What Does a Warehouse Clerk Do?

Warehouse clerks are responsible for moving and storing goods in a warehouse or storage facility. They commonly work with a team of other employees, including forklift operators, truck drivers, and other specialized workers.

Warehouse clerks typically use a variety of equipment to fulfill their duties, including pallet jacks, hand trucks, dollies, and other tools that help them move heavy boxes and crates around the warehouse.

Warehouse Clerk Job Duties

Warehouse clerks have a wide range of responsibilities, which can include:

• Packaging and shipping orders to customers according to company policies and procedures
• Storing inventory in designated areas and maintaining inventory records of items in stock
• Verifying order information such as shipping dates, shipping method, or special handling requirements
• Receiving new merchandise from suppliers or manufacturers and storing it in a warehouse until it is ready to be shipped to customers
• Working with computerized inventory systems to record all incoming and outgoing shipments of merchandise
• Packaging and labeling products according to company standards, including identifying items with barcodes and shipping labels
• Examining returned products for defects or damage and notifying the shipping department of any issues that must be resolved before resending the item
• Receiving incoming shipments of products from suppliers or manufacturers and unpacking them for storage
• Communicating with customers about order status, shipping details, or other concerns related to their orders

Warehouse Clerk Salary & Outlook

Warehouse clerks are typically paid hourly, and their salaries can vary depending on a number of factors, including their level of experience, the size of the company they work for, and the location of the job.

• Median Annual Salary: $36,000 ($17.31/hour)
• Top 10% Annual Salary: $53,500 ($25.72/hour)

The employment of warehouse clerks is expected to grow slower than average over the next decade.

Warehouse clerks will be needed to keep up with the increasing e-commerce demand for products and to maintain productivity in warehouses. However, automation may limit the need for some warehouse clerks. Automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) are already used in some warehouses and allow workers to do more than one task at a time.

Related: Warehouse Clerk Interview Questions and Answers

Warehouse Clerk Job Requirements

Warehouse clerks typically need to have the following background:

Education: A high school diploma is often a minimum requirement for warehouse clerks. However, some employers may prefer candidates who have completed post-secondary education in warehouse management or logistics.

Training & Experience: Most warehouse clerks receive on-the-job training, which may last for a few weeks to a month. During this training period, the new employee will learn the company’s policies and procedures, as well as the specific technology and software they use. They will also learn how to use any specialized equipment, such as forklifts.

Certifications & Licenses: Certifications are not usually required for this role. However, certifications can give you a competitive edge over other candidates and demonstrate your abilities and aspirations to potential employers.

Warehouse Clerk Skills

Warehouse clerks need the following skills in order to be successful:

Attention to detail: Attention to detail is a crucial skill for warehouse clerks, as it allows them to perform their duties accurately and thoroughly. This can include keeping track of inventory, entering data accurately and maintaining a clean work environment. Attention to detail can also help you notice any errors or inconsistencies in data or paperwork, which can help you and your company save time and money.

Communication skills: Communication skills are essential for warehouse clerks, as they are often required to interact with a variety of people, including customers, managers and other warehouse staff. Effective communication skills can help you convey information clearly, answer questions and resolve issues.

Computer literacy: Warehouse clerks use computers to enter data, track shipments and manage inventory. Having strong computer literacy skills can help you navigate the software and programs used in a warehouse.

Inventory management: Inventory management is the ability to track and record the amount of product a company has in its possession. Warehouse clerks use inventory management skills to keep track of the products in a warehouse and ensure that the company has enough of each product to meet customer demand. Inventory management is a crucial skill for warehouse clerks because it ensures that the company has the right amount of product to sell to customers.

Organization: Organization is a crucial skill for warehouse clerks because they often handle a variety of tasks and paperwork throughout the day. Being able to keep track of different tasks and paperwork is important for these professionals. Warehouse clerks should also be able to organize their workspace and the workspace of their coworkers.

