6 free templates by industry. Download as DOCX or copy-paste.
The shipping clerk job description gets written by the owner or operations lead of a small e-commerce shop, distributor, or light manufacturer at a familiar moment: orders are piling up, the owner has been packing boxes personally, and it is time to hand shipping to a dedicated hire. The templates from the big job boards give you a single generic block that could describe a one-person e-commerce pack station or a 500-person distribution center equally badly, and none of them resolve the question that actually matters: which version of shipping clerk do you need?
At FirstHR, we build for small businesses that hire without an HR department, and the shipping clerk is one of the most common roles those businesses hire, often as the owner's first warehouse or fulfillment hire. The six templates below cover the real versions: standard, shipping and receiving, warehouse, e-commerce fulfillment, manufacturing, and small business first hire. Each carries the shift, equipment, physical demands, and non-exempt classification as structured fields. Fill in the brackets and post. For the general principles behind any posting, the guide to writing a job description covers the fundamentals.
TL;DR
Six free, ready-to-use shipping clerk job description templates by setting: Standard, Shipping and Receiving, Warehouse, E-commerce Fulfillment, Manufacturing, and Small Business / First Hire. Download as DOCX, fill in the bracketed fields, and post. State the shift and physical demands honestly, name any forklift requirement, set the bar on reliability and detail, and classify the role hourly non-exempt.
What Does a Shipping Clerk Do?
A shipping clerk prepares, processes, and records outgoing shipments: packing orders, creating labels and documentation, coordinating carriers, verifying accuracy, and keeping shipping records. The role is the point where products leave the door, and the O*NET profile for shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks frames the core: verifying and maintaining records on incoming and outgoing shipments and preparing items for shipment. The federal category groups shipping, receiving, and inventory work together, which is why the title blends easily with shipping and receiving clerk and warehouse shipping clerk.
The defining feature for an employer is that the same title spans very different settings, and the setting decides the daily work and the equipment: outbound-only at a standard role, inbound and outbound for shipping and receiving, forklifts and scanners in a warehouse, pick-pack speed in e-commerce, freight and bills of lading in manufacturing. That is why the posting has to name the version, not just the duties. If the role you actually need is broader warehouse work, the warehouse associate templates cover that seat, and if it is materials movement on the floor, the material handler templates fit with the same structure.
Shipping Clerk Duties and Responsibilities
Shipping clerk duties and responsibilities center on shipping and packing, accuracy and records, inventory and supplies, and the safety and upkeep a dock depends on. The setting shifts the weights, a warehouse role leans on equipment while e-commerce leans on speed, but the four categories hold. These are the duties grouped the way the templates use them.
Shipping and packing
Prepare and pack outgoing orders accurately
Create shipping labels and documentation
Coordinate pickups and shipments with carriers
Accuracy and records
Verify orders against packing lists before shipment
Record and track shipments in the system
Report damage, shortages, and discrepancies
Inventory and supplies
Receive and inspect incoming goods where applicable
Manage shipping supplies and packing materials
Stage and organize outbound and inbound freight
Safety and area upkeep
Follow safety and powered industrial truck rules
Use proper lifting technique to avoid injury
Keep the shipping area and dock clean and safe
A strong posting picks 8 to 12 of these and grounds them in the version: forklifts and WMS records for warehouse, carrier labels and pack speed for e-commerce, bills of lading and freight for manufacturing. The physical and shift details belong right alongside the duties, because in shipping they determine whether a hire lasts past the first peak season. For a structured way to scope any role before posting, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by setting. The shipping core, get the right goods out accurately and on record, runs through all six, but the duties, equipment, and pace differ enough that the matched version always reads more credibly. Use this guide to choose.
Standard Shipping Clerk
Any business shipping orders
The universal base: pack outgoing orders, create labels and documentation, coordinate carriers, and keep accurate shipping records.
Shipping and Receiving
Small warehouses with two-way flow
The dual-flow version: outbound shipping plus inbound receiving and inspection, PO verification, and records on both sides of the dock.
Warehouse Shipping Clerk
Distribution centers and 3PLs
The high-volume version: forklift and RF scanner operation, WMS records, freight staging, and paid powered industrial truck training.
E-commerce Fulfillment
Small online retailers
The pick-pack-ship version: fast, accurate order fulfillment, carrier labels, brand-quality packing, and peak-season volume.
