Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
Machines can already do 36% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 69%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 36% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2031, and 69% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 816,870 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $45,260 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 77% for contact with people.
- Also called: Materials Control Associate, Order Fulfillment Specialist, Receiver, Receiving Associate.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy | 21% | 20% to 60% | |
| Pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare materials for shipping, using hand tools, power tools, or postage meter | 18% | 20% to 60% | |
| Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes | 14% | 70% to 95% | |
| Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials | 13% | 70% to 95% | |
| Deliver or route materials to departments using handtruck, conveyor, or sorting bins | 10% | 30% to 75% | |
| Confer or correspond with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, or nonconformance to specifications | 7% | 20% to 40% | |
| Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock | 5% | 20% to 60% | |
| Contact carrier representatives to make arrangements or to issue instructions for shipping and delivery of materials | 5% | 10% to 27% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders60% of tasks by 2035 · US median $48,250
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers65% of tasks by 2035 · US median $60,600
- Library Assistants, Clerical62% of tasks by 2035 · US median $36,910
- Funeral Attendants53% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,680
What should you do about it?
Open this job in the Workforce Starburst to see it for your country, then use these to act on it.
Watch This Job
Get told when the outlook for this job changes.
Free planSkills to learn next
The skills that make this job, or the next one, last longer.
In the StarburstCheck your readiness
Ten quick questions on how ready you are.
FreeAsk Vantage
Ask what this job means for you and get a sourced answer.
Free to askFutures Academy courses
Courses matched to your gaps.
Coming soonPay trend
Where pay for this job is heading.
Coming soonTeam plan
Every role in your team, side by side, with a plan for each.
Pro and CorporateShared workspace
Work through it with your team, with notes and decisions kept.
Pro and Corporate
Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2031. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks?
Machines can do 36% of the tasks of shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks today and 69% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 43-5071.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/shipping-receiving-and-inventory-clerks/