Warehouse Clerk Work Environment

Warehouse clerks work in large warehouses where they receive and store merchandise. They use a variety of machines to move the merchandise around the warehouse and to load and unload trucks. Most of the time, warehouse clerks work on their feet and may have to do a lot of heavy lifting. The work can be physically demanding and sometimes dangerous. Warehouse clerks typically work forty hours per week, but they may have to work overtime during busy periods. The work environment is usually loud and dusty, and the temperature can be very hot or very cold, depending on the season and the location of the warehouse.

Warehouse Clerk Trends

Here are three trends influencing how warehouse clerks work. Warehouse clerks will need to stay up-to-date on these developments to keep their skills relevant and maintain a competitive advantage in the workplace.

The Use of Robots in the Warehouse

The use of robots in the warehouse is a trend that is quickly gaining popularity among businesses. This is because robots can perform many tasks that are difficult for humans to do, such as lifting heavy objects or moving them across long distances.

As robots become more common in warehouses, clerks will need to learn how to work with them and understand their capabilities. This will allow them to be more efficient and productive in their jobs.

More Automation in the Warehouse

As automation becomes more prevalent in the warehouse, clerks will need to learn new skills to stay competitive.

One of the most important skills that clerks will need to learn is how to operate automated systems. This includes learning how to use software programs that run the warehouse, as well as understanding how to maintain and repair any equipment that breaks down. In addition, clerks will need to be able to work quickly and efficiently in order to keep up with the pace set by automation.

Greater Focus on Quality Control

As businesses focus more on quality control, they are beginning to rely on warehouse clerks to ensure that products meet the company’s standards.

This trend is leading to an increased demand for clerks who have experience in quality control procedures. As warehouses become more complex, clerks will need to be able to navigate through them quickly and efficiently in order to find products that need to be checked.

How to Become a Warehouse Clerk

A warehouse clerk career can be a great way to get your foot in the door of the logistics industry. As a warehouse clerk, you’ll learn about different types of products and how they’re shipped, which will give you a better understanding of the entire supply chain process. You’ll also gain experience working with a team and learning how to efficiently organize and move goods.

As you progress in your warehouse clerk career, you may want to specialize in a certain area, such as shipping or receiving. You could also move up the ladder and become a supervisor or manager.

Advancement Prospects

There are many opportunities for advancement for warehouse clerks. With experience, a warehouse clerk can become a lead warehouse clerk, and then a warehouse supervisor. Some warehouse clerks may also advance to become managers of small warehouses. Other warehouse clerks may become purchasing agents, buying the products that are stored in the warehouse. Still others may become sales representatives, selling the products stored in the warehouse to customers. With experience and additional education, a warehouse clerk can also become an industrial engineer, designing more efficient warehouse operations.

Warehouse Clerk Job Description Example

At [CompanyX], we are looking for a warehouse clerk to help with the organization and day-to-day running of our warehouse. The ideal candidate will be organized and efficient, with a keen eye for detail. They will be responsible for receiving and processing incoming shipments, as well as organizing and stocking inventory. They will also be responsible for maintaining cleanliness and safety in the warehouse. The warehouse clerk will report to the warehouse manager and will work closely with the shipping and receiving team.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Maintain cleanliness and organization of the warehouse at all times
• Adhere to all safety protocols while operating machinery and lifting heavy objects
• Unload incoming shipments and stock shelves accordingly
• Pull orders and stage them for shipment
• Keep an accurate inventory of all products in the warehouse
• Report any discrepancies to the warehouse manager
• Restock shelves as needed
• Operate forklifts and other machinery in a safe and efficient manner
• Assist with monthly inventory counts
• Help train new employees on warehouse procedures
• Fill out paperwork accurately and in a timely manner
• Perform general maintenance tasks as needed

Required Skills and Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Proven warehouse experience
• Forklift certification
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to lift heavy objects and stand for long periods of time
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in business, logistics, or related field
• 1-2 years supervisory experience
• Experience with warehouse management software
• Bilingualism