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Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks

The short answer

This job is expected to meaningfully change. AI can already assist with or automate many of its tasks. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to shrink over the next decade, with about 2,432 openings expected each year.

Step 1

Where your job stands

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second most exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. That doesn't mean the job goes away—it means more of its tasks are the kind AI can help with.

How much AI could touch this job

More exposedband 4 of 5
least exposedmost exposed

Looking at the job itself, AI could help with about a third of this job's tasks.

What this means

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second most exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.

Step 2

What AI can and can’t help with in this job

The score comes from the real, day-to-day tasks of this job—not a guess about the job as a whole. Below are the tasks that matter most in this job, split by whether AI can help with them.

AI can help with or automate about 73% of the tasks in this job.

Tasks AI can help with or automate

  1. Examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

  2. Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials.

    AI could do much of this on its own

  3. Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes.

    AI could do much of this on its own

  4. Confer or correspond with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, or nonconformance to specifications.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

  5. Contact carrier representatives to make arrangements or to issue instructions for shipping and delivery of materials.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

Tasks AI can't do much of

  1. Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  2. Pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare materials for shipping, using hand tools, power tools, or postage meter.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  3. Deliver or route materials to departments using handtruck, conveyor, or sorting bins.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

Step 3

Jobs you could switch to

If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.

See related jobs in

The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.

  • Postal Service Clerks

    Very similar work
    +33% pay591 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays about 33% more—$64,174 vs your $48,217 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Administrative
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Oral Expression
    • Speaking

    New skills to build

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Sales and Marketing
  • Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping

    Very similar work
    slightly less pay232 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays slightly less—$48,083 vs your $48,217 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Oral Expression
    • Information Ordering
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Oral Comprehension

    Your current skills largely cover this move.

  • Postal Service Mail Carriers

    Similar work
    +32% pay1,775 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays about 32% more—$63,536 vs your $48,217 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Oral Expression
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Near Vision
    • English Language
    • Written Comprehension

    New skills to build

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Sales and Marketing
  • Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators

    Similar work
    +24% pay878 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays about 24% more—$59,852 vs your $48,217 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Monitoring

    Your current skills largely cover this move.

  • Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

    Similar work
    slightly less pay11,417 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays slightly less—$45,611 vs your $48,217 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • English Language
    • Education and Training
    • Production and Processing
    • Oral Comprehension

    New skills to build

    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Reaction Time
  • Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers

    Somewhat similar work
    +168% pay638 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 168% more—$129,313 vs your $48,217 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with 5 years or more of experience.

    Getting ready typically takes two to four years.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Oral Expression
    • Speaking
    • Problem Sensitivity

    New skills to build

    • Administration and Management
    • Transportation
    • Personnel and Human Resources
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Systems Evaluation
  • Machine Feeders and Offbearers

    Somewhat similar work
    slightly less pay94 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays slightly less—$44,400 vs your $48,217 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Oral Expression
    • Production and Processing
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Monitoring

    New skills to build

    • Control Precision
    • Reaction Time
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Rate Control