Loading page content
Preparing content…
SOC 43-5081
On this page, material recording clerks refers to O*NET 43-5071.00: workers who verify and maintain incoming and outgoing inventory shipment records, verify and record incoming materials or merchandise and arrange transport, and may prepare shipment items, including titles such as receiving clerk, shipping clerk, and order fulfillment specialist.
Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((75+75+50)/3+0.5)=67; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.
The core work of material recording clerks is to keep incoming, outgoing, and inventory records accurate and traceable: check shipment contents against bills of lading, invoices, orders, and other documents; requisition and store packing materials to maintain inventory; prepare work orders, bills of lading, and other documents for material movement; pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare shipments; record weights, charges, storage space, damage, and discrepancies for reporting and accounting; communicate with stakeholders to resolve damage, shortages, or specification mismatches; distribute materials along routes using hand trucks or sorting bins; contact carriers and determine shipping methods, routes, and rates; and calculate storage, freight, or demurrage charges.
The following judgments concern material recording clerks' recordkeeping and logistics administration practices. They do not predict hiring, qualification, authorization, or income outcomes.
Sample output and reflection: check whether cargo and documents were verified first, discrepancies were recorded accurately rather than concealed, reporting and claim routes were explained, and recordkeeping and handover requirements were clear. Then ask yourself whether you can maintain accuracy in repetitive administration under time pressure, communicate with carriers and internal departments to solve problems, and take responsibility for record accuracy.
The fixed slug is material-recording-clerks, but the actual subject is ONet43-5071.00 Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks: verifying incoming and outgoing shipments and documents and maintaining inventory records, with packing and labeling, recording weights, costs, and discrepancies, and contacting carriers according to the role. This is not every material recording suboccupation or 53-7065 stockers and order fillers. Equipment handling, transportation arrangements, and abnormality handling depend on role authorization and are not interchangeable with production management or logistics analysis.
Check first: document and cargo information, inventory and storage definitions, shipping-method and rate bases, safety and stacking requirements, carrier and stakeholder contacts, and discrepancy and claim handling routes.
Career direction comparison
The following compares material recording clerks with adjacent roles by actual responsibility scope, core deliverables, and authorization boundaries. Qualifications are not interchangeable based on titles.
| Career direction | Core work and output | Key differences | Best-fit choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Production Managers | Industrial production managers oversee production plans, costs, and teams; material recording clerks handle incoming, outgoing, and inventory records and administration. Responsibilities and scope differ. | Oversee production plans, costs, and teams. | Compare if you prefer production management. |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | Transportation, storage, and distribution managers oversee distribution systems and teams; material recording clerks perform document verification and record administration at the execution level. |
AI impact on this career
Editorial task hypothesis: barcodes / RFID, ERP inventory systems, and fixed-rate calculations are not generative AI. The latter may organize fictional shipment descriptions or draft discrepancy records. No occupational adoption rates or job outcomes were obtained. People check physical counts / damage, documents, and rates. Do not upload real customer / waybill information without approval or automatically confirm receipt, charges, or dispatch. AI Impact Score 67% is an editorial estimate. Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((75+75+50)/3+0.5)=67; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.The three tasks, ratings and sources are listed in the FermatMind method source record on this page.
FermatMind AI Impact Score estimation method v1
FermatMind / 费马测试 · 2026-10-18
Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
Chinese mainland salary reference
Scope: National Bureau of Statistics 2025 average annual wages for transportation, warehousing, and postal employees are 133,981 yuan / year in urban non-private units and 73,133 yuan / year in urban private units; the nationwide total for urban non-private units is 129,441 yuan / year. All are industry measures, not this occupation's median or starting pay.
Category boundary: the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security publishes enterprise compensation survey information by occupation / position, which can be used to look up warehouse and logistics clerk pay. This page did not obtain an entry matching O*NET 43-5071.00 exactly, so it is not used as a nationwide occupational median. Refer to competent authority publications for specifics.