Manufacturing Shipping Clerk
Light manufacturing and production
The freight version: finished-goods shipping, bills of lading, production coordination, and DOT and hazmat documentation where required.
Small Business / First Hire
Owners making their first shipping hire
The owned version: a compact, plug-and-play posting for the owner handing shipping to its first dedicated hire, with real ownership.
Match the Template to Your Operation
Outbound orders only: Standard. Both inbound and outbound through one person: Shipping and Receiving. A distribution center with forklifts and scanners: Warehouse. A small online retailer packing orders fast: E-commerce. A manufacturer shipping finished goods on freight: Manufacturing. An owner handing off shipping for the first time: Small Business / First Hire.
6 Free Shipping Clerk Job Description Templates
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: company overview, job summary, key responsibilities, required and preferred qualifications, compensation, and how to apply, with the shift, equipment, physical demands, and hourly non-exempt classification as structured fields. Fill in the brackets and confirm any forklift or equipment training requirement before posting.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
Standard, shipping and receiving, warehouse, e-commerce, manufacturing, and small business. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: Standard Shipping Clerk
The universal base for any business shipping orders: pack outgoing orders, create labels and documentation, coordinate carriers, and keep accurate records.
Standard Shipping Clerk Job Description
SHIPPING CLERK JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __
Reports to: [Warehouse Lead / Operations Manager / Owner]
Employment type: [ ] Full-time [ ] Part-time
Shift: [ ] Day [ ] Evening [ ] Weekend: __
FLSA classification: Non-exempt (hourly)
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour
ABOUT [COMPANY NAME]
[One or two sentences about your company, what you ship, and the team
a shipping clerk joins.]
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Shipping Clerk to prepare, process, and
record outgoing shipments. You will pack orders, create shipping
labels and documentation, coordinate with carriers, and keep accurate
shipping records. This is a hands-on, hourly role for someone organized,
reliable, and comfortable in a [fast-paced / steady] shipping
environment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Prepare and pack outgoing orders for shipment accurately
•Create shipping labels, packing slips, and shipping documentation
•Coordinate pickups and shipments with carriers: [UPS, FedEx, freight:
__]
•Verify order accuracy against packing lists before shipment
•Record and track outgoing shipments in [system: ________________]
•Maintain a clean, organized, and safe shipping area
•Handle shipping supplies and inventory: boxes, labels, materials
•Report damaged goods, shortages, or shipping issues
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•High school diploma or equivalent
•Attention to detail and basic recordkeeping accuracy
•Ability to stand for full shifts and lift up to ____ lbs
•Reliable attendance and a team mindset
•Basic computer skills [shipping software a plus]
•Eligible to work in the US (I-9 and W-4 at hire)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Prior shipping, warehouse, or fulfillment experience
•Familiarity with [shipping software / WMS: ________________]
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour [+ overtime]
Benefits: __
To apply, email __ or apply in person at
__.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 2: Shipping and Receiving Clerk
The dual-flow version for small warehouses: outbound shipping plus inbound receiving, inspection, and purchase-order verification, with records on both sides.
Shipping and Receiving Clerk Job Description
SHIPPING AND RECEIVING CLERK JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __
Reports to: [Warehouse Lead / Operations Manager]
Employment type: [ ] Full-time [ ] Part-time
Shift: [ ] Day [ ] Evening [ ] Weekend: __
FLSA classification: Non-exempt (hourly)
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Shipping and Receiving Clerk to handle both
outgoing and incoming goods. You will pack and ship outgoing orders,
receive and inspect incoming deliveries, verify against purchase
orders, and keep accurate records on both sides of the dock. This dual
role is the hub of a small warehouse: everything in and out runs
through you.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Outbound (shipping):
•Prepare, pack, and label outgoing orders accurately
•Create shipping documentation and coordinate with carriers
•Verify order accuracy before shipment
Inbound (receiving):
•Receive, unload, and inspect incoming deliveries
•Verify incoming goods against purchase orders and packing slips
•Record received items and flag damage, shortages, or discrepancies
•Stage or stock received goods: [location / system: ____________]
Both:
•Maintain accurate shipping and receiving records in [system: ______]
•Keep the dock and storage areas clean, organized, and safe
•Handle shipping and packing supplies inventory
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•High school diploma or equivalent
•Strong attention to detail for verifying orders both ways
•Ability to stand for full shifts and lift up to ____ lbs
•Reliable attendance and organization
•Basic computer and recordkeeping skills
•Eligible to work in the US (I-9 and W-4 at hire)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Prior shipping/receiving or warehouse experience
•Familiarity with [WMS / inventory software: ________________]
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour [+ overtime]
Benefits: __
To apply, email __ or apply in person.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Still Using Spreadsheets for Onboarding?
