Import & Export Clerk: Job & Salary
Import/export clerks work to keep the life force of international trade flowing. Read below to learn more about this career which is integral to the smooth running of the global economy.
Career Overview
Import/export clerks perform many tasks as part of their duties. These duties range from receiving orders and packing items to ship to arranging shipping routes, invoicing, and monitoring order status.
The chart below shows the education requirements, job duties, and salary of import/export clerks.
<table border="1"><tr><td> <b>Degree Required</b> </td><td> High school diploma</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Key Responsibilities</b> </td><td> Shipping, data entry, billing, shipment tracking, and documentation</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Median Salary (2020)</b> </td><td>$35,260 (for all shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks)*</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Job Outlook (2020-2030)</b> </td><td>-6% (for all shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatSkillsDoINeedToHaveToBeAnImportExportClerk">What Skills Do I Need to Have to Be an Import/Export Clerk?</h3><p>Import/export clerks need to have basic computer skills. As the global economy becomes increasingly digital and technology dependent, import/export clerks need to be able to use computers to do their jobs. Import/export clerks also need to be excellent communicators. As a position that deals with international trade, import/export clerks need to be able to be understood by their counterparts in other countries. Finally, import/export clerks need to have a keen eye for detail.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatShouldIStudy">What Should I Study?</h3><p>Import/export clerks are not required to have a degree. However, having a degree may make it easier to find a position. Additionally, a degree in a field such as business may be necessary for a promotion after you have been hired as an import/export clerk.
</p><h3 id="section---DoINeedToKnowAForeignLanguage">Do I Need to Know a Foreign Language?</h3><p>No, you do not need to know a foreign language to work as an import/export clerk. However, given the international nature of the position it may be of benefit. Speaking a foreign language may help you advance your career in the future.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatSortOfPositionsCouldAnImportExportClerkJobLeadTo">What Sort of Positions Could an Import/Export Clerk Job Lead To?</h3><p>Entering a company as an import/export clerk can lead to extremely interesting positions later in your career. This includes positions such as international logistics coordinator, customs broker, and international trade compliance manager. International logistics coordinators are responsible for ensuring that shipments of goods sold globally reach their destinations as quickly and cheaply as possible. Customs brokers ensure that goods imported and exported by their company are able to clear customs with minimal fuss and expense. International trade compliance managers ensure that their company remains within the bounds of both national and international law during all phases of the import and export processes.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeRelatedAlternativeCareers">What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?</h3><p>Similar positions to import/export clerk are fleet dispatcher within the trucking and transportation industry and office administrator. Fleet dispatchers track and manage drivers. They assign routes that get goods to market in the most efficient way possible. Office administrators perform a wide variety of tasks within an office to ensure a company can continue their day-to-day functions without issue. These tasks will vary based on the needs of the company.</p>