Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks

Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks score 50 out of 100, which is elevated exposure to AI. That ranks #214 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 11 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 3 on its own and 5 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 2 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

50/ 100

Elevated

Rank: #214of 923 jobs
US workers: 816,870BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $45,260a year
In real AI use: 2 of 11tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 3 (27%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 5 (45%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 3 (27%)

Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
Compute amounts, such as space available, shipping, storage, or demurrage charges, using computer or price list.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Confer or correspond with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, or nonconformance to specifications.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Contact carrier representatives to make arrangements or to issue instructions for shipping and delivery of materials.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Determine shipping methods, routes, or rates for materials to be shipped.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Compare shipping routes or methods to determine which have the least environmental impact.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare materials for shipping, using hand tools, power tools, or postage meter.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Deliver or route materials to departments using handtruck, conveyor, or sorting bins.Little or no AI speed-up · core task

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Questions about shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks and AI

Will AI replace shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks?

Not entirely. Parts of the job are likely to change as AI takes over routine tasks. Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks score 50 out of 100 (elevated exposure), #214 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 8 of the job's 11 tasks, 3 of them on its own, while 3 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials"; "Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes"; "Compute amounts, such as space available, shipping, storage, or demurrage charges, using computer or price list".

Which shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock"; "Pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare materials for shipping, using hand tools, power tools, or postage meter"; "Deliver or route materials to departments using handtruck, conveyor, or sorting bins".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 2 of the 11 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks, and what do they earn?

About 816,870 people in the US, with median pay of $45,260 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.