Automate documents, training assignments, task management, and track onboarding progress in real time.
The high-volume version for distribution and 3PLs: forklift and RF scanner operation, WMS records, freight staging, and paid safety and forklift training.
Warehouse Shipping Clerk Job Description
WAREHOUSE SHIPPING CLERK JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __ (warehouse / distribution / 3PL)
Location: __
Reports to: [Warehouse Supervisor / Operations Lead]
•Pack orders to protect products and present the brand well
•Meet daily order volume and accuracy targets
•Update order and tracking status in [platform / system: __________]
•Handle returns processing as needed: [yes / no: ____________]
•Manage packing supplies; keep the pack stations stocked and clean
•Scale output for peak-season volume [holiday / sales events]
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Speed and accuracy under steady order volume
•Attention to detail; right item, right box, right address
•Ability to stand for full shifts and lift up to ____ lbs
•Reliable attendance, especially during peak periods
•Basic computer skills and comfort with order systems
•Eligible to work in the US (I-9 and W-4 at hire)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Prior e-commerce, fulfillment, or pick-pack experience
•Familiarity with [order management / e-commerce / shipping software]
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour [+ peak-season
overtime]
Benefits: __
To apply, email __ or apply in person.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 5: Manufacturing Shipping Clerk
The freight version for light manufacturing: finished-goods shipping, bills of lading, production coordination, and DOT and hazmat documentation where required.
Manufacturing Shipping Clerk Job Description
MANUFACTURING SHIPPING CLERK JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __ (manufacturer / production facility)
Location: __
Reports to: [Shipping Supervisor / Production Lead]
Employment type: [ ] Full-time
Shift: [ ] Day [ ] Night [ ] Rotating: __
FLSA classification: Non-exempt (hourly)
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Manufacturing Shipping Clerk to handle the
shipment of finished goods and coordinate incoming raw materials. You
will prepare shipments, complete freight and bill-of-lading
documentation, coordinate with the production floor and carriers, and
keep accurate records. Where we ship regulated materials, you will
follow the required DOT and hazmat documentation rules.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Prepare and ship finished goods; coordinate with the production floor
•Complete freight documentation: bills of lading (BOL), packing lists
•Coordinate inbound raw materials and verify against purchase orders
•Schedule carrier and freight pickups for outbound shipments
•Follow DOT and hazmat documentation rules where applicable:
[regulated materials: __]
•Record and track shipments and materials in [system: ____________]
•Operate equipment as trained: pallet jacks, forklifts
Shipping Clerk Qualifications and Skills to Include
Shipping clerk qualifications are detail and reliability-based, not credential-based, which makes specificity the whole game: the posting either names the real shift, lifting, and equipment requirements, or it attracts candidates who quit at the first peak season. The difference shows in how the bullets are written.
Weak requirement
Strong requirement
Warehouse experience required
No experience required; we provide paid safety and forklift training
Must be physically fit
Able to stand for full shifts and lift up to 50 lbs repeatedly
Detail oriented
Verifies every order against the packing list before shipment; right item, right address
Various shifts
Day shift with mandatory overtime during holiday peak season (November to December)
Competitive hourly pay
$19 to $23 per hour plus overtime past 40 hours
Keep the formal gate at attention to detail, reliability, physical ability, and basic computer skills, and keep every line job-related and neutral, because the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that express a preference based on protected characteristics. State physical demands as what the work requires rather than as proxies for who you imagine doing it, and the SHRM job description tools describe a good job description as a plain-language summary of a position's tasks, duties, and responsibilities, which for a shipping role means the shift, the lifting, and the equipment stated precisely.
How to Write a Shipping Clerk Job Description
A strong shipping clerk posting takes about fifteen minutes once you settle the version, the shift, and the equipment. Here is the process the templates are built around. If this is one of your first hires, the small business hiring guide covers the steps around the posting itself.
1
Choose the version that fits your operation
Standard, shipping and receiving, warehouse, e-commerce, manufacturing, or small business. The version decides the duties, equipment, and candidates.
2
State the shift and physical demands honestly
Day, evening, weekend, or seasonal peak, plus the real lifting weight and standing requirement, because shipping is physical and surprises drive turnover.
