Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
SOC 43-5071 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks is $39,780, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $42,730, and an estimated 844,120 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +12.8% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -4.2% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will shrink 7.7% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $39,780 | $39,780 | 844,120 |
| 2022 | $37,760 | $39,314 | 848,240 |
| 2021 | $36,890 | $41,482 | 795,360 |
| 2020 | $35,260 | $41,512 | 727,640 |
Nominal change
+12.8%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-4.2%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-7.7%
Declining
Employment 2024
862,200
Projected 2034
795,800
Annual Openings
69,300
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $39,780. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $49,450 | +24.3% | 710 |
| District of Columbia | $47,900 | +20.4% | 710 |
| Washington | $47,120 | +18.5% | 19,410 |
| Alaska | $47,010 | +18.2% | 890 |
| Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $46,440 | +16.7% | 490 |
| Massachusetts | $46,000 | +15.6% | 17,260 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $45,970 | +15.6% | 240 |
| East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $45,770 | +15.1% | 270 |
| Minnesota | $45,630 | +14.7% | 13,900 |
| Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $45,600 | +14.6% | 240 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$30,620
25th Pct
$35,470
Median
$39,780
75th Pct
$47,600
90th Pct
$58,310
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCI Biotech USA LLC | UT | 1 | $52,500 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Office & Administrative Support
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.