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The differences between distribution center associates and distribution specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a distribution specialist has an average salary of $36,140, which is higher than the $33,708 average annual salary of a distribution center associate.
The top three skills for a distribution center associate include pallets, excellent interpersonal and patients. The most important skills for a distribution specialist are work ethic, windows, and strong customer service.
| Distribution Center Associate | Distribution Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $33,708 | $36,140 |
| Hourly rate | $16.21 | $17.38 |
| Growth rate | -4% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 240,852 | 45,554 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | - |
A distribution center associate is responsible for supporting the operations of a distribution center, such as assisting the manufacturing process, labeling merchandise, packaging items, and storing products to the appropriate category shelves. Distribution center associates also help on loading and unloading items from the delivery trucks, checking inventory receipts, and inspecting the quality and the correct quantity of products for shipment. They update stock information on the database, as well as responding to clients' inquiries and delivery concerns, and resolving complaints immediately.
A distribution specialist specializes in the real-time, time-bounded, secure distribution of products from factories and manufacturing plants to various stores and companies. They are also responsible for making inventories of incoming goods and machines to the factory where he/she works. They can be liable to any lost goods, erroneous inventories, malicious products, and troublesome staff sometimes. Every distribution specialist must ensure that production quotas are achieved and that any barriers to achieving these goals are resolved
Distribution center associates and distribution specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Distribution Center Associate | Distribution Specialist | |
| Average salary | $33,708 | $36,140 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $42,000 | Between $24,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Gilead Sciences |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a distribution center associate and a distribution specialist in terms of educational background:
| Distribution Center Associate | Distribution Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between distribution center associates' and distribution specialists' demographics:
| Distribution Center Associate | Distribution Specialist | |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.9% Female, 50.1% | Male, 65.1% Female, 34.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 7.0% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 6.4% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 6% |