3
Name the equipment and any forklift requirement
State whether forklift or powered industrial truck operation is part of the job, and whether you require certification or provide training.
4
Set the bar on reliability and detail, not a resume
List attention to detail, attendance, and physical ability as must-haves, and keep experience as preferred for this entry-level, trainable role.
5
Publish the hourly range and classify non-exempt
State the pay range, and classify the role hourly non-exempt with overtime past forty hours, which matters in peak shipping seasons.
Shipping Clerk Salary
Shipping clerk pay is hourly and varies by region, industry, and experience, with overtime common in peak shipping seasons. The federal data gives a useful anchor for setting a fair range.
The Federal Benchmark (BLS, May 2024)
Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks earned a median of about $43,190 a year, roughly $20.77 per hour, as of May 2024, with the middle of the range running from about $37,040 to $49,390. The broader group of material recording clerks had a median near $46,120. Employment is projected to decline through 2034 as warehouses automate, but about 108,700 openings are projected each year from turnover (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Entry-level shipping clerk pay commonly sits in the lower part of that range and climbs with experience, equipment skills, and shift. The recruiting lesson in the openings number matters for a small business: even with employment declining as warehouses automate, the role generates well over a hundred thousand openings a year from turnover alone, which means hiring is constant and the posting has to compete. For a small business setting the rate, anchor on local market pay for the shift and setting, state the hourly range in the posting, since several states require pay ranges and hourly candidates compare numbers directly, and remember the role is non-exempt, so overtime past forty hours is owed, which adds up fast in peak season.
Hiring a Shipping Clerk for a Small Business Without HR
Large distributors and fulfillment operations hire shipping clerks at volume, with safety programs, standardized training, and HR teams to handle classification and documentation. A small e-commerce shop, a small distributor, or a light manufacturer makes the same hire with none of that, often as the owner hands off shipping for the first time. Here is how to write the posting for that reality.
Name the version, because shipping clerk, shipping and receiving clerk, and warehouse shipping clerk are different jobs that share a search
Shipping clerk covers a spread of real jobs, and the title alone does not tell a candidate which one you mean. A standard shipping clerk packs and ships outgoing orders. A shipping and receiving clerk also handles inbound deliveries, inspection, and purchase-order verification, a genuinely broader role. A warehouse shipping clerk runs high volume on forklifts and scanners. An e-commerce fulfillment clerk lives in pick-pack-ship speed. A manufacturing shipping clerk handles freight, bills of lading, and sometimes DOT and hazmat documentation. These are different day-to-day jobs, and a posting that stays generic to cover them all attracts applicants who expected something else and leave when they meet the reality. Pick the version that matches your operation, name its real duties, inbound and outbound for shipping and receiving, forklifts for warehouse, carrier labels and speed for e-commerce, and the posting does the screening a generic one cannot.
State the shift, the lifting, and the equipment honestly, because shipping is physical and surprises in week one drive the turnover this role is known for
Shipping clerk is an hourly, physical role with high turnover, which means honesty in the posting is what keeps a hire past the first week. State the shift precisely, day, evening, weekend, or seasonal peak, because an e-commerce or warehouse clerk surprised by mandatory holiday overtime is a fast re-hire. State the lifting requirement as the work actually demands it, the real weight, standing for full shifts, the dock environment, because shipping work is physically demanding and a candidate who discovers that on day one walks. Name the equipment, forklifts, pallet jacks, RF scanners, and whether you train or require certification, since powered-industrial-truck operation is regulated and a clerk needs to know it is part of the job. The candidate who reads honest physical requirements, the real shift, and the equipment and still applies is the one who shows up and stays.
For a first shipping hire there is usually no HR, so the job description is the screening tool and a documented onboarding does the rest
Most small businesses hiring a shipping clerk, a growing e-commerce shop, a small distributor, a light manufacturer, do it without an HR department, often as the owner hands off shipping for the first time. That makes the posting the screen and a repeatable onboarding the safeguard. Keep the requirements job-related and neutral, attention to detail, reliability, the physical ability the work needs, and separate must-have from nice-to-have so the role stays accessible, because this is frequently a no-experience-required hire you train on the job. Put the hourly range in plainly, since several states require pay ranges and hourly candidates compare numbers directly. Then, because the role turns over, lean on a documented onboarding you can repeat every time: the signed offer, the I-9 and W-4, a safety acknowledgment, and any forklift or equipment training recorded, so each new clerk is productive and compliant from day one without reinventing the process.
