A Receiving Clerk salary in South Africa usually ranges from about R7,000 to R18,000+ per month, depending on experience, employer, location, industry, shift structure, stock volume and whether the role is in retail, warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, FMCG, ecommerce, distribution, cold chain, pharmaceuticals or wholesale. Senior Receiving Clerks, stock controllers and warehouse supervisors can earn more.
Receiving Clerks check, record and process goods that arrive at a business. Their work helps ensure that stock is received correctly, counted accurately and recorded properly before it moves into storage, production, picking or sales.
Key takeaways
- Entry-level Receiving Clerks may earn around R7,000 to R9,000 per month.
- Experienced Receiving Clerks often earn between R9,000 and R13,000 per month.
- Senior Receiving Clerks may earn R13,000 to R18,000+ per month.
- Indeed reports an average Receiving Clerk salary of about R104,165 per year, or roughly R8,680 per month.
- Indeed reports an average Shipping and Receiving Clerk salary of about R8,755 per month.
- Forklift, stock control, WMS, ERP, dispatch and inventory experience can improve earning potential.
Receiving Clerk salary range in South Africa
| Experience level / role type | Estimated monthly salary |
|---|---|
| Entry-level Receiving Clerk | R7,000 – R9,000 |
| Receiving Clerk | R9,000 – R13,000 |
| Senior Receiving Clerk | R13,000 – R18,000+ |
| Stock Controller / Receiving Supervisor | R15,000 – R25,000+ |
| Wider market range | R8,680 – R18,000+ |
Salary sources vary because roles may be listed as Receiving Clerk, Goods Receiving Clerk, GRV Clerk, Shipping and Receiving Clerk, Dispatch and Receiving Clerk, Warehouse Clerk, Stores Clerk, Inventory Clerk, Stock Controller or Receiving Supervisor.
Indeed reports an average Receiving Clerk salary of about R104,165 per year in South Africa, which works out to roughly R8,680 per month. Indeed also reports an average Shipping and Receiving Clerk salary of about R8,755 per month. These benchmarks are useful for junior and general receiving roles, while senior receiving, inventory control and warehouse supervision roles can move into higher monthly ranges.
What does a Receiving Clerk do?
A Receiving Clerk receives incoming goods and checks that deliveries match the paperwork.
Typical duties include:
- Receiving deliveries from suppliers
- Checking stock against purchase orders
- Counting items and checking quantities
- Inspecting goods for damage
- Recording received stock
- Capturing GRVs or goods received vouchers
- Labelling or sorting incoming stock
- Reporting shortages, damages or incorrect items
- Working with warehouse, procurement and finance teams
- Filing delivery notes and invoices
- Updating stock systems
- Assisting with stock takes
- Helping with returns or supplier queries
- Keeping the receiving area clean and organised
Receiving Clerks are important because stock errors at receiving stage can affect inventory accuracy, supplier payments, production planning and customer orders.
What affects a Receiving Clerk salary?
Industry
Receiving Clerks work in retail, wholesale, warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, FMCG, automotive, pharmaceuticals, cold chain, food production and ecommerce. High-volume or regulated industries may offer better pay because receiving accuracy is more critical.
Stock volume
A Receiving Clerk handling a small stockroom may earn less than someone receiving high volumes of goods in a busy warehouse, distribution centre or production facility.
Systems experience
Experience with inventory software, warehouse management systems and ERP systems can improve salary prospects. Useful systems may include SAP, Sage, Pastel, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, WMS platforms or barcode scanning systems.
Forklift and warehouse skills
Forklift experience, pallet jack use, stock rotation, bin location control, dispatch support and warehouse safety knowledge can improve employability and earning potential.
Accuracy and reliability
Receiving work depends on careful counting, checking and recordkeeping. Clerks who reduce errors, spot damaged stock and keep clean records are valuable to employers.
Entry-level Receiving Clerk salary
An entry-level Receiving Clerk may earn around R7,000 to R9,000 per month.
At this level, the person may assist with unloading, counting, checking delivery notes, labelling goods, filing paperwork and learning stock systems under supervision.
