Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks in California
Considering working as a Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks in California? Here’s what the data says. 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. Excludes “Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping” (43-5111), “Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, except Postal Service” (43-9051), and “Stockers and Order Fillers” (53-7065).
What do Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks Make in California?
The shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks working in California, wages run about $44,120 per year (or roughly $21.21/hour).Earnings range from $36,170 at the 10th percentile to $61,770 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| 25th percentile | $38,700 | $18.60 |
| Median (50th) | $44,120 | $21.21 |
| 75th percentile | $50,230 | $24.15 |
| 90th percentile | $61,770 | $29.70 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in California compared to the national average — is 1.08.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks earn a median of $59,964 per year ($28.83/hour), below the California median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 501,166 shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks across the United States. In California alone, around 108,950 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 12,160 shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks.
Top California Metros for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
These are the California metros with the most shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 37,700 | $44,050 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 22,340 | $39,150 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 9,410 | $49,000 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 7,450 | $44,080 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 4,580 | $40,170 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 4,550 | $45,040 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 4,540 | $49,660 |
| Fresno, CA | 2,610 | $41,170 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,900 | $43,390 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 1,810 | $42,190 |
| Modesto, CA | 1,370 | $43,500 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 920 | $47,890 |
| Visalia, CA | 860 | $44,840 |
| Vallejo, CA | 770 | $44,360 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 740 | $45,600 |
| Salinas, CA | 700 | $44,870 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 520 | $45,760 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 470 | $44,700 |
| Napa, CA | 400 | $50,960 |
| Merced, CA | 390 | $44,410 |
| Chico, CA | 290 | $42,210 |
| Redding, CA | 270 | $43,830 |
| El Centro, CA | 240 | $41,580 |
| Yuba City, CA | 170 | $46,650 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 150 | $47,130 |
Top States for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks Employment
View the states that employ the most shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 108,950 |
| Texas | 90,680 |
| Florida | 48,420 |
| Ohio | 35,620 |
| New York | 32,070 |
| Pennsylvania | 31,970 |
| Illinois | 30,790 |
| Georgia | 29,800 |
| Michigan | 28,500 |
| New Jersey | 27,850 |
| Indiana | 27,580 |
| North Carolina | 24,320 |
| Virginia | 19,550 |
| Washington | 19,450 |
| Wisconsin | 19,350 |
| Tennessee | 19,070 |
| Arizona | 18,100 |
| Kentucky | 16,670 |
| Massachusetts | 15,730 |
| Colorado | 15,480 |
Highest-Paying States for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
These states pay the most for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,290 |
| Alaska | $48,550 |
| District of Columbia | $47,980 |
| Massachusetts | $47,410 |
| Vermont | $47,120 |
| Iowa | $46,830 |
| Minnesota | $46,830 |
| New Hampshire | $46,420 |
| Wisconsin | $45,930 |
| Maine | $45,880 |
Skills
Top shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks typically:
- Examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy.
- Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock.
- Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials.
- Pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare materials for shipping, using hand tools, power tools, or postage meter.
- Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes.
- Confer or correspond with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, or nonconformance to specifications.
- Deliver or route materials to departments using handtruck, conveyor, or sorting bins.
- Contact carrier representatives to make arrangements or to issue instructions for shipping and delivery of materials.
- Determine shipping methods, routes, or rates for materials to be shipped.
- Compute amounts, such as space available, shipping, storage, or demurrage charges, using computer or price list.
- Compare shipping routes or methods to determine which have the least environmental impact.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Training and Teaching Others
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Processing Information
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge In-demand technologies: Inventory management systems
Related Careers
Other careers like shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks include:
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
- Logistics Analysts
- Procurement Clerks
- Order Clerks
- Cargo and Freight Agents
- Freight Forwarders
Also Known As
Backroom Associate, Booking Clerk, Break Out Man, Break Out Worker, Car Checker, Cloth Booker, Container Coordinator, Disposition Clerk, Distributing Clerk, Distribution Associate, Distribution Center Associate, Distribution Clerk, Distribution Team Member, Express Clerk, Fish Receiver.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 43-5071.00
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