Only average annual wages are published
U.S. salary reference
The 2025 US median wage for 43-5071 is 45,260 dollars / year and 21.76 dollars / hour; full percentiles appear in the table. Older employment of 862,200 in 2024 and 69,300 average annual openings in 2024—2034 are retained separately. Latest figures are 827,700 employed in 2025, an 8% decline in 2025—2035, and 61,300 average annual openings. These are not the entire material recording group or individual hiring probabilities.
| Percentile | Annual reference | Hourly equivalent | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| P10 | $34,650 / year | $16.66 / hour | 2025 US nationwide percentiles for occupation 43-5071, not seniority, starting pay, or a conversion of individual working hours. |
| P25 |
Fit signals
To assess fit, consider whether you can maintain accuracy in repetitive administration under time pressure, patiently verify cargo and documents and record discrepancies accurately, clearly communicate with carriers and internal departments to resolve problems, and handle safety and stacking according to procedures. Tools such as RIASEC can only propose hypotheses and cannot replace real task experience.
Positive signals： Positive signals: attention to detail and patience, accurate records, procedural checks and discrepancy handling, clear communication, and maintaining order under pressure.
Reasons for caution： Reasons for caution: difficulty concentrating on repetitive administration, concealing discrepancies or skipping checks, unwillingness to coordinate with multiple parties, or poor tolerance of uncontrolled environments and physical tasks.
Trial activity： Trial activity: using entirely fictional incoming and outgoing documents and inventory records, rehearse verification, recordkeeping, and discrepancy handling, and ask someone else to review them against the records.
Risks and boundaries
Handle risks by their triggers, consequences, controls, and escalation boundaries.
Based on O*NET 43-5071.00 tasks and work context and specific requirements concerning document checks, records and discrepancies, charge calculations, safe stacking, and communication and handover. Check specific rules against employer procedures and applicable laws without extrapolating across scopes.
Typical scenario：Failure to check documents and physical items causes incorrect receipt or dispatch.
Roles most affected：Shipping and receiving roles
Possible consequence：May cause inventory and accounting errors.
How to reduce risk：Verify physical items and documents and record discrepancies.
Entry pathways
ONet's new-hire education survey reports 75% high school / GED, 12% two-year / associate degree, and 11% bachelor's, not every employer's threshold. BLS says the material recording group typically requires high school plus on-the-job training, mostly up to one month; up to six months for production planning clerks belongs to another detailed occupation. The several days to one year for JobZone1—2 is a group description; check specific role training separately.
Market signals
Retain older employment of 862,200 in 2024 and 69,300 average annual openings in 2024—2034. Latest 43-5071 figures are 827,700 employed in 2025, an 8% decline in 2025—2035, and 61,300 average annual openings, mainly replacements, not ten-year totals or current vacancies.
US nationwide · Display scope: Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks (43-5071.00)
The main industries on that page for 2024 are Manufacturing and Retail Trade. Employment and openings are statistical projections and must be interpreted separately from individual opportunities.
Employment size and change
Employment size, change, and job openings must be interpreted separately.
Does not establish：Occupational statistics cannot guarantee individual employment.
On this page, material recording clerks refers to O*NET 43-5071.00: workers who verify and maintain incoming and outgoing inventory shipment records, verify and record incoming materials or merchandise and arrange transport, and may prepare items for shipment. Tasks include checking cargo and documents, requisitioning and storing packing materials, preparing work orders and bills of lading, packing, sealing, and labeling, recording weights, charges, and discrepancies, communicating to resolve errors, contacting carriers, determining shipping methods and rates, and calculating charges. Work mainly takes place in warehouses, freight terminals, and uncontrolled indoor environments. This occupation is distinct from industrial production managers, transportation, storage, and distribution managers, supply chain managers, or logistics analysts.
Choose a real task from this page for a small practice project or a conversation with someone in the field. Use the planning guides to set a date, an output and feedback questions before deciding whether to continue.
This is an entirely fictional shipping and receiving record scenario check, not a personality diagnosis, hiring conclusion, or qualification assessment.
Entirely fictional task package: provide fictional incoming and outgoing shipment documents and inventory records, including 1 order and packing list, 1 set of inventory and discrepancy data, and 1 shortage or damage scenario to resolve. Within 60 minutes, write verification steps, recordkeeping and discrepancy-handling methods, circumstances requiring reporting or claims, and records to retain. Do not use real company, customer, or cargo data.
