The Average Salaries of Stock Clerks
Stock clerks, sometimes called order fillers, receive boxes of goods in stores, warehouses and stock rooms; unpack them; mark items with codes and prices; and arrange the goods on shelves for customers to buy. They may also prepare and pack items for shipment, or help customers locate them. No education beyond a high school diploma or GED is required, since employers train these workers.
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Work
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Stock clerks typically work in well-lighted, climate-controlled stockrooms, especially when dealing with perishables. However, they may also toil in dark, damp and dingy rooms. They must be able to stand and walk for long hours, and lift and carry boxes that may weight up to 100 pounds. They normally work a 40-hour week, though hours may be longer during inventory or holiday seasons. As of May 2009, their median salary was $20,960 annually, with a range of $15,930 to $35,130. This is equivalent to $10.08 hourly, with a range of $7.66 to $16.89. These figures are the latest available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Employers
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The largest employers of stock clerks were grocery stores, with 22 percent of the available 1.86 million jobs. They paid a mean $10.84 per hour or $22,560 per year. Second for employment were department stores, with 18 percent of the total jobs, paying a mean $9.77 per hour or $20,320 per year. The highest paying employer was the Postal Service at a mean $25.32 per hour or $52,650 per year for 2,230 jobs. That was followed by motor vehicle manufacturing, which offered means of $21.97 per hour or $45,700 per year for 700 jobs.
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Geography
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The District of Columbia was the highest payer at a mean $16 per hour or $33,280 per year for 1,160 jobs. Still among the top paying locations, Washington had lower means of $13.14 hourly or $27,320 yearly, and better opportunities with 37,370 positions. For cities, the best means were in Fairbanks, Alaska, where a high cost of living boosted mean pay to $14.68 per hour or $30,530 per year for 310 jobs. Still among the top five for salaries, Seattle, Washington, had slightly lower means at $14.14 per hour or $29,400 for a much higher number of jobs at 17,420.
Outlook
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The BLS predicts jobs for stock clerks to grow by seven percent from 2008 to 2018, which is about average for all occupations. Most of the demand will continue to be in retail, primarily in grocery and department stores, where stocking and retrieving items are difficult to automate. Opportunities are excellent because the job has a high turnover rate, which is typical of large occupations with almost no educational and training requirements.
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References
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