Is there a difference between a warehouse specialist and a warehouse clerk?

What do warehouse specialists and warehouse clerks actually do, and is there a difference? As the name suggests, a warehouse clerk works in a warehouse and carries out the tasks and activities that arise here. This includes, for example, receiving goods, inspecting goods, checking inventory, preparing for shipping and systematically storing and tidying up goods. A specialized warehouse clerk has almost exactly the same duties as a warehouse clerk, which is why there is no distinction between the two in spoken language. However, warehouse clerk is an industrial apprenticeship, so you have to go to school for it, while warehouse clerk can also be a temporary, mini- or part-time job for someone without training. In the following, we will take a closer look at how the tasks of the two professions differ.

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How much does a trained warehouse clerk or warehouse worker earn in wages or salary?

The difference in the training of the two is also reflected in the payroll, because a trained warehouse specialist usually gets a slightly higher salary than a warehouse clerk or simple warehouse worker without training. In addition, the wage level also depends on the industry and position, that is, the position in the company in which a warehouse worker works. Therefore, simple salaried warehouse workers earn the lowest with an average of €15,600 per year, while a warehouse manager, who has the highest position in the warehouse, earns the best with an average of around €52,000 per year. In the chemical industry, however, warehouse specialists can also earn an average of €39,500 a year, because here they usually work for large companies that can also pay higher wages due to their high sales.

We will now explain in more detail what exactly distinguishes the warehouse specialist from the simple warehouse clerk.

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This is what the profession of warehouse specialist is really like 

You can't just start as a warehouse clerk overnight, because warehouse clerk is an industrial, two-year training occupation that requires at least a secondary school diploma. Like other apprenticeships, you can do this either in a company, at school or in a dual system. At the end of the training there is a final examination before the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Afterwards, a fully trained warehouse clerk can take an additional year of training to become a warehouse logistics specialist, which qualifies him or her to take on additional commercial activities. And that's not all, because a warehouse specialist can also work his way up to become a warehouse manager or team leader, or earn a master craftsman's certificate. In addition, there is also the possibility of completing a degree in sales management and logistics with university admission. As you can see, there are a lot of career opportunities for warehouse specialists!

Those who have done something different before and now want to change to a warehouse clerk can also do a shortened training by retraining as a warehouse clerk as a career changer. The costs for this retraining are sometimes also covered by the employment agency, because warehouse clerk is considered a very safe job that is always sought and needed in various industries! That is why it is very popular with lateral entrants. For the same reason, the place of work of a warehouse clerk can be very diverse and can be, for example, in retail, in the automotive sector, in logistics as a driver, in the extraction of raw materials or in the pharmaceutical, electrical, computer, printing, textile or furniture industry. As a warehouse specialist, you can choose the industry in which you would most like to work!

These are the tasks that a trained warehouse specialist can be expected to perform:

● Prepare and assemble shipments

● Record or write off products in an inventory system on the computer.

● Check delivery documents and match with order

● Store goods professionally and systematically

● Packing goods correctly

● Operation of packaging machines, if applicable

● Issue and acceptance of goods

● Fill out storage papers

● Carrying out inventories and stock checks

● Document transactions, keep accounting records

● Transport and store goods with forklift (forklift license required).

● Carry out complaints, if necessary

● Know about and observe legal safety regulations, environmental protection guidelines or customs regulations.

● Labeling and marking of shipments and shipping documents.

● Load and secure goods for transport in truck or container

● Reorder and schedule packaging materials

And what does a warehouse clerk without training do then? 

If you don't feel like going back to school and would rather start your career right away, or maybe you just need a temporary or part-time job, a job as a warehouse clerk is just right for you. This is because a warehouse clerk without training, often also called a warehouse helper, has similar tasks to a specialized warehouse clerk, but, since he or she has less theoretical and practical knowledge, he or she only takes on a small part of the simpler, physical warehouse work. These activities are usually feasible even without special previous knowledge, which is why there are always job offers for the coveted warehouse assistants who are open to applications without experience. In fact, the office work is usually done by the specialized warehouse clerk. Thus, the warehouse clerk as a temp or mini-job has less responsibility than his trained colleague, but his salary as a helper is usually also less.

The main tasks of warehouse assistants or warehouse helpers without training are:

● Issue and acceptance of goods

● Goods inspection

● Store goods professionally and systematically

● Assemble goods and prepare them for shipment

● Store goods properly

● Packing goods correctly

● Ship goods

As you can see, these are a lot fewer tasks than those of the warehouse specialist.

FAQ

 Warehouse clerk - what is it and what about the duration of training?

A warehouse clerk works in the warehouse of various industries. He takes care of receiving, checking, storing, packing and shipping goods and always keeps track of the inventory, which he checks regularly. A warehouse clerk does not necessarily have to do an apprenticeship or have a high school diploma, but by training to become a warehouse clerk, he has the opportunity to continue his education and work his way up. The training period for a warehouse specialist is only two years.

What are the tasks of a warehouse clerk?

Depending on the qualification, a warehouse clerk has more or less different tasks. A trained warehouse clerk also takes care of the bureaucracy involved in the warehouse, such as digitally recording and checking the inventory of goods, while an untrained warehouse clerk usually only takes care of physical tasks such as receiving goods, checking quality, inventory control, storing, preparing for shipping, packing and shipping.

What job opportunities are there for warehouse specialists?

Warehouse specialists can work for a wide variety of industries, such as retail, industry, or skilled trades.

What requirements should a warehouse clerk have?

You don't necessarily need a high school diploma for a job as a warehouse clerk. What is important, however, is a structured way of working, organizational skills, physical resilience, reliability and diligence, as well as independence and the ability to work in a team.

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