End-to-end work: receive and verify cargo and documents, record and identify discrepancies, prepare packing materials, pack and label, arrange carriers and transport, distribute and hand over, and update and archive records. Do not confirm receipt before document or cargo mismatches are verified, or ship before safety or stacking conditions are met.
| Dimension | Primary track | Comparison track |
|---|---|---|
| Complete workflow | From checking cargo to updating and archiving | |
| Step one | Receive and verify cargo and documents | |
| Step two | Record data and identify discrepancies | |
| Step three | Prepare packing materials | |
| Step four | Pack, seal, and label | |
| Step five | Arrange carriers and transportation | |
| Step six | Distribute, hand over, update, and archive |
Inputs: incoming and outgoing shipment documents and orders, cargo and packing materials, inventory and storage-location information, handling and sorting equipment, charge and rate information, carrier and internal department contacts, and safety and compliance requirements.
Checkable outputs: verified incoming and outgoing records, complete and accurate documents, packed and labeled shipments, weight and charge records, discrepancy and damage handling records, carrier and freight arrangements, and updated inventory and storage locations.
Complete workflow: receive and verify cargo and documents → record data and identify discrepancies → requisition and prepare packing materials → pack, seal, and label → arrange carriers and shipping methods → distribute and hand over → update inventory and archive records.
In the United States, this occupation is in Job Zone 1-2. Most positions require a high-school diploma and on-the-job training. Forklift and on-site vehicle work requires authorization under employer and local rules. This page does not judge individual eligibility.
Work subjects and AI boundaries for material recording clerks Editorial task hypothesis: barcodes / RFID, ERP inventory systems, and fixed-rate calculations are not generative AI. The latter may organize fictional shipment descriptions or draft discrepancy records. No occupational adoption rates or job outcomes were obtained. People check physical counts / damage, documents, and rates. Do not upload real customer / waybill information without approval or automatically confirm receipt, charges, or dispatch.
| Oversee distribution systems and teams. |
| Compare if you prefer distribution management. |
| Supply Chain Managers | Supply chain managers oversee overall supply chain strategy and coordination; material recording clerks handle specific incoming and outgoing records and administration without strategic responsibilities. | Oversee supply chain strategy and coordination. | Compare if you prefer supply chain strategy. |
|---|
| Logistics Analysts | Logistics analysts handle data modeling and process analysis; material recording clerks handle daily records and administration. Analytical methods and scope differ. | Handle logistics data modeling and process analysis. | Compare if you prefer data analysis. |
|---|
First use reviewable recordkeeping and discrepancy-handling descriptions under supervision to validate verification and documentation boundaries, then assess your direction. Do not assign a single ranking based on income or personality.
Next, turn the comparison into a small recordkeeping exercise that can be stopped.
Describe only specific steps tools may assist; do not treat demonstrations as organizational adoption.
Check data sources, system reliability, and review responsibilities; this page has no occupation-specific adoption rate.
Without occupational job-outcome research, do not infer layoff timing, staffing changes, or hiring probability.
| Work area | Task | Current change | Human control point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Documents and entry | Enter documents and update inventory | Editorial hypothesis: draft organization may receive assistance; organizational adoption or job replacement has not been demonstrated. | Check agreement between physical items and documents. |
| Rates and data | Look up rates and calculate charges | May assist with lookups | Verify physical items / documents / rates and approval authority. Accurately record and escalate abnormalities. Automated text does not replace equipment operating authorization. |
| Physical verification | Check cargo and handle discrepancies | No automated decisions | Confirmed by clerks and supervisors. |
| Communication and handover | Communicate with carriers and departments | Cannot replace responsibility-based judgment | Clerks and responsible leads are accountable. |
Occupational sources describe actual tasks and subjects: documents and cargo, inventory and storage locations, packaging and transportation, charges and discrepancies. Tool capabilities, organizational adoption, and job outcomes are recorded separately; wage or employment data is not used as AI evidence.
Editorial comparison: drafts may receive assistance, but no adoption-sequencing evidence was obtained. Efficiency forecasts for RFID / automated inventory do not establish generative AI adoption rates. Retain physical, discrepancy, and handover checks.
AI primarily changesMay organize draft documents; distinguish barcodes / ERP / fixed-rate calculations from generative AI.
Human responsibility remainsPhysical verification
AI primarily changesMay summarize discrepancy descriptions; physical items, charges, and handovers still require verification.
Human responsibility remainsDefinition and calculation responsibility
Human control points: verify cargo and documents, judge and accurately record discrepancies, calculate charges under defined methods, communicate to solve and escalate problems, and take responsibility for record accuracy and compliance.
Confirm documents, cargo, and safety requirements.
Handle only within authorization and procedures.
Review records, discrepancies, and charges.
Promptly report discrepancies and abnormalities.
May cause incorrect receipt or dispatch.
Control: Verify physical items and documents and record discrepancies.
May cause billing errors.
Control: Calculate and review under defined methods.
May affect timeliness and accountability.
Control: Clarify and document handovers.
Practice document verification and recordkeeping.
Retain verification and discrepancy records.
Establish definitions, procedures, and safety standards first.
Task exposure, adoption, and job outcomes measure different things and cannot establish a date for job cuts.
Source: O*NET 43-5071.00 TasksOriginal source ↗
Only task hypotheses are listed; no adoption-sequencing or job-outcome research was obtained. People must verify actual tasks and authorization.
Source: O*NET 43-5071.00 TasksOriginal source ↗
There is no occupational adoption-rate source, so this page provides no such figures.
Source: O*NET 43-5071.00 Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks (Summary)Original source ↗
First conduct an offline exercise using entirely fictional incoming and outgoing documents and inventory records. Write verification, recordkeeping, and discrepancy-handling boundaries without relying on unverified automated checks to replace physical confirmation.
Only average annual wages are published
Insufficient evidence: not separately listed
Exact occupational wages were not obtained. Transportation, warehousing, and postal unit averages provide only corresponding employer context, not occupational medians or individual business income.
| Role scope | Reference value | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Not separately tabulated | Hiring depends on the employer and position | National Bureau of Statistics wage statistics are organized by industry and registration type, not by education levels within this occupation. |
| Not separately tabulated | Hiring depends on the employer and position | National Bureau of Statistics wage statistics are organized by industry and registration type, not by education levels within this occupation. |
| Not separately tabulated | Hiring depends on the employer and position | National Bureau of Statistics wage statistics are organized by industry and registration type, not by education levels within this occupation. |
| Not separately tabulated | Hiring depends on the employer and position | National Bureau of Statistics wage statistics are organized by industry and registration type, not by education levels within this occupation. |
133,981 yuan / year
73,133 yuan / year
129,441 yuan / year
Insufficient evidence: no nationwide occupational median wage, reference period, or statistical scope was obtained for material recording clerks in mainland China. This page displays only an industry proxy labeled as such; neither proxy figures nor US figures fill the gap.
| $38,200 / year |
| $18.37 / hour |
| 2025 US nationwide percentiles for occupation 43-5071, not seniority, starting pay, or a conversion of individual working hours. |
| P50 (median) | $45,260 / year | $21.76 / hour | 2025 US nationwide percentiles for occupation 43-5071, not seniority, starting pay, or a conversion of individual working hours. |
|---|
| P75 | $51,570 / year | $24.79 / hour | 2025 US nationwide percentiles for occupation 43-5071, not seniority, starting pay, or a conversion of individual working hours. |
|---|
| P90 | $62,190 / year | $29.90 / hour | 2025 US nationwide percentiles for occupation 43-5071, not seniority, starting pay, or a conversion of individual working hours. |
|---|
Wages · Median：$45,260 / year (2025)；O*NET 43-5071.00 National Wages (BLS OEWS Display)
Wages · Hourly median：$21.76 / hour (2025)；O*NET 43-5071.00 National Wages (BLS OEWS Display)
Wages · Lowest 10%：$34,650 / year (P10, 2025)；O*NET 43-5071.00 National Wages (BLS OEWS Display)
Wages · P90 percentile：$62,190 / year (P90, 2025)；O*NET 43-5071.00 National Wages (BLS OEWS Display)
Wages · Statistical scope：Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks（43-5071.00）；O*NET 43-5071.00 National Wages (BLS OEWS Display)
Full 2025 annual / hourly wage percentiles for occupation 43-5071, not seniority, starting pay, or take-home income.
Employment count in 2024, not the number of vacancies being recruited for.
Latest occupational 2025—2035 projections show an 8% decline and 61,300 average annual openings; older projections are separate, not individual hiring outcomes.
