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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks Salary

Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks earn a median $45,260 a year nationally. Office and Administrative Support Occupations

U.S. median
$45,260
$21.76 per hour
Range
$34,650 – $62,190
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
816,870
across the U.S.
▲4.8%
Pay trend: The median for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks in the U.S. rose from $43,190 (May 2024) to $45,260 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 2.4%.

What shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks do

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.

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
-7.6% (declining)
Openings per year
61,300

Employment of shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks is projected to shrink 7.6% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 61,300 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$38,546
per year · effective tax rate 14.8%
$3,212Monthly
$1,606Twice a month
$1,483Every 2 weeks
$18.53Hourly
  • Federal income tax$3,251
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,806
  • Medicare (1.45%)$656
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$38,546

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$34,650$16.66$30,021
25th percentile$38,200$18.37$32,874
Median (50th)$45,260$21.76$38,546
75th percentile$51,570$24.79$43,616
90th percentile (top earners)$62,190$29.90$52,150

Best cities for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Seattle, WA$56,370$47,473$42,71812,520
2Memphis, TN$45,800$38,980$42,2887,370
3Knoxville, TN$45,320$38,595$41,6932,350
4Indianapolis, IN$48,650$39,865$41,65810,280
5Louisville, KY$46,690$38,179$41,0206,180
6Cleveland, OH$45,650$38,387$40,8706,940
7Columbus, OH$46,290$38,883$40,7296,300
8Milwaukee, WI$47,900$39,341$40,5845,510
9Kansas City, MO$45,460$37,508$40,5304,450
10Nashville, TN$45,780$38,964$40,4454,860
11Omaha, NE$44,970$37,147$40,4162,730
12San Jose, CA$54,640$44,045$39,8884,210
13Cincinnati, OH$45,110$37,968$39,8117,650
14San Antonio, TX$43,750$37,333$39,4167,100
15St. Louis, MO$45,340$37,417$39,3505,680
16Greenville, SC$44,540$36,453$39,0872,980
17Akron, OH$43,090$36,400$38,9852,720
18Reno, NV$46,050$39,181$38,7883,410
19Allentown, PA$47,080$38,563$38,5762,510
20Jacksonville, FL$44,940$38,289$38,4884,110
21Grand Rapids, MI$45,110$36,759$38,4734,710
22Pittsburgh, PA$44,130$36,284$38,3265,150
23Austin, TX$44,060$37,582$38,3236,230
24Charlotte, NC$44,960$37,020$38,0296,260
25Detroit, MI$46,310$37,673$37,56110,300

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Washington $51,590+4.7%$43,633 $38,930 – $93,21019,500
District of Columbia $49,660+3.5%$40,268 $41,910 – $71,530680
Hawaii $49,660+9.3%$39,822 $38,150 – $81,4701,390
Massachusetts $49,240+3.9%$39,502 $38,820 – $68,50014,370
Vermont $49,080+4.2%$40,405 $39,030 – $64,410780
New Hampshire $47,960+3.3%$40,716 $37,170 – $63,9404,090
Alaska $47,900−1.3%$40,668 $36,530 – $72,720890
Minnesota $47,890+2.3%$38,916 $36,530 – $62,77013,210
Iowa $47,590+1.6%$39,262 $35,990 – $62,4207,170
Oregon $47,540+3.8%$37,048 $36,780 – $65,12011,210
Wisconsin $47,490+3.4%$39,030 $36,290 – $62,07020,980
Indiana $47,320+3.2%$38,835 $36,490 – $61,05027,600
Maryland $47,280+3.4%$38,287 $36,150 – $63,09013,980
Maine $47,160+2.8%$38,071 $37,430 – $63,0302,470
Colorado $47,130+3.2%$38,684 $36,460 – $66,49015,610
New York $47,100+2.7%$38,078 $36,450 – $65,95030,750
Illinois $46,760+3.0%$37,582 $36,750 – $63,40033,030
North Dakota $46,730+3.4%$39,728 $35,710 – $65,3701,520
California $46,520+5.4%$38,104 $37,390 – $64,65088,760
Connecticut $45,810+2.3%$37,852 $37,360 – $63,4306,480
Pennsylvania $45,780+1.8%$37,559 $34,640 – $61,42030,940
Rhode Island $45,520+6.0%$37,665 $35,710 – $61,4802,420
New Jersey $45,440+2.2%$37,728 $34,540 – $65,26029,440
Arizona $45,410+6.2%$37,740 $36,120 – $62,06020,280
Ohio $45,270+5.8%$38,092 $35,510 – $60,74035,880
Michigan $45,140+2.9%$36,782 $35,200 – $61,17024,980
Tennessee $44,920+11.2%$38,273 $33,380 – $61,05016,680
Virginia $44,290+5.3%$36,034 $33,020 – $64,05020,380
Delaware $44,120+9.1%$35,859 $34,530 – $60,5102,630
Kansas $44,110+4.7%$35,961 $33,550 – $58,6806,530
Nebraska $44,110+6.5%$36,495 $34,910 – $57,9605,670
South Dakota $43,680+3.7%$37,277 $31,520 – $55,6802,740
Georgia $43,630+7.3%$35,595 $32,130 – $60,13028,150
Montana $43,590+5.9%$35,913 $33,280 – $59,3001,560
Missouri $43,480+6.3%$36,010 $33,290 – $60,78011,650
South Carolina $43,430+7.2%$35,627 $32,500 – $59,70014,160
Nevada $43,210+6.6%$36,899 $36,110 – $58,08012,390
North Carolina $43,040+8.9%$35,554 $32,570 – $58,98020,150
Wyoming $43,000+3.4%$36,731 $34,270 – $65,430730
Kentucky $42,830+7.5%$35,212 $31,980 – $58,84016,130
Texas $42,190+8.9%$36,080 $31,030 – $58,94087,280
Idaho $41,430−2.1%$34,381 $30,820 – $58,5504,900
Oklahoma $41,060+3.9%$33,870 $31,080 – $59,9606,530
Florida $40,700+4.8%$34,882 $30,990 – $60,58044,040
Arkansas $40,500+1.4%$33,355 $29,310 – $58,3907,650
Louisiana $40,180+6.4%$33,645 $29,250 – $61,6907,650
West Virginia $39,940−0.3%$33,175 $30,330 – $67,7602,660
Utah $39,050+2.5%$32,765 $35,650 – $53,96015,750
Alabama $38,940−0.3%$31,786 $29,870 – $56,1607,720
New Mexico $38,860+4.4%$32,700 $31,400 – $59,3003,420
Mississippi $38,620+2.1%$32,398 $30,310 – $55,81011,330

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$46,380High school diploma or equivalent-4.8%
Meter Readers, Utilities$48,150High school diploma or equivalent-10.5%
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$50,340High school diploma or equivalent-0.7%
Courier and Messenger$39,200High school diploma or equivalent+8.0%
Cargo and Freight Agent$52,260High school diploma or equivalent+6.2%
Public Safety Telecommunicator$53,040High school diploma or equivalent+3.7%
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470No formal educational credential-5.3%
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$59,650High school diploma or equivalent-1.3%
Postal Service Mail Carrier$60,550No formal educational credential-0.3%
Postal Service Clerk$62,130No formal educational credential-0.3%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks make?

The national median salary for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks is $45,260 a year ($21.76 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $34,650 and the top 10% earn over $62,190. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks the most?

Washington has the highest median pay at $51,590. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks are there in the U.S.?

About 816,870 people work as shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks nationwide.

All 54 cities