Shipping Clerk: career path and pay in the US
Where a Shipping Clerk goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 4 steps, from Shipping Clerk to Shipping Manager / Logistics Manager.
Also for the United Kingdom: Shipping Clerk in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 0 to 2 years
Shipping Clerk
$35K to $50K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Shipping & Logistics Certification (optional) - Global, International Trade Certification (optional) - Global.
Step 2 · 2 to 5 years
Senior Shipping Clerk / Shipping Coordinator
$40K to $55K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Shipping & Logistics Certification - Global, International Trade Certification - Global.
Step 3 · 5 to 8 years
Shipping Supervisor / Logistics Coordinator
$40K to $55K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Shipping & Logistics Certification - Global, International Trade Certification - Global, Supervisory Skills Certification (optional) - Global.
Step 4 · 8+ years
Shipping Manager / Logistics Manager
$45K to $65K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Shipping & Logistics Certification - Global, International Trade Certification - Global, Logistics Management Certification (optional) - Global, MBA (optional) - Global.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
76% → 24%
Falls 52 points. Each step is harder to automate than the last. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$35K to $50K → $45K to $65K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US. Indeed publishes a hourly average for Senior Shipping Clerk ($22.57); this band converts it at 40 hours a week. Indeed publishes a hourly average for Shipping Supervisor ($22.75); this band converts it at 40 hours a week.
What the work involves
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.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Writing
Knowledge areas
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Administration and Management
Education people bring
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED): 75%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree: 12%
- Bachelor's Degree: 11%
Job Zone 2, job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Other paths from here
More Transportation/Logistics paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Postal Service Clerks, Stockers and Order Fillers, Cargo and Freight Agents, Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping, Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators.
Your own role
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.