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The differences between distribution center managers and operations managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a distribution center manager and an operations manager. Additionally, a distribution center manager has an average salary of $99,459, which is higher than the $76,894 average annual salary of an operations manager.
The top three skills for a distribution center manager include logistics, customer service and OSHA. The most important skills for an operations manager are customer service, logistics, and continuous improvement.
| Distribution Center Manager | Operations Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $99,459 | $76,894 |
| Hourly rate | $47.82 | $36.97 |
| Growth rate | - | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 75,501 | 343,868 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A distribution center manager is an individual who is responsible for managing all the daily activities of a centralized distribution center, warehouse, or another shipping facility. Distribution center managers are required to supervise the loading and unloading of all packages as well as ensure that all goods and products have the proper storage conditions. They must evaluate freight services and manage relationships with the chose vendors. Distribution center managers are also required to monitor the safety of the facility and make sure that workers properly store everything to prevent injuries.
Operations managers are in charge of running the main business