The industry table is a multi-occupation material recording proxy, including production planning / inspection recording, not exact industry values for 43-5071.
| Industry | Median annual wage (dollars / year) | How to interpret |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-occupation material recording group: manufacturing | $48,950 / year | May 2025, US multi-occupation material recording group proxy, not detailed occupation 43-5071; not a promise of individual income. |
| Multi-occupation material recording group: transportation and warehousing | $47,990 / year | May 2025, US multi-occupation material recording group proxy, not detailed occupation 43-5071; not a promise of individual income. |
| Multi-occupation material recording group: wholesale | $46,310 / year | May 2025, US multi-occupation material recording group proxy, not detailed occupation 43-5071; not a promise of individual income. |
| Multi-occupation material recording group: retail | $39,290 / year | May 2025, US multi-occupation material recording group proxy, not detailed occupation 43-5071; not a promise of individual income. |
ONet75% high school / 12% associate / 11% bachelor's is survey data. BLS group on-the-job training is typically up to one month; check specific role and practical equipment authorization separately.
Check evidence of accurate records / discrepancy handling and system use. No comparison of the hiring weights of work samples and certificates was obtained; paper exercises do not replace on-site equipment authorization.
Strongly affected by manufacturing and retail distribution; do not extrapolate across regions.
O*NET occupational interest baseline
Do not choose a career based on a single code.First observe your interest, stress, and experience during actual document verification, record processing, and communication and collaboration.
Activity preferences can only help design trials; they cannot determine qualifications or performance.
Check with work samples rather than replacing judgment with labels.
The O*NET interest code is CRE (Conventional–Realistic–Enterprising), emphasizing procedural information and data handling, hands-on handling of physical items, and coordinating administration. These labels describe activity preferences only and cannot determine competence or qualifications.
Do not use it this way: Hiring, qualifications, or performance cannot be inferred from this.
Start a career-interest trialCheck with work samples rather than replacing judgment with labels.
General personality measures such as the Big Five do not provide job evidence for this occupation and can only support self-reflection. Continue checking through real document verification, record processing, and communication and collaboration experiences.
Do not use it this way: Hiring, qualifications, or performance cannot be inferred from this.
Start a career-interest trialCheck with work samples rather than replacing judgment with labels.
Type-based tools such as MBTI and the Enneagram cannot determine competence or qualifications and can only support self-reflection.
Do not use it this way: Hiring, qualifications, or performance cannot be inferred from this.
Start a career-interest trialCheck with work samples rather than replacing judgment with labels.
Continue checking against real tasks, boundaries, and reviewable deliverables.
Do not use it this way: Hiring, qualifications, or performance cannot be inferred from this.
Start a career-interest trialCheck with work samples rather than replacing judgment with labels.
Continue checking against real tasks, boundaries, and reviewable deliverables.
Do not use it this way: Hiring, qualifications, or performance cannot be inferred from this.
Start a career-interest trialCheck with work samples rather than replacing judgment with labels.
Continue checking against real tasks, boundaries, and reviewable deliverables.
Do not use it this way: Hiring, qualifications, or performance cannot be inferred from this.
Start a career-interest trialFits better when: Can verify agreement between documents and cargo.
Watch for: Physical items and definitions must be checked.
Fits better when: Can accurately enter and maintain records.
Watch for: Data sources must be checked.
Fits better when: Can accurately record and handle discrepancies.
Watch for: Reporting routes must be checked.
Fits better when: Can determine shipping methods and rates.
Watch for: Costs and timeliness must be checked.
Fits better when: Can stack and implement protection according to procedures.
Watch for: Safety rules must be checked.
Fits better when: Can coordinate with carriers and departments.
Watch for: Responsibilities and handovers must be checked.
Use this page's work sample to check attention to detail and accuracy.
Check and record discrepancies according to procedures.
Record accurately and report according to procedures.
Assess calculation and review skills.
Assess communication and handover skills.
Assess safety and standards awareness.
Use verification and discrepancy records to enable review by others.
Complete an exercise using entirely fictional incoming and outgoing documents and inventory records.
Evidence：O*NET 43-5071.00 Tasks
Typical scenario：Discrepancies or damage are not recorded accurately.
Roles most affected：Recordkeeping and verification roles
Possible consequence：May affect traceability and claims.
How to reduce risk：Record accurately and report according to procedures.
