Retail Receiving Clerk Salary in the United States

How much does a Retail Receiving Clerk make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Retail Receiving Clerk in the United States is $35,603 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.

However, a Retail Receiving Clerk's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $41,069
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $33,428 to $38,464
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $31,448

Key Factors That Influence Retail Receiving Clerk Salaries

A Retail Receiving Clerk's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Retail Receiving Clerk Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Retail Receiving Clerk's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $34,369
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $34,532
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $34,954
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $35,603
  • Expert (over 8 years): $37,098
Levels Salary
Entry Level Retail Receiving Clerk$34,369
Intermediate Level Retail Receiving Clerk$34,532
Senior Level Retail Receiving Clerk$34,954
Specialist Level Retail Receiving Clerk$35,603
Expert Level Retail Receiving Clerk$37,098

Top Paying Cities for Retail Receiving Clerk

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $44,906
  • San Francisco: $44,414
  • Oakland: $43,478

What Skills Can Increase a Retail Receiving Clerk's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 22.25% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Product Knowledge (Mentioned in 2.07% Job Postings): Product knowledge is the ability to communicate information and answer questions about a product or service. It is considered an important knowledge area for any role that puts you in front of customers, investors or the media.
  • Loss Prevention (Mentioned in 1.53% Job Postings): Loss prevention refers to measures taken to prevent the loss of life, health, and property. In the workplace, this involves preventing accidents, reducing risks, and controlling known hazards.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 22.25%
Product Knowledge 2.07%
Loss Prevention 1.53%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Retail Receiving Clerk's salary.

  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 53%.
  • Interviewing: Can increase your salary by up to 43%.
  • Conflict Management: Can increase your salary by up to 34%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Presentation $54,473
53%
Interviewing $50,912
43%
Conflict Management $47,708
34%

Retail Receiving Clerk Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Retail Receiving Clerk salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $39,258. While startup companies pay approximate $33,105.

Retail Receiving Clerk Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $33,105
Growth Stage 51~500 $35,044
Established 501~5000 $37,885
Enterprise 5000+ $39,258

Retail Receiving Clerk Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Retail Receiving Clerk roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Media, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Retail Receiving Clerk positions in Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Retail Receiving Clerk as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Retail Receiving Clerk

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Media$39,163$19.010%
Retail & Wholesale$39,163$19.010%

How Education impacts an Retail Receiving Clerk's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Retail Receiving Clerk enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Retail Receiving Clerk with a Bachelor's Degree is between $32,394 and $35,276.

Retail Receiving Clerk Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Retail Receiving Clerk
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.6%
High School 56.3%
Associates 16.1%
Bachelors 20.7%
Masters 2.3%
Doctorate 0.0%

Retail Receiving Clerk Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Retail Receiving Clerk's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$33,428
Average $35,603/year
$38,464
$2,786
Average $2,967/month
$3,205
$643
Average $685/week
$740
$16
Average $17/hour
$18
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $38,464 $3,205 $740 $18
Average $35,603 $2,967 $685 $17
25th Percentile $33,428 $2,786 $643 $16

Most common benefits for Retail Receiving Clerk

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Retail Receiving Clerk

Here are companies hiring for Retail Receiving Clerk and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Retail Receiving Clerk Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Retail Receiving Clerk job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Retail Receiving Clerk

1. Where can a Retail Receiving Clerk earn the most?

A Retail Receiving Clerk's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Retail Receiving Clerk earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Retail Receiving Clerk is $44,906.

2. What is the highest pay for Retail Receiving Clerk?

The highest pay for Retail Receiving Clerk is $41,069.

3. What is the lowest pay for Retail Receiving Clerk?

The lowest pay for Retail Receiving Clerk is $31,448.

4. What are the responsibilities of Retail Receiving Clerk?

Maintains inventory control in-store merchandise receiving area, works with delivery personnel, and counts and checks in merchandise received. Records incoming deliveries in system according to required procedures. Identifies damaged merchandise. Typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Retail Receiving Clerk?

The Media industry offers the highest average compensation for Retail Receiving Clerk roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst