Everything you need to write a highly professional, comprehensive Shipping Clerk job description. Attract meticulous, physically capable, and tech-savvy logistics talent to ensure your products reach customers on time and intact.
Demand
+6% Job Growth
Role Summary
A Shipping Clerk is the heartbeat of a company's supply chain and logistics operations. They are the final checkpoint before a product leaves the warehouse, ensuring that goods are packed securely, labeled accurately, and handed over to the correct carrier (UPS, FedEx, DHL, or Freight) in a timely, cost-effective manner.
Far more than just taping boxes, modern Shipping Clerks navigate complex Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), negotiate carrier rates, manage international customs documentation, and process incoming returns (RMAs). Their meticulous attention to detail directly impacts customer satisfaction and the company's bottom line.
Duties & Responsibilities
A Shipping Clerk bridges the gap between physical labor and digital inventory management. Key responsibilities include:
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Order Verification & Packing
Cross-reference picked items against customer purchase orders (POs) to ensure 100% accuracy. Pack items securely using appropriate void fill (bubble wrap, packing peanuts) to prevent transit damage.
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Label Generation & Carrier Routing
Weigh and measure packages to generate accurate shipping labels. Select the most cost-effective and timely carrier (e.g., switching from FedEx Air to UPS Ground based on delivery deadlines).
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Freight & Logistics Coordination
Schedule daily pickups with carriers. For large B2B orders, prepare pallets, shrink-wrap loads, and generate Bill of Lading (BOL) documents for Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) freight carriers.
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Inventory Management
Update the Warehouse Management System (WMS) or ERP in real-time as inventory leaves the facility. Conduct routine cycle counts and report low levels of shipping supplies (boxes, tape, labels).
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Returns Processing (RMA)
Receive and inspect returned merchandise. Process Return Merchandise Authorizations (RMAs), restock undamaged goods, and route defective items to the QA department.
Daily Tasks (The Logistics Cycle)
Print daily pick tickets from the ERP system. Prioritize overnight, expedited, and VIP orders. Set up the packing station with adequate boxes, tape, and thermal printer labels.
Continuously scan, pack, and label outgoing orders. Operate forklifts or pallet jacks to stage outgoing freight. Assist driver loading during carrier pickup windows (UPS/FedEx arrivals).
Run the "End of Day" carrier manifests to transmit tracking data to shipping partners. Ensure all tracking numbers have successfully synced to customer emails. Clean and organize the shipping bay.
Requirements & Qualifications
Educational Background
A High School Diploma or GED is generally required. While higher education isn't strictly necessary, coursework in logistics, supply chain management, or basic accounting is highly valued for candidates looking to eventually move into a Warehouse Manager role.
Physical Requirements
- Lifting Capacity: Must be able to consistently lift, push, and pull boxes weighing up to 50-75 lbs safely.
- Stamina: Ability to stand, walk, and bend for extended 8 to 10-hour shifts on concrete warehouse floors.
Certifications & Experience
- Forklift Certification: Active certification to operate sit-down, stand-up, or reach trucks is a massive advantage.
- OSHA Training: Familiarity with OSHA safety standards (e.g., proper lifting techniques, hazard communication).
- Experience Level: 1-3 years of warehouse, shipping, or receiving experience is typically expected for mid-level roles.
Core Skills
Catching a mismatched SKU or an incorrect shipping address before the package leaves the facility.
Prioritizing a high volume of orders to ensure everything is packed before the strict 4:00 PM carrier pickup.
Comfortably navigating complex inventory databases, operating RF barcode scanners, and troubleshooting thermal printers.
Calculating accurate dimensional weight, converting international measurements, and performing rapid inventory cycle counts.
Quickly resolving issues when a carrier loses a package, an item is out of stock, or an international shipment is stuck in customs.
Coordinating effectively with customer service teams, sales reps, warehouse pickers, and truck drivers.
Logistics Tools & Software
Modern shipping is highly digitized. Candidates must be comfortable transitioning between physical hardware and cloud-based software platforms.
Navigating Warehouse Management Systems and ERPs like NetSuite, SAP, Fishbowl Inventory, or Odoo to track stock movements.
Proficiency in multi-carrier aggregators like ShipStation, ShipBob, or Shippo, as well as direct carrier tools like UPS WorldShip and FedEx Ship Manager.
Daily use of RF barcode scanners (e.g., Zebra, Motorola), digital freight scales, thermal label printers (e.g., Dymo, Zebra), and heavy machinery (pallet jacks/forklifts).
Types of Shipping Roles
"Shipping Clerk" is a broad title. The day-to-day reality changes drastically depending on the industry and volume.
E-commerce Shipping Clerk
High-volume, fast-paced environment. Focuses on picking and packing hundreds of small individual parcels daily (B2C) using tools like Shopify and ShipStation.
Freight & Logistics Clerk
Focuses on large-scale B2B manufacturing shipments. Involves building heavy pallets, coordinating LTL/FTL truckloads, and managing complex Bill of Lading (BOL) documents.
International Shipping Specialist
Requires specialized knowledge of global export laws, commercial invoices, Harmonized System (HS) tariff codes, and negotiating with international customs brokers.
Receiving / Returns Clerk
Focuses on the inbound side of logistics. Inspects arriving vendor deliveries for damage, updates inventory counts, and processes customer RMAs and refunds.
Salary Expectations
Hourly Rate
$17 - $25/hr
Annual Range
$35k - $52k+
Shipping Clerk compensation is largely driven by experience, certifications, and overtime potential:
- Overtime Potential: During peak seasons (like Q4 holiday retail rushes), Shipping Clerks frequently work 50+ hour weeks, making time-and-a-half overtime a significant portion of their annual income.
- Certifications: Clerks who hold specialized certifications (like OSHA forklift operation or HAZMAT shipping credentials) frequently negotiate rates at the higher end of the spectrum.
- Complexity: International shipping coordinators managing customs documentation generally earn more than standard domestic pack-and-ship clerks.
Interactive JD Templates
Cycle through our pre-written, professional job description templates tailored to different warehouse setups. Review the requirements and copy them directly to your clipboard for your ATS or job board.
E-Commerce Shipping Clerk
Sample Job Description Structure
A great job description clearly delineates the physical requirements, the software used, and the types of products being handled. Here is an example of a perfectly structured posting:
Company: Apex Outdoor Gear
Job Title: Shipping & Receiving Clerk
About Us:
Apex Outdoor is a fast-growing e-commerce brand specializing in premium camping equipment. We are seeking an energetic, detail-oriented Shipping & Receiving Clerk to ensure our daily order volume reaches our customers securely and on time.
The Role:
Reporting to the Warehouse Manager, you will be the final touchpoint for all outbound orders. You will operate within ShipStation to print pick lists, pack outbound goods securely, and load UPS and FedEx trucks. You will also assist in unloading incoming vendor shipments and updating our inventory system.
Core Responsibilities:
- Pack and ship 100+ B2C parcels daily ensuring 100% order accuracy.
- Weigh packages, generate shipping labels, and optimize carrier routing.
- Unload incoming freight using a pallet jack and log received goods into NetSuite.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and OSHA-compliant packing station.
Requirements & Benefits:
- High School Diploma or GED required; Forklift certification is a plus.
- Ability to stand for 8 hours and consistently lift up to 50 lbs.
- $20.00/hour + Time-and-a-half overtime + Quarterly performance bonuses.
- Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
Resume Advice for Applicants
When evaluating Shipping Clerk resumes (or crafting your own), look for a balance of physical capability, software proficiency, and quantifiable volume metrics.
- Quantify Your Volume: Don't just say "Packed boxes." Say: "Accurately picked, packed, and shipped over 250 e-commerce parcels daily while maintaining a 99.8% order accuracy rate."
- Name-Drop Software & Hardware: ATS scanners look for specific tools. Prominently feature software like ShipStation, SAP, or UPS WorldShip, and mention hardware like Zebra thermal printers or RF scanners.