From Hiring to Onboarding
The job description is step one, and onboarding a shipping clerk is straightforward but worth doing the same way every time, because the role turns over and a repeatable process saves you from rebuilding it on each hire. Start with the paperwork spine: the signed offer letter with the hourly rate and shift, the I-9 with documents verified, the W-4 and state tax forms, and state new hire reporting, collected per the new hire paperwork guide. Then the practical day-one items: a safety orientation, PPE if needed, an introduction to the shipping area, the carriers, and the systems they will use, and a walkthrough of how you want orders packed, documented, and recorded. Where the role includes forklift or powered-industrial-truck operation, complete and document that training before the clerk operates the equipment, since it is legally required. Because the role is non-exempt and overtime-heavy in peak season, the exempt vs non-exempt guide is worth a read before setting pay.
The documents around the hire follow the usual sequence: the offer letter template for the hourly rate and shift, and a structured onboarding template to turn the first week into a repeatable checklist. Because shipping clerk is a high-turnover hourly role, a documented process pays off on every hire. FirstHR connects all of it: e-signature for the offer letter, document storage for the signed file, I-9, and W-4, training modules to deliver and record safety and equipment training, and a day-one task checklist, in one place built for companies without an HR department.
Key Takeaways
Pick the template by setting, standard, shipping and receiving, warehouse, e-commerce, manufacturing, or small business, because each one changes the duties, the equipment, and the candidates.
State the shift and physical demands honestly: day, evening, weekend, or seasonal peak, plus the real lifting weight, because shipping is physical and surprises drive the role's high turnover.
Name any forklift or equipment requirement, and plan to complete and document that training before the clerk operates the equipment, since powered industrial truck operation is regulated.
Set the bar on reliability and detail orientation, not a long resume, since shipping clerk is a high-turnover entry role most employers train on the job.
Classify the role hourly non-exempt and budget for overtime in peak shipping seasons, since the work does not meet any overtime exemption.
Onboard the same way every time: paperwork spine, safety orientation, systems walkthrough, and documented equipment training, because a repeatable process compounds across constant hiring.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a shipping clerk do?
A shipping clerk prepares, processes, and records outgoing shipments: packing orders, creating shipping labels and documentation, coordinating pickups with carriers, verifying order accuracy, and keeping accurate shipping records. The role is hands-on, hourly, and detail-driven, and it is the point where a business's products actually leave the door. The specific work shifts by setting. A standard shipping clerk focuses on outbound orders. A shipping and receiving clerk also handles incoming deliveries, inspection, and purchase-order verification. A warehouse shipping clerk runs high volume with forklifts and scanners. An e-commerce fulfillment clerk picks, packs, and ships online orders at speed. A manufacturing shipping clerk handles freight, bills of lading, and sometimes DOT and hazmat documentation. Federal data groups the role under shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks, who track outgoing and incoming shipments, so the core, get the right goods out accurately and on record, holds across all of them.
What are the main shipping clerk duties and responsibilities?
Shipping clerk duties fall into four groups. Shipping and packing: preparing and packing outgoing orders accurately, creating shipping labels and documentation, and coordinating pickups with carriers. Accuracy and records: verifying orders against packing lists before shipment, recording and tracking shipments in the system, and reporting damage, shortages, and discrepancies. Inventory and supplies: receiving and inspecting incoming goods where the role includes it, managing packing materials, and staging outbound and inbound freight. Safety and area upkeep: following safety and powered industrial truck rules, using proper lifting technique, and keeping the shipping area and dock clean and safe. A strong posting lists 8 to 12 of these matched to the version of the role, since a warehouse clerk on forklifts, an e-commerce clerk packing online orders, and a manufacturing clerk completing bills of lading are meaningfully different work, and the duties should reflect which one the job actually is, along with the real shift, lifting requirement, and equipment.
What is the difference between a shipping clerk and a shipping and receiving clerk?
The difference is scope: a shipping clerk handles outbound, and a shipping and receiving clerk handles both outbound and inbound. A standard shipping clerk focuses on getting orders out, packing, labeling, documenting, and coordinating carriers for outgoing shipments. A shipping and receiving clerk does all of that plus the inbound side: receiving and unloading deliveries, inspecting incoming goods, verifying them against purchase orders and packing slips, flagging damage or shortages, and recording or staging what arrives. In a small warehouse the shipping and receiving clerk is often the single hub that everything in and out runs through, which makes it a genuinely broader role than shipping alone. For hiring, the distinction matters because the dual role needs more attention to detail on verification and reconciliation, and the posting should say plainly whether you need outbound only or both directions, so candidates know the real scope before they apply.
