What is a receiving clerk and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A receiving clerk is an individual responsible for receiving and inspecting shipments of goods. They check for accuracy, damages, and quality control before processing the deliveries. A receiving clerk works in a variety of settings, including warehouses, distribution centers, and retail stores. They are responsible for maintaining accurate records of inventory and communicating with other departments. A receiving clerk must have strong organizational skills and attention to detail to ensure the proper handling of shipments.

ScoreReceiving ClerkUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $31,482

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.3

Growth Rate -3%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
10.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 6.72%

Black or African American 11.13%

Hispanic or Latino 21.45%

Unknown 4.08%

White 55.90%

Gender

female 39.78%

male 60.22%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress Level
6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.3

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
6.0

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Receiving Clerk?

Pros

  • Opportunity for advancement within the company

  • Exposure to various products and industries

  • Ability to develop skills in organization and time management

  • Potential for overtime pay

  • Learn about supply chain management

Cons

  • Repetitive tasks can become monotonous

  • Physically demanding job

  • Exposure to various weather conditions when working outside

  • Must adhere to strict deadlines and schedules

  • High-stress environment during peak shipping periods

Receiving Clerk career paths

Key steps to become a receiving clerk

  1. Explore receiving clerk education requirements

    Most common receiving clerk degrees

    High School Diploma

    42.0 %

    Associate

    21.9 %

    Bachelor's

    19.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific receiving clerk skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Customer Service21.05%
    Purchase Orders10.46%
    Data Entry9.94%
    Pallets8.41%
    Cleanliness5.64%
  3. Complete relevant receiving clerk training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New receiving clerks learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a receiving clerk based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real receiving clerk resumes.
  4. Research receiving clerk duties and responsibilities

    • Assist in the daily managing of fresh product using the FIFO accounting principal.
    • Master POS (point-of-sale) in order to process cash, check and credit transaction.
    • Scan and charge ticket quantities, pull parts, issue to shipping department and process daily UPS/ FedEx parts order shipments.
    • Communicate with patients, doctors, visitors, and other professionals via telephone, fax, written correspondence or in person.
  5. Prepare your receiving clerk resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your receiving clerk resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a receiving clerk resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Receiving Clerk Resume templates

    Build a professional Receiving Clerk resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Receiving Clerk resume.
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    Receiving Clerk Resume
  6. Apply for receiving clerk jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a receiving clerk job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Receiving Clerk Job

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Average receiving clerk salary

The average Receiving Clerk salary in the United States is $31,482 per year or $15 per hour. Receiving clerk salaries range between $25,000 and $38,000 per year.

Average Receiving Clerk Salary
$31,482 Yearly
$15.14 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do receiving clerks rate their job?

4/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Receiving Clerk reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2022
Pros

It saves time and makes work easier and enhance greater output


profile
4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

Fast pace, dealing with customer service, work is always changing

Cons

Management stuck in the same position no room for growth


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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

I am forced to think intuitively and I have come to find out that I enjoy thinking this way.

Cons

Stress plus the amount of pressure that can be put on you at a moment's notice


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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