- Highlight Specialized Freight: If you have experience booking LTL/FTL freight, creating Bill of Lading (BOL) documents, or handling international customs forms, put that at the top of your resume—it commands a higher salary.
- Mention Safety & Certifications: Explicitly state if you hold an OSHA forklift certification (Sit-down/Reach) or have received specific HAZMAT shipping training.
How to Write a Compelling Job Description
A vague job posting will attract underqualified candidates. To attract reliable logistics talent, your JD needs to be highly transparent about the physical reality of the job.
State Physical Demands
Be explicit. State clearly if the role requires lifting 50 lbs, standing on concrete for 10 hours, or working in a non-climate-controlled warehouse.
List the Tech Stack
Name the exact WMS or shipping platform you use (e.g., ShipStation, NetSuite). Candidates with direct experience will require zero onboarding time.
Clarify the Schedule
Warehouses often run odd shifts. Clearly state if the role is 1st, 2nd, or 3rd shift, and whether mandatory overtime is expected during peak holiday seasons.
Career Progression: The Logistics Path
Starting as a Shipping Clerk is an excellent entry point into the lucrative world of supply chain management.
Order Picker / Packer
Start by walking the warehouse aisles, picking items off shelves via RF scanner, and packing boxes securely. This builds foundational knowledge of the company's SKU catalog.
Shipping & Receiving Clerk
Take on more technological responsibility. Generate labels, manage carrier relationships (UPS/FedEx), troubleshoot software issues, and process incoming vendor freight and customer returns.
Logistics Coordinator
Move away from physical packing to desk-based operations. Negotiate high-volume freight rates, manage international customs brokering, and optimize the overall supply chain flow.
Warehouse / Supply Chain Manager
Oversee the entire facility. Manage hiring, conduct quarterly performance reviews, implement safety (OSHA) protocols, and report directly to executive leadership on fulfillment metrics.
Where to Find Shipping Talent
If you want to hire the best, you need to post your job description where warehouse professionals actively look for work.
Indeed & ZipRecruiter
The absolute highest volume platforms for hourly warehouse and logistics roles. Best for local, on-site hiring.
Local Staffing Agencies
Firms like Aerotek or Express Employment Professionals are excellent for quickly filling temp-to-hire roles during peak holiday seasons.
Craigslist & Local Boards
Highly effective for light industrial and warehouse roles, particularly in manufacturing hubs and major port cities.
Conclusion
A highly efficient shipping department is the backbone of customer satisfaction. A vague or poorly constructed Shipping Clerk job description will attract candidates who lack the physical stamina and software expertise required to keep your logistics flowing.
By explicitly detailing your WMS software stack, the physical lifting requirements, and the specific carriers they will manage, you will attract organized, capable professionals who can optimize your freight costs and ensure your products reach their destinations flawlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
An Order Picker walks the warehouse aisles to pull physical items off shelves based on a list. A Shipping Clerk is the next step in the chain: they verify the picked items, pack them securely in a box, operate the software to generate shipping labels, and coordinate with the carrier trucks for pickup.
It depends on the facility. In e-commerce roles handling small parcels, a forklift is rarely needed. However, in manufacturing or B2B freight roles dealing with heavy pallets, forklift certification is often a mandatory requirement (or something the company will train you on immediately upon hire).
A Bill of Lading (BOL) is a legally binding document issued by a carrier to a shipper. It details the type, quantity, and destination of the goods being carried. Shipping Clerks handling large freight (LTL/FTL) are responsible for generating and signing these documents accurately before a truck leaves the dock.
Yes. Shipping Clerks spend the vast majority of their 8-to-10 hour shifts standing, walking, bending, and lifting. Most job descriptions explicitly state that candidates must be able to repeatedly lift and maneuver boxes weighing up to 50 lbs unassisted.
RMA stands for Return Merchandise Authorization. It is a numbered authorization provided to a customer allowing them to return a product. When the product arrives back at the warehouse, the Shipping/Receiving Clerk uses the RMA number to log the return into the system so the customer can get their refund or replacement.