Evidence：O*NET 43-5071.00 Tasks
Typical scenario：Incorrect freight or charge calculation definitions.
Roles most affected：Billing and recordkeeping roles
Possible consequence：May cause overcharging or undercharging.
How to reduce risk：Calculate and review according to rates and definitions.
Evidence：O*NET 43-5071.00 Tasks
Typical scenario：Stacking or handling fails safety requirements.
Roles most affected：Warehousing and handling roles
Possible consequence：May cause injury or cargo damage.
How to reduce risk：Check weight / handling tools and site stacking conditions and follow training. Seek help and escalate when safe handling is impossible; do not skip safety checks to rush orders.
Evidence：OSHA Warehousing Hazards
Typical scenario：Unclear handover or inadequate communication.
Roles most affected：Communication and handover roles
Possible consequence：May cause delays or unclear accountability.
How to reduce risk：Clarify and document handover contents.
Evidence：O*NET 43-5071.00 Tasks
Typical scenario：Operating forklifts or other equipment without authorization.
Roles most affected：Warehousing and handling roles
Possible consequence：May violate safety rules.
How to reduce risk：Recordkeeping training does not grant forklift operating rights. Check US OSHA vehicle / site practical evaluations and Chinese listed forklift N1 and employer authorization. Do not operate without authorization.
Evidence：OSHA Powered Industrial Trucks · Market Regulation Forklift N1
Typical scope：Entry stage: practice document verification, data entry and recordkeeping, packaging and labeling, and inventory and storage-location updates under supervision. Learn safety and compliance requirements and retain process records.
Readiness evidence：Evidence to show: use a reviewable recordkeeping and discrepancy-handling description covering document checks, data records, discrepancy handling, and reporting routes to demonstrate accurate records and honest problem handling.
Credential boundary：Verify training and employer requirements.
Next moves：Next step: check the target employer's systems and procedures, document and rate definitions, and safety and stacking rules. Validate checking, documentation, and communication skills through real supervised shipping and receiving.
Typical scope：Independently verify and document, with work subject to review.
Readiness evidence：Retain verification and discrepancy records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Moving toward greater responsibility: with experience, workers may handle complex shipments and carrier coordination, train newcomers, oversee inventory and process standards, or move into warehouse supervision, logistics dispatch, and supply chain roles.
Typical scope：Handle complex shipments and train newcomers.
Readiness evidence：Retain complex-shipment and training records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Add training and process records.
Typical scope：Oversee scheduling, procedures, and safety.
Readiness evidence：Retain scheduling and safety records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Add management and safety evidence.
Typical scope：Participate in transportation and dispatch under supervision.
Readiness evidence：Retain dispatch records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Build dispatch and route knowledge.
Typical scope：Independently handle dispatch and carrier coordination.
Readiness evidence：Retain coordination and records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Add carrier and cost evidence.
Typical scope：Oversee teams and carrier management.
Readiness evidence：Retain team and carrier records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Add management and negotiation evidence.
Typical scope：Oversee logistics systems and budgets.
Readiness evidence：Retain system and budget records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Add operations and governance evidence.
Typical scope：Participate in supply chain data and systems under supervision.
Readiness evidence：Retain data and system records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Build system and data foundations.
Typical scope：Independently handle data and process tasks.
Readiness evidence：Retain tasks and records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Add analysis and process evidence.
Typical scope：Handle data modeling and process optimization.
Readiness evidence：Retain analysis and optimization records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Add modeling and business evidence.
Typical scope：Oversee systems and cross-functional coordination.
Readiness evidence：Retain system and coordination records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Add governance and strategy evidence.
Confirm documents, cargo, and safety requirements.
Verify, document, and arrange transportation according to procedures.
Produce reviewable records and discrepancy handling.
Expand shipment and process responsibilities within authorized scope.
US nationwide · Display scope: Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks (43-5071.00)
About 69,300 openings / year (older version)
Projected average annual job openings
Older 2024—2034 annual average; the newer 2025—2035 occupational annual average is 61,300, not current vacancies or a period total.
Does not establish：Cannot represent an individual's probability of being hired.
US nationwide · Display scope: Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks (43-5071.00)
$45,260 / year
Median annual wage
The BLS 2025 OEWS nationwide median, not starting pay or take-home income.
Does not establish：Full 2025 wage percentiles were obtained for occupation 43-5071; they do not represent individual income or seniority.
