Stock Clerks Career Information
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Nature of the Work
Stock clerks and order fillers receive, unpack,
check, store, and track merchandise or materials. They keep records of items
entering or leaving the stockroom and inspect damaged or spoiled goods. They
sort, organize, and mark items with identifying codes, such as prices or stock
or inventory control codes, so that inventories can be located quickly and easily.
They also may be required to lift cartons of various sizes.
In larger establishments, where they may be responsible for only one task, they
may be called stock-control clerk, merchandise distributor, or
property custodian. In smaller firms, they also may perform tasks usually
handled by shipping and receiving clerks.
In many firms, stock clerks and order fillers use hand-held scanners connected to computers to keep inventories up to date. In retail stores, stock clerks bring merchandise to the sales floor and stock shelves and racks. In stockrooms and warehouses, stock clerks store materials in bins, on floors, or on shelves. Instead of putting the merchandise on the sales floor or on shelves, order fillers take customer orders and either hold the merchandise until the customer can pick it up or send it to them.
Employment
Stock clerks and order fillers held about 1.7 million jobs in 2009; they were, by far, the largest material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing occupation. About 76 percent work in wholesale and retail trade. The greatest numbers are found in grocery stores, followed by department stores. Jobs for stock clerks are found in all parts of the country, but most work in large urban areas that have many large suburban shopping centers, warehouses, and factories.
Training, Qualifications, Adv.
Job Outlook
Employment of stock clerks and order fillers is projected to for all occupations through 2010, due to the use of automation in factories and stores. Because this occupation is very large and many jobs are entry level, however, numerous job openings will occur each year to replace those who transfer to other jobs or leave the labor force.
The growing use of computers for inventory control and the installation of new, automated equipment are expected to slow growth in demand for stock clerks and order fillers. This is especially true in manufacturing and wholesale trade industries whose operations are most easily automated. In addition to computerized inventory control systems, firms in these industries rely more on sophisticated conveyor belts and automatic high stackers to store and retrieve goods. Also, expanded use of battery-powered, driverless, automatically guided vehicles can be expected.
Employment of stock clerks and order fillers who work in grocery, general merchandise, department, apparel, and accessories stores is expected to be somewhat less affected by automation because much of their work is done manually and is difficult to automate. In addition, the increasing role of large retail outlets and warehouses, as well as catalogue, mail, telephone, and Internet shopping services, should bolster employment of stock clerks and order fillers in these sectors of retail trade.
Median annual earnings of stock clerks and order fillers in May 2009 were $20,100. The middle 50 percent earned between $16,250 and $25,910. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $13,970, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $33,420.
These workers usually receive the same benefits as most other workers. If uniforms are required, employers generally provide them or offer an allowance to purchase them.
Workers who also handle, move, organize, store, and keep records of materials include shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks; production, planning, and expediting clerks; cargo and freight agents; and procurement clerks.Related Occupations
Sources of Additional Information
State employment service offices can provide
information about job openings for stock clerks and order fillers.
General information about stock clerks and order fillers in retail trade can be obtained from:
National Retail Federation, 325 Seventh St. NW., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004.