4,090 |
| Alaska | $47,900 | 890 |
| Minnesota | $47,890 | 13,210 |
| Iowa | $47,590 | 7,170 |
| Oregon | $47,540 | 11,210 |
| Wisconsin | $47,490 | 20,980 |
| Indiana | $47,320 | 27,600 |
| Maryland | $47,280 | 13,980 |
| Maine | $47,160 | 2,470 |
| Colorado | $47,130 | 15,610 |
| New York | $47,100 | 30,750 |
| Illinois | $46,760 | 33,030 |
| North Dakota | $46,730 | 1,520 |
| California | $46,520 | 88,760 |
| Connecticut | $45,810 | 6,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,780 | 30,940 |
| Rhode Island | $45,520 | 2,420 |
| New Jersey | $45,440 | 29,440 |
| Arizona | $45,410 | 20,280 |
| Ohio | $45,270 | 35,880 |
| Michigan | $45,140 | 24,980 |
| Tennessee | $44,920 | 16,680 |
| Virginia | $44,290 | 20,380 |
| Delaware | $44,120 | 2,630 |
| Kansas | $44,110 | 6,530 |
| Nebraska | $44,110 | 5,670 |
| South Dakota | $43,680 | 2,740 |
| Georgia | $43,630 | 28,150 |
| Montana | $43,590 | 1,560 |
| Missouri | $43,480 | 11,650 |
| South Carolina | $43,430 | 14,160 |
| Nevada | $43,210 | 12,390 |
| North Carolina | $43,040 | 20,150 |
| Wyoming | $43,000 | 730 |
| Kentucky | $42,830 | 16,130 |
| Texas | $42,190 | 87,280 |
| Idaho | $41,430 | 4,900 |
| Oklahoma | $41,060 | 6,530 |
| Florida | $40,700 | 44,040 |
| Arkansas | $40,500 | 7,650 |
| Louisiana | $40,180 | 7,650 |
| West Virginia | $39,940 | 2,660 |
| Utah | $39,050 | 15,750 |
| Alabama | $38,940 | 7,720 |
| New Mexico | $38,860 | 3,420 |
| Mississippi | $38,620 | 11,330 |
State median wages for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks (SOC 43-5071), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks
The BLS projects employment of shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 7.6%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 827,700 jobs in 2025 moving toward 765,000 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 61,300 openings a year for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk
The typical entry-level education for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk earns
Employer, industry, seniority, and metro area drive pay. Large organizations and high cost cities pay above small offices and entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $51,590) and the lowest (Mississippi, $38,620) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 816,870 people work as shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks in the United States. At $45,260 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk salary FAQ
How much does a shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk is $21.76. The middle half of shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks earn between $18.37 and $24.79 per hour.
What is the highest shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks earn more than $62,190 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk make a year?
The median annual salary for a shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk is $45,260. The average (mean) wage of $46,810 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk a well paid job?
At $45,260 a year, a shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 816,870 people work as shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks in the United States.
Which state pays shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks at $51,590 a year. District of Columbia ($49,660) and Hawaii ($49,660) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk a good career?
Employment of shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks is projected to shrink 7.6% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 61,300 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a shipping, receiving, and inventory clerk?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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