Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks

Lowest scored
High Risk
Low High

Explore safer careers (5)

Lower estimated automation risk

Supply Chain Managers
21% automation risk | Low Risk
Pays better Higher growth
51.4 pts lower View career
Why it fits

Warehouse records, distribution timing, inventory controls, vendors, and customer service support advancement.

First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
45% automation risk | Moderate Risk
Pays better Higher growth
27.5 pts lower View career
Why it fits

Experienced clerks can apply dock workflow, inventory controls, safety, staffing, and shipment priorities.

Logisticians
31% automation risk | Low Risk
Pays better Higher growth
41.7 pts lower View career
Why it fits

Acquisition, storage, distribution, carrier coordination, and supply chain documentation provide a strong base.

Cargo and Freight Agents
53% automation risk | Moderate Risk
Pays better Higher growth
19.8 pts lower View career
Why it fits

Bills of lading, carrier coordination, shipping documentation, routing, and freight status transfer strongly.

Logistics Analysts
36% automation risk | Low Risk
Pays better Higher growth
36.3 pts lower View career
Why it fits

Shipment tracing, inventory data, delivery problems, warehouse records, and process improvement transfer.

Compare this job with others
or search for another job
Share your results with friends and family.

Occupation snapshot

What does this snowflake show?
The Snowflake is a visual summary of the five badges: Automation Risk (calculated), Risk (polled), Growth, Wages and Volume. It gives you an instant snapshot of an occupations profile. The colour of the Snowflake relates to its size. The better the occupation scores in relation to others, the larger and greener the Snowflake becomes.
JOB SCORE
2.0/10
What's this?
Job Score (higher is better):

We rate jobs using four factors. These are:

- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions

These are some key things to think about when job hunting.

Risk & user votes

Calculated automation risk

73% (High Risk)

High Risk (61-80%): This occupation shows a significant risk of end-to-end replacement by automation. Many core parts of the role may be structured, repeatable, software-driven, or physically predictable enough for AI, machines, or robotic systems to take over. If you work in this area, it may be worth exploring safer related careers or moving towards more human-centred responsibilities.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Human strengths important in this job

These are human abilities and work contexts that are important in this occupation. They may help explain why parts of the role are harder to replace end-to-end, but they are not the only inputs into the automation score.

Coordinating others’ work

Quite important
Why this matters
Bringing people together, assigning tasks, and keeping a group aligned so work gets done.
Jobs that also use this strength

Decision-making and problem solving

Quite important
Why this matters
Analyze information, weigh tradeoffs, and choose the best solution—especially when situations are ambiguous, high-stakes, or have real-world consequences.
Jobs that also use this strength

What users think

Based on 61 votes

70% chance of full automation within the next two decades

Our visitors have voted that it's probable this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 73% chance of automation.

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?

View sentiment trend

Pay & outlook

Wages

Very low paid relative to other professions

In 2024, the median annual wage for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks was $43,190 ($21 per hour).

The median annual wage for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks was 12.7% lower than the national median annual wage, which stood at $49,500.

View wage trend

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Growth

Very slow growth relative to other professions.

The number of 'Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks' job openings is expected to decline 7.7% by 2034

View employment trend

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2023 and 2033
Updated projections are due 09-2025.

Volume

Significantly greater range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2024 there were 857,630 people employed as 'Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks' within the United States.

This represents around 0.6% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 179 people are employed as 'Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks'.

People also viewed

Computer Programmers Lawyers Graphic Designers Accountants and Auditors Actors

What people are saying (2)

Johnny (No chance)
11 Feb 2026 14:47
Biorobots will always be cheaper than robots
Bill (Highly likely)
18 Apr 2021 03:54
I worked this job. No question, 100% certain, AI robots will soon replace human workers at this job.
Leave a reply about this occupation
0/8000

Job description

Verify and maintain records on incoming and outgoing shipments involving inventory. Duties include verifying and recording incoming merchandise or material and arranging for the transportation of products. May prepare items for shipment.

O*NET-SOC code: 43-5071.00