Do shipping clerks need a forklift certification?
It depends on the setting, but in warehouse and distribution roles, often yes. Where the job involves operating a forklift or other powered industrial truck, federal safety rules require the operator to be trained and evaluated before operating the equipment, and that training is documented. A standard shipping clerk at a small business who never touches a forklift does not need it, but a warehouse shipping clerk who moves pallets does. The practical approach for an employer is to state in the posting whether forklift or powered-industrial-truck operation is part of the job and whether you require an existing certification or provide training, because many warehouse employers train new hires rather than requiring prior certification. If equipment operation is part of the role, plan to complete and document that training as part of onboarding before the clerk operates the equipment, both because it is legally required and because it protects the worker and the business from preventable injury and liability.
Is a shipping clerk an entry-level job?
Yes, shipping clerk is predominantly an entry-level, hourly role, and many employers welcome candidates with no prior experience and train on the job. The realistic requirements are attention to detail, reliability and good attendance, the physical ability to stand for full shifts and lift the weight involved, and basic computer and recordkeeping skills. Federal data notes that workers in this group typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and learn on the job from an experienced worker, which confirms the low barrier to entry. There is a more demanding warehouse version that involves equipment operation and higher volume, and the role can be a stepping stone toward lead, supervisor, or warehouse management positions. For an employer hiring at the entry level, the practical move is to set the bar on reliability and detail orientation rather than a long resume, state the physical demands and shift honestly, and provide training, because in a high-turnover hourly role the dependable hire matters more than the experienced one.
How much does a shipping clerk make?
Shipping clerk pay is hourly and varies by region, industry, and experience. For a federal anchor, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks earned a median of about $43,190 a year, roughly $20.77 per hour, as of May 2024, with a mean near $44,890. The middle of the range ran from about $37,040 at the 25th percentile to about $49,390 at the 75th, and the broader group of material recording clerks had a median of about $46,120. Entry-level shipping clerk pay commonly sits in the lower part of that range and climbs with experience, equipment skills, and shift. For a small business setting the rate, the practical approach is to anchor on local market pay for the shift and setting, state the hourly range in the posting, since several states require pay ranges and hourly candidates compare numbers directly, and remember the role is non-exempt, so overtime past forty hours is owed, which matters in peak shipping seasons.
Is a shipping clerk exempt or non-exempt from overtime?
Non-exempt, in essentially every case. A shipping clerk is an hourly role centered on physical and recordkeeping work, packing, shipping, receiving, and tracking, which does not meet any of the federal overtime exemptions, the executive, administrative, or professional tests. That makes the role non-exempt, and overtime must be paid for hours worked past forty in a week. This matters more for shipping than for many roles because the work is seasonal: e-commerce and warehouse operations push heavy overtime during holiday and peak periods, and that overtime is owed at the premium rate. The clean approach is to classify shipping clerks as hourly non-exempt, track all hours worked including any required pre-shift or post-shift time, and budget for overtime during peak seasons rather than treating the role as salaried. Misclassifying an hourly warehouse worker as exempt to avoid overtime is a common and costly wage-and-hour mistake.
What happens after I hire a shipping clerk?
Onboarding a shipping clerk is straightforward but worth doing the same way every time, because the role turns over and a repeatable process saves you from reinventing it on each hire. Start with the paperwork spine: the signed offer letter with the hourly rate and shift, the I-9 with documents verified, the W-4 and state tax forms, and state new hire reporting. Then the practical day-one items: a safety orientation, PPE if needed, an introduction to the shipping area, the carriers, and the systems they will use, and a walkthrough of how you want orders packed, documented, and recorded. Where the role includes forklift or powered-industrial-truck operation, complete and document that training before the clerk operates the equipment, since it is legally required. Because shipping clerk is a high-turnover hourly role, a documented onboarding pays off on every hire. FirstHR handles this for small businesses: e-signature for the offer letter, document storage for the signed file, I-9, and W-4, training modules to deliver and record safety and equipment training, and a day-one task checklist, all in one place built for companies without an HR department.