These are capability relationships, not automatic promotions or credential waivers.
Transfers：Transferable capabilities: document and physical-item verification, data recording and discrepancy handling, warehouse system operation, packaging and transportation arrangements, charge calculations, and multi-party communication and coordination.
Build next：First target, industrial production manager: add production processes and quality control, personnel / equipment resource allocation, production plans / cost budgets, and team leadership. BLS typically indicates a bachelor's and years of related experience, with high school plus extensive production experience also possible. Shipping and receiving records and paper inventory samples cannot prove production management competence.
View career profileTransfers：Foundation in warehousing and transportation.
Build next：Add management and budget experience.
View career profileTransfers：Foundation in data and processes.
Build next：Add supply chain strategy experience.
View career profileTransfers：Foundation in data and processes.
Build next：Add modeling and analysis skills.
View career profileTransfers：Foundation in data and processes.
Build next：Add analysis and optimization skills.
View career profileTransfers：Foundation in shipping, receiving, and recordkeeping.
Build next：Add shipment receiving / counting, shelf replenishment, actual order picking and handling, and related customer collaboration. Familiarity with record systems does not automatically demonstrate these on-site tasks.
View career profileIndustrial production managers oversee production; transportation, storage, and distribution managers and supply chain managers oversee systems and teams; logistics analysts handle planning and analysis. Material recording clerks work at the execution level, handling incoming, outgoing, and inventory records and administration. Compare responsibility scope and authorization to distinguish them.
Observable signals: attention to detail and patience, accurate records, procedural checks and discrepancy handling, clear communication, and maintaining order under pressure. O*NET interest code CRE describes activity preferences only and cannot determine competence or qualifications.
Tools for barcodes and scanning, inventory and order systems, automated document generation, freight and rate lookup, and discrepancy and abnormality alerts may assist entry, verification, and record generation. People remain responsible for physical checks, discrepancy judgments, communication and resolution with carriers and internal departments, and recordkeeping. Tools cannot replace physical verification. This page presents tool uses only as task hypotheses, not evidence of widespread organizational adoption.
Human responsibilities include verifying cargo and documents, judging and accurately recording discrepancies, calculating charges under defined methods, communicating to resolve and escalate problems, and taking responsibility for record accuracy and compliance.
The National Bureau of Statistics publishes average annual wages for urban-unit employees by industry category without separately listing this occupation, so a safely matched nationwide occupational median cannot be established. This page displays only industry proxies labeled as such: in 2025, transportation, warehousing, and postal services paid 133,981 yuan / year in urban non-private units and 73,133 yuan / year in urban private units, while the nationwide total for urban non-private units was 129,441 yuan / year. None equals this occupation's median or starting pay. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security's enterprise compensation survey information is provided as a lookup entry point.
The O*NET page displays a 2025 BLS OEWS median annual wage of 45,260 dollars, approximately 21.76 dollars / hour, for occupation 43-5071.00. That page does not display percentile wages. These are US nationwide statistics, not individual take-home income or starting pay.
In the United States, this occupation is in Job Zone 1-2. Most positions require a high-school diploma and on-the-job training. Mainland China: there is no unified occupational qualification exactly corresponding to this O*NET occupation. Check warehouse and logistics clerk roles against employer and industry requirements; check forklift and on-site vehicle work against local safety and special-operation rules.
Main risks include document and physical-item mismatches, record and discrepancy concealment, charge and rate calculations, safety and stacking, and multi-party communication and handover. Controls include physical checks, accurate discrepancy records, calculations under defined methods, following safety and stacking rules, and proper handover and escalation. Check specific rules against employer procedures and applicable laws.
O*NET cites BLS data showing about 862,200 employed in this occupation in 2024, a projected decline of -1% or lower in 2024—2034, and about 69,300 job openings during the period. These are occupational statistics, not an individual's hiring probability. Overall decline does not mean every region or employer has no opportunities.
If you can maintain accuracy in repetitive administration under pressure and record discrepancies honestly, a low-cost exercise using entirely fictional incoming and outgoing documents and inventory records is worthwhile. Moving into warehouse supervision, logistics dispatch, or supply chain roles requires additional systems, process, and responsibility experience.
