Career profile for Stock Clerk

What does a Stock Clerk do?

Stock Clerks receive, store, and issue merchandise, materials, equipment, and other items from stockroom, warehouse, or storage yard to fill shelves, racks, tables, or customers' orders.

In addition, Stock Clerks

may operate power equipment to fill orders,
may mark prices on merchandise and set up sales displays.

What kind of tasks does a Stock Clerk perform regularly?

Stock Clerks are often responsible for overseeing or executing some or all of the following tasks:

Complete order receipts.
Obtain merchandise from bins or shelves.
Pack and unpack items to be stocked on shelves in stockrooms, warehouses, or storage yards.
Read orders to ascertain catalog numbers, sizes, colors, and quantities of merchandise.
Store items in an orderly and accessible manner in warehouses, tool rooms, supply rooms, or other areas.
Examine and inspect stock items for wear or defects, reporting any damage to supervisors.
Stock shelves, racks, cases, bins, and tables with new or transferred merchandise.
Answer customers' questions about merchandise and advise customers on merchandise selection.
Receive and count stock items, and record data manually or on computer.
Stamp, attach, or change price tags on merchandise, referring to price list.
Compare merchandise invoices to items actually received to ensure that shipments are correct.
Itemize and total customer merchandise selection at checkout counter, using cash register, and accept cash or charge card for purchases.
Transport packages to customers' vehicles.
Mark stock items, using identification tags, stamps, electric marking tools, or other labeling equipment.
Take inventory or examine merchandise to identify items to be reordered or replenished.
Provide assistance or direction to other stockroom, warehouse, or storage yard workers.
Issue or distribute materials, products, parts, and supplies to customers or coworkers, based on information from incoming requisitions.
Design and set up advertising signs and displays of merchandise on shelves, counters, or tables to attract customers and promote sales.
Clean display cases, shelves, and aisles.
Pack customer purchases in bags or cartons.
Dispose of damaged or defective items, or return them to vendors.
Clean and maintain supplies, tools, equipment, and storage areas to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
Recommend disposal of excess, defective, or obsolete stock.
Keep records on the use or damage of stock or stock-handling equipment.

The above responsibilities are specific to Stock Clerks. More generally, Stock Clerks are involved in several broader types of activities:

Activities	Importance	Details
Handling and Moving Objects		Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates		Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Getting Information		Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Performing General Physical Activities		Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships		Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Handling and Moving Objects

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Getting Information

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Performing General Physical Activities

Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

What is a Stock Clerk salary?

The median salary for a Stock Clerk is $29,190, and the average salary is $31,010. Both the median and average roughly describe the middle of the Stock Clerk salary range, but the average is more easily affected by extremely high or low salaries.

Many Stock Clerks earn significantly more or less than the average, due to several factors. About 10% of Stock Clerks earn less than $21,410 per year, 25% earn less than $24,870, 75% earn less than $35,490, and 90% earn less than $42,930.

Between the years of 2020 and 2030, the number of Stock Clerks is expected to change by 4.3%, and there should be roughly 360,500 open positions for Stock Clerks every year.

Median annual salary: $29,190
Typical salary range: $21,410 - $42,930
Projected growth (2020 - 2030): 4.3%

What personality traits are common among Stock Clerks?

Interests

Career interests describe a person's preferences for different types of working environments and activities. When a person's interest match the demands of an occupation, people are usually more engaged and satisfied in that role.

Compared to most occupations, those who work as a Stock Clerk are usually higher in their Conventional and Realistic interests.

Stock Clerks typically have very strong Conventional interests. Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Also, Stock Clerks typically have strong Realistic interests. Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Values

People differ in their values, or what is most important to them for building job satisfaction and fulfillment.

Compared to most people, those working as a Stock Clerk tend to value Relationships, Support, and Independence.

Most importantly, Stock Clerks moderately value Relationships. Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Second, Stock Clerks moderately value Support. Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.

Lastly, Stock Clerks somewhat value Independence. Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions.

Psychological Demands

Each occupation brings its own set of psychological demands, which describe the characteristics necessary to perform the job well.

In order to perform their job successfully, people who work as Stock Clerks must consistently demonstrate qualities such as attention to detail, dependability, and cooperation.

Below, you'll find a list of qualities typically required of Stock Clerks, ranked by importance:

Demands	Importance	Details
Attention to Detail		Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability		Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Cooperation		Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Integrity		Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self-Control		Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Attention to Detail

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Dependability

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Cooperation

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Integrity

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Self-Control

Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

What education and training do Stock Clerks need?

Working as a Stock Clerk usually requires a high school diploma.

Stock Clerks need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with this occupation.

Educational degrees among Stock Clerks

12.7% did not complete high school or secondary school
43.0% completed high school or secondary school
24.7% completed some college coursework
8.3% earned a Associate's degree
9.5% earned a Bachelor's degree
1.5% earned a Master's degree
0.4% earned a doctorate or professional degree

Knowledge and expertise required by Stock Clerks

Stock Clerks may benefit from understanding of specialized subject areas, such as customer and personal service, mathematics, or production and processing knowledge.

The list below shows several areas in which most Stock Clerks might want to build proficiency, ranked by importance.

Knowledge areas	Importance	Details
Customer and Personal Service		Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Mathematics		Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Production and Processing		Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Sales and Marketing		Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Administration and Management		Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Production and Processing

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Sales and Marketing

Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Administration and Management

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Important Abilities needed by Stock Clerks

Stock Clerks must develop a particular set of abilities to perform their job well. Abilities are individual capacities that influence a person's information processing, sensory perception, motor coordination, and physical strength or endurance. Individuals may naturally have certain abilities without explicit training, but most abilities can be sharpened somewhat through practice.

For example, Stock Clerks need abilities such as oral expression, oral comprehension, and near vision in order to perform their job at a high level. The list below shows several important abilities for Stock Clerks, ranked by their relative importance.

Abilities	Importance	Details
Oral Expression		The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension		The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Near Vision		The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Information Ordering		The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Speech Clarity		The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Information Ordering

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Speech Clarity

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Critical Skills needed by Stock Clerks

Skills are developed capacities that enable people to function effectively in real-world settings. Unlike abilities, skills are typically easier to build through practice and experience. Skills influence effectiveness in areas such as learning, working with others, design, troubleshooting, and more.

Stock Clerks frequently use skills like speaking, active listening, and critical thinking to perform their job effectively. The list below shows several critical skills for Stock Clerks, ranked by their relative importance.

Skills	Importance	Details
Speaking		Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening		Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking		Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Coordination		Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Social Perceptiveness		Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

What is the source of this information?

The information provided on this page is adapted from data and descriptions published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration under the CC BY 4.0 license. TraitLab has modified some information for ease of use and reading, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this information, please send a message.

Career profile Stock Clerk

Stock Clerk

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