Experienced Receiving Clerk salary
An experienced Receiving Clerk may earn between R9,000 and R13,000 per month.
This level usually applies to someone who can receive stock independently, capture goods received notes, handle supplier queries, check discrepancies and keep accurate stock records.
Senior Receiving Clerk salary
A Senior Receiving Clerk may earn R13,000 to R18,000+ per month.
Higher salaries are more likely where the role includes high-volume stock, team coordination, stock investigations, supplier returns, ERP system work, warehouse process control or responsibility for receiving accuracy.
Receiving Supervisor salary
A Receiving Supervisor or Stock Control Supervisor may earn R15,000 to R25,000+ per month, depending on the size of the operation.
This role is usually broader than a Receiving Clerk role. It may include supervising receiving staff, managing shifts, checking productivity, investigating stock variances and reporting to the Warehouse Manager or Inventory Manager.
Receiving Clerk vs Dispatch Clerk salary
A Receiving Clerk deals with goods coming into the business.
A Dispatch Clerk deals with goods going out to customers, branches or delivery partners. In smaller warehouses, one person may help with both receiving and dispatch. Salaries are often similar, although dispatch roles may pay more where they involve delivery coordination, route planning or customer-facing deadlines.
Receiving Clerk vs Stock Controller salary
A Receiving Clerk focuses mainly on the receiving process.
A Stock Controller has broader responsibility for stock accuracy, stock counts, inventory records, transfers, variances and sometimes stock reporting. Stock Controllers often earn more because the role carries wider inventory responsibility.
How to earn more as a Receiving Clerk
To increase earning potential, build warehouse, stock-control and systems skills.
Useful areas include:
- Goods receiving
- GRV processing
- Stock counting
- Supplier returns
- Inventory control
- Barcode scanning
- Warehouse management systems
- SAP, Sage or Pastel
- Forklift licence
- Health and safety
- Stock rotation
- Cold chain handling
- Dispatch support
- Cycle counts
- Team supervision
The strongest Receiving Clerks are accurate, organised and practical. They make sure stock enters the business correctly before it creates bigger problems later in the supply chain.
FAQ: Receiving Clerk salary
What is the average Receiving Clerk salary in South Africa?
Indeed reports an average Receiving Clerk salary of about R104,165 per year, or roughly R8,680 per month. A practical Receiving Clerk salary range is about R7,000 to R18,000+ per month, depending on experience and responsibility.
Is Receiving Clerk a good job?
Yes. Receiving Clerk can be a good entry-level logistics, warehouse or stock-control job. It can lead into stock controller, warehouse supervisor, inventory clerk or dispatch roles.
What qualifications do Receiving Clerks need?
Most employers require matric and some warehouse, stock or admin experience. Computer literacy, inventory systems, forklift experience and stock-control knowledge can help.
Do Receiving Clerks work shifts?
Some do, especially in warehouses, distribution centres, retail, FMCG, cold chain and manufacturing. Shift work may include early mornings, evenings, weekends or peak-season overtime.
What jobs can a Receiving Clerk move into?
A Receiving Clerk can move into roles such as Senior Receiving Clerk, Dispatch Clerk, Stock Controller, Inventory Clerk, Warehouse Supervisor, Stores Controller, Procurement Clerk, Warehouse Manager or Logistics Coordinator.
Sources
Indeed Receiving Clerk salary data
https://za.indeed.com/career/receiving-clerk/salaries
Indeed Shipping and Receiving Clerk salary data
https://za.indeed.com/career/shipping-and-receiving-clerk/salaries
Indeed Warehouse Clerk salary data
https://za.indeed.com/career/warehouse-clerk/salaries
Indeed Stock Controller salary data
https://za.indeed.com/career/stock-controller/salaries
Indeed Warehouse Supervisor salary data
https://za.indeed.com/career/warehouse-supervisor/salaries
Indeed Warehouse Manager salary data
https://za.indeed.com/career/warehouse-manager/salaries
PayScale Inventory Clerk salary data
https://www.payscale.com/research/ZA/Job%3DInventory_Clerk/Salary
PayScale Stock Controller salary data
https://www.payscale.com/research/ZA/Job%3DStock_Controller/Salary