Evidence for China, the United States, and individual organizations is presented separately. Conclusions on wages, employment, qualifications / authorization, safety, and AI must not be combined across scopes. The material recording clerks page provides occupational judgment and recordkeeping exercise information and does not replace local laws, occupational safety standards, or other professional advice. Any statement of insufficient evidence means only that safely matched data was not established within a bounded search; proxies or memory are not used to fabricate figures.
FermatMind research workflow
2025 BLS OEWS wage data; accessed 2026-09-25
O*NET 43-5071.00 National Wages (BLS OEWS Display)
Limitations：Applies only to 43-5071.00 and the US market; does not establish a mapping to China.
Limitations：Task examples do not mean every position performs every task; they do not establish a mapping to China.
Limitations：US work context does not replace Chinese law or employer procedures.
Limitations：This page does not display percentile wages; the median does not represent starting pay or individual take-home income.
Limitations：Projections are not a hiring guarantee; decline does not mean individual opportunities necessarily decrease.
Limitations：Industry distribution signals employer settings, not projected growth or demand.
Limitations：Education distribution does not establish a mandatory requirement for every employer; it does not establish a mapping to China.
Limitations：Certification and training do not equal a scope of practice or employer hiring; check the applicable jurisdiction.
Limitations：Task exposure does not equal implemented automation, adoption, or layoffs; individual outcomes are not inferred.
Limitations：Industry averages are not occupational medians and exclude individually owned businesses and freelancers; no nationwide wage distribution matching the exact occupation was established.
Limitations：Covers urban enterprises, excluding government agencies and public institutions; this page did not obtain an exact occupational match and does not use it as a nationwide median.
Limitations：An editorial scale is not evidence of adoption rates, layoffs, regulations, or licensing.
Limitations：Group industry values are not detailed industry wages for 43-5071.
Limitations：US warehousing hazard reference, not Chinese law or an occupational accident rate.
Limitations：Applies only to corresponding US equipment / workplaces; ordinary recordkeeping training does not grant operating authority.
Limitations：Chinese listed forklifts, not all equipment / clerks.
Limitations：Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
Check source scope, limitations, and statistical periods separately against the original evidence. Source usage notes: O*NET 43-5071.00 Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks (Summary): provides occupational identity, the official description, interest code, Job Zone, skills, and knowledge for 43-5071.00. Wage and employment data on that page cover this occupation. O*NET 43-5071.00 Tasks: provides tasks including checking cargo and documents, requisitioning and storing packing materials, preparing work orders and bills of lading, packing, sealing, and labeling, recording discrepancies, contacting carriers, determining shipping methods and rates, and calculating charges. Task examples do not mean every position performs every task. O*NET 43-5071.00 Work Context: describes daily face-to-face communication and email and telephone use, often uncontrolled indoor work, repetitive tasks, common time pressure, and other contexts. US work context does not replace Chinese law or employer procedures. O*NET 43-5071.00 National Wages (BLS OEWS Display): 2025 BLS OEWS median wages for this occupation. This page does not display percentile wages. O*NET 43-5071.00 National Employment Trends: employment in 2024 and projections for growth, a decline of -1% or lower, and job openings in 2024—2034. Projections are not a hiring guarantee. Industries: 43-5071.00: the main industries on that page for 2024 are Manufacturing and Retail Trade. Industry distribution signals employer settings, not projected growth or demand. O*NET 43-5071.00 Education and Occupational Preparation: Job Zone 1-2; most positions require a high-school diploma or GED, approximately 75%, and on-the-job training ranges from several days to one year. Education distribution does not establish mandatory requirements for every employer. Licenses & Certifications: 43-5071.00: O*NET provides state licensing and national certification lookup entry points. Certification and training do not equal work authorization or employer hiring requirements. Generative AI and Jobs (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025): assesses occupational exposure to generative AI at the task level. An exposure index is not an adoption rate, job outcome, or hiring probability. Average Annual Wages of Employees in Urban Units in 2025: provides average annual wages by industry category for urban non-private and private units, including transportation, warehousing, and postal services. Industry averages are not occupational medians and exclude individually owned businesses and freelancers. FermatMind Task Impact Scale for Material Recording Clerks: organizes potentially assisted tasks and human control points for task-level AI and fit discussions. An editorial scale is not evidence of adoption rates, layoffs, regulations, or licensing.
