Career comparison
Shipping and Receiving Clerk vs. Weigher and Checker
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Weigher and checkers earn more at the median ($46,380 vs. $45,260), while shipping and receiving clerks usually get to work faster (1–4 weeks of training). Shipping and receiving clerks track what comes in and goes out of warehouses, stores and plants. Weigher and checkers weigh, measure and check shipments and materials for accurate records.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Shipping and Receiving Clerk | Weigher and Checker | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $45,260 ($21.76/hr) | $46,380 ($22.30/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $34,650 – $62,190 | $35,290 – $60,910 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -7.6% (a projected decline) | -4.8% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 61,300 | 4,700 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 1–4 weeks | A few weeks on the job |
| Key credential | Forklift operator training | Public weighmaster license |
| Work setting | Clerks work in warehouses, distribution centers, plants and stores, at docks and desks. | Workers are in scale houses, warehouses, docks and plants.. |
What each job does
Shipping and Receiving Clerk
- Check incoming shipments against paperwork
- Record receipts in inventory systems
- Report damages, shortages and overages
- Prepare and label outgoing shipments
- Create bills of lading and shipping documents
Weigher and Checker
- Weigh shipments
- Measure goods
- Count items
- Take samples
- Compare to paperwork
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, hands-on work, and steady routines. Both are part of the transportation & logistics field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose shipping and receiving clerk if…
- I’m accurate with numbers and details
- I like organizing things
- I don’t mind physical work
Choose weigher and checker if…
- I’m very accurate
- I’m honest
- I like routine
Still torn? Take the Shipping and Receiving Clerk fit quiz and the Weigher and Checker fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, shipping and receiving clerk or weigher and checker?
Weigher and Checkers earn more at the median: $46,380 versus $45,260 for shipping and receiving clerks, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Shipping and Receiving Clerks typically train faster (1–4 weeks) than weigher and checkers (A few weeks on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects weigher and checkers to grow -4.8% from 2025–35, compared with -7.6% for shipping and receiving clerks.