Your work. Your records.
Shipping and Inventory Clerk Workplace Records
Shipping, receiving and inventory clerks reconcile physical goods with manifests, orders and system entries. A workplace concern may arise when a discrepancy is attributed to the person who entered it rather than the stage where it occurred. Build a timeline that distinguishes receipt, inspection, data entry and dispatch. Keep the goods and customer details general in your personal employment summary.
Call now(800) 800-5555Free initial case evaluation. Representation depends on work state and case eligibility. This guide explains record preparation; it does not determine whether a legal claim exists.
A record map for your role
What to organize first
Handoff map
Identify who received, checked, entered and approved the relevant information, without assuming these were the same person.
Correction history
Record the instruction to change an entry and your response while leaving original operational records untouched.
Employment timeline
Match your own schedule, pay period and disciplinary correspondence to the dates of the shipping or inventory concern.
Start with the work you actually do
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.
O*NET classifies this occupation as Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks (43-5071.00). Its description covers a typical occupation, not every workplace or individual job. It does not establish employee status, overtime eligibility or employer misconduct.
- Examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy.Source task 20276 · updated 08/2019
- Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock.Source task 4742 · updated 08/2019
- Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials.Source task 4737 · updated 08/2019
- Pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare materials for shipping, using hand tools, power tools, or postage meter.Source task 20277 · updated 08/2019
A reference point for your pay records
May 2025 wage estimates by state
Compare your pay records with published BLS estimates for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks (SOC 43-5071). These describe an occupation across employers. They are not a required pay rate, an overtime calculation, or evidence of discrimination or unpaid wages.
Select your work state to see its published pay range. No personal pay information is requested or sent.
The 25th and 75th percentiles mark the middle half of the estimated wage distribution; the median is its midpoint. Actual pay can differ with experience, employer, location and duties. Hourly and annual figures are shown as published, without converting one into the other.
All published state estimates for this occupation
| State | Hourly 25th | Hourly median | Hourly 75th | Annual median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $16.83 | $18.72 | $22.96 | $38,940 |
| Alaska | $19.11 | $23.03 | $29.86 | $47,900 |
| Arizona | $18.65 | $21.83 | $24.48 | $45,410 |
| Arkansas | $16.80 | $19.47 | $23.77 | $40,500 |
| Connecticut | $19.49 | $22.02 | $25.75 | $45,810 |
| Delaware | $18.33 | $21.21 | $23.76 | $44,120 |
| Florida | $17.41 | $19.57 | $23.43 | $40,700 |
| Georgia | $17.73 | $20.97 | $23.47 | $43,630 |
| Hawaii | $20.18 | $23.87 | $31.67 | $49,660 |
| Idaho | $17.38 | $19.92 | $23.36 | $41,430 |
| Indiana | $19.31 | $22.75 | $26.75 | $47,320 |
| Iowa | $19.53 | $22.88 | $26.13 | $47,590 |
| Kansas | $17.96 | $21.21 | $23.55 | $44,110 |
| Kentucky | $17.56 | $20.59 | $23.48 | $42,830 |
| Louisiana | $16.48 | $19.32 | $23.37 | $40,180 |
| Maine | $20.18 | $22.67 | $25.87 | $47,160 |
| Michigan | $18.49 | $21.70 | $24.04 | $45,140 |
| Minnesota | $20.00 | $23.03 | $27.29 | $47,890 |
| Mississippi | $16.85 | $18.57 | $22.11 | $38,620 |
| Missouri | $17.91 | $20.91 | $24.00 | $43,480 |
| Montana | $17.75 | $20.96 | $23.41 | $43,590 |
| Nebraska | $17.98 | $21.21 | $23.90 | $44,110 |
| New Hampshire | $20.12 | $23.06 | $26.94 | $47,960 |
| New Mexico | $16.95 | $18.68 | $22.73 | $38,860 |
| New York | $19.13 | $22.65 | $27.13 | $47,100 |
| North Carolina | $17.63 | $20.69 | $23.55 | $43,040 |
| North Dakota | $18.58 | $22.46 | $27.08 | $46,730 |
| Ohio | $18.61 | $21.76 | $23.97 | $45,270 |
| Oklahoma | $17.31 | $19.74 | $23.69 | $41,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $18.55 | $22.01 | $25.21 | $45,780 |
| Rhode Island | $18.40 | $21.89 | $26.21 | $45,520 |
| South Dakota | $17.81 | $21.00 | $23.43 | $43,680 |
| Tennessee | $17.98 | $21.60 | $23.91 | $44,920 |
| Texas | $17.38 | $20.29 | $23.04 | $42,190 |
| Utah | $18.77 | $18.77 | $22.35 | $39,050 |
| Vermont | $20.50 | $23.60 | $27.71 | $49,080 |
| Virginia | $18.02 | $21.29 | $24.39 | $44,290 |
| West Virginia | $16.01 | $19.20 | $23.75 | $39,940 |
| Wisconsin | $19.62 | $22.83 | $26.45 | $47,490 |
| Wyoming | $17.42 | $20.67 | $25.89 | $43,000 |
“Not published” preserves unavailable or suppressed source cells. “Above reporting limit” preserves a top-coded source value without inventing a number. A missing state estimate does not establish service eligibility. The data describe wage and salary employment; they do not measure self-employment income.
Source: BLS May 2025 state workbook · OEWS tables · BLS technical notes. Use your own schedule, pay statement and compensation terms to identify the question you want reviewed.
Trace the discrepancy through handoffs
Identify the shipment stage you handled and what you personally verified, such as a package count or visible damage. Note who supplied the source document and whether another person approved a change. If you were asked to correct an entry, record the instruction and when it occurred. Do not replace an original discrepancy with a reconstructed figure to make the account appear complete.
Separate throughput from available resources
When workload or performance is disputed, describe the assigned dock, queue and relevant interruptions, including missing paperwork or unavailable packing supplies. Link the context to the actual target communicated to you. Preserve your own schedule and time records for the period. A system timestamp may reflect a batch entry rather than the moment you physically performed the task.
Keep operational records controlled
Do not export manifests, customer addresses, carrier accounts or the inventory database into personal storage. Instead, identify the relevant record type and date for review and keep employment communications you may lawfully retain. Avoid photographing labels or screens containing shipment details. Your personal notes should explain the workplace interaction without exposing the destination, contents or value of particular customer orders.
Choose your next step
Review the workplace retaliation guide, unpaid wages guide, or discrimination guide if those concerns fit your experience. A job title alone does not establish a claim.
Call now(800) 800-5555Current service-state coverage
AK, AL, AR, AZ, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY. Eligibility is evaluated individually; this list does not promise representation.
Explore state resources