Stockers and Order Fillers
Machines can already do 25% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 65%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Stockers and Order Fillers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 25% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2033, and 65% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 2,833,810 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $37,330 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 77% for contact with people.
- Also called: Checker Stocker, Inventory Technician (Inventory Tech), Label Maker, Marking Clerk.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock shelves, racks, cases, bins, and tables with new or transferred merchandise | 22% | 20% to 60% | |
| Obtain merchandise from bins or shelves | 13% | 20% to 60% | |
| Receive, unload, open, unpack, or issue sales floor merchandise | 10% | 20% to 60% | |
| Receive and count stock items, and record data manually or on computer | 6% | 30% to 75% | |
| Operate equipment such as forklifts | 6% | 30% to 75% | |
| Take inventory or examine merchandise to identify items to be reordered or replenished | 4% | 30% to 75% | |
| Store items in an orderly and accessible manner in warehouses, tool rooms, supply rooms, or other areas | 4% | 20% to 60% | |
| Answer customers' questions about merchandise and advise customers on merchandise selection | 3% | 40% to 68% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills stockers and order fillers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Postal Service Mail Carriers63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $60,550
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops61% of tasks by 2035 · US median $37,080
- Orderlies56% of tasks by 2035 · US median $38,290
- Animal Caretakers51% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,360
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Stockers and Order Fillers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2033. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of stockers and order fillers?
Machines can do 25% of the tasks of stockers and order fillers today and 65% 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 53-7065.00 (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). Stockers and Order Fillers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/stockers-and-order-fillers/