Stockers and Order Fillers

AI & job outlook

What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.

Exposure to current AI

Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.

OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.1), with simple added tooling (β 0.2), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.3). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.

How AI is actually used in this job

Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.

Job outlook

Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.

“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.

Tasks

All 30 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.

• Complete order receipts. Core · importance 4.7
• Answer customers' questions about merchandise and advise customers on merchandise selection. Core · importance 4.6
• Compute prices of items or groups of items. Supplemental · importance 4.4
• Issue or distribute materials, products, parts, and supplies to customers or coworkers, based on information from incoming requisitions. Core · importance 4.4
• Keep records of out-going orders. Core · importance 4.2
• Stock shelves, racks, cases, bins, and tables with new or transferred merchandise. Core · importance 4.2
• Operate equipment such as forklifts. Core · importance 4.2
• Stamp, attach, or change price tags on merchandise, referring to price list. Core · importance 4.1
• Obtain merchandise from bins or shelves. Core · importance 4.1
• Itemize and total customer merchandise selection at checkout counter, using cash register, and accept cash or charge card for purchases. Supplemental · importance 4.1
• Receive and count stock items, and record data manually or on computer. Core · importance 4.0
• Read orders to ascertain catalog numbers, sizes, colors, and quantities of merchandise. Core · importance 4.0
• Receive, unload, open, unpack, or issue sales floor merchandise. Core · importance 4.0
• Pack customer purchases in bags or cartons. Core · importance 3.9
• Store items in an orderly and accessible manner in warehouses, tool rooms, supply rooms, or other areas. Core · importance 3.9
• Mark stock items, using identification tags, stamps, electric marking tools, or other labeling equipment. Core · importance 3.9
• Pack and unpack items to be stocked on shelves in stockrooms, warehouses, or storage yards. Core · importance 3.9
• Take inventory or examine merchandise to identify items to be reordered or replenished. Core · importance 3.9
• Clean display cases, shelves, and aisles. Core · importance 3.9
• Keep records on the use or damage of stock or stock-handling equipment. Core · importance 3.8
• Clean and maintain supplies, tools, equipment, and storage areas to ensure compliance with safety regulations. Core · importance 3.7
• Determine proper storage methods, identification, and stock location, based on turnover, environmental factors, and physical capabilities of facilities. Core · importance 3.7
• Dispose of damaged or defective items, or return them to vendors. Core · importance 3.7
• Recommend disposal of excess, defective, or obsolete stock. Core · importance 3.6
• Requisition merchandise from supplier, based on available space, merchandise on hand, customer demand, or advertised specials. Supplemental · importance 3.6
• Design and set up advertising signs and displays of merchandise on shelves, counters, or tables to attract customers and promote sales. Core · importance 3.6
• Compare merchandise invoices to items actually received to ensure that shipments are correct. Supplemental · importance 3.4
• Provide assistance or direction to other stockroom, warehouse, or storage yard workers. Core · importance 3.3
• Examine and inspect stock items for wear or defects, reporting any damage to supervisors. Core · importance 3.3
• Transport packages to customers' vehicles. Supplemental · importance 3.1

Work activities

• Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance.
• Package objects for shipping.
• Read work orders to determine material or setup requirements.
• Unload materials or equipment.
• Stock supplies or merchandise.
• Store items.
• Inspect items for damage or defects.
• Discuss goods or services information with customers or patrons.
• Receive shipments.
• Attach identification information to products, items or containers.
• Inspect shipments to ensure correct order fulfillment.
• Calculate costs of goods or services.
• Collect deposits, payments or fees.
• Deliver items.
• Monitor inventories of products or materials.
• Distribute materials to employees or customers.
• Clean facilities or equipment.
• Set up merchandise displays.
• Remove debris or damaged materials.
• Send information, materials or documentation.
• Advise others on business or operational matters.
• Maintain operational records.
• Record shipping information.
• Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
• Store records or related materials.
• Operate forklifts or other loaders.

Knowledge, skills & abilities

O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).

Abilities

Essential skills

Knowledge

Transferable skills

Skills in demand

Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.

• Active Listening Common Skill
• English Language Common Skill
• Speech Recognition Specialized Skill
• Reading Comprehension Common Skill
• Microsoft Word Common Skill
• Microsoft Windows Common Skill
• Microsoft Outlook Common Skill
• Microsoft Excel Common Skill
• Microsoft Edge Specialized Skill
• Microsoft Access Specialized Skill
• Information Ordering Specialized Skill
• Google Docs Specialized Skill
• Social Perceptiveness Common Skill
• Critical Thinking Common Skill
• Time Management Common Skill
• Inductive Reasoning Common Skill
• Finger Dexterity Common Skill
• Depth Perception Common Skill
• Deductive Reasoning Common Skill
• Mathematics Common Skill
• Writing Common Skill
• Visualization Specialized Skill
• Systems Analysis Specialized Skill
• Active Learning Common Skill
• Learning Strategies Specialized Skill
• Instructing Specialized Skill
• Complex Problem Solving Common Skill
• Negotiation Common Skill
• Telecommunications Specialized Skill
• Microsoft Dynamics GP Specialized Skill
• Email Software Specialized Skill
• Geography Specialized Skill
• Psychology Specialized Skill
• Chemistry Specialized Skill
• Foreign Language Common Skill
• Physics Specialized Skill
• Equipment Selection Specialized Skill
• Equipment Maintenance Specialized Skill
• Biology Specialized Skill
• Installation Specialized Skill

Tools & technology

Work context

How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.

How to get in

Job zone

Zone 2 — Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Education

Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Typical entry-level education

High school diploma or equivalent · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement

Related experience

Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Preparation level

SVP (Below 6.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.

Education of current workers

Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.

Interests & work styles

The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.

Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)

Interest areas

Work styles

Wages & employment

U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)

Industries that employ this occupation

Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.

Where this work is most concentrated

Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).

Related occupations

Part of the Supply Chain & Transportation career cluster.

• Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks · 43-5071.00 Compare →
• Counter and Rental Clerks · 41-2021.00 Compare →
• Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping · 43-5111.00 Compare →
• Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand · 53-7062.00 Compare →
• Retail Salespersons · 41-2031.00 Compare →
• Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators · 43-5053.00 Compare →
• Cashiers · 41-2011.00 Compare →
• Postal Service Clerks · 43-5051.00 Compare →
• Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service · 43-9051.00 Compare →
• Order Clerks · 43-4151.00 Compare →
• Procurement Clerks · 43-3061.00 Compare →
• Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks · 43-5061.00 Compare →

Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.

What you can do with this

Options the data surfaces for Stockers and Order Fillers — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.

Sources for this page

Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.

• O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
• BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27) Anthropic
• Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
• “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic

Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.

@misc{singulariki-role-53-7065-00,
  title  = {Stockers and Order Fillers},
  author = {{Singulariki}},
  year   = {2026},
  note   = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026},
  url    = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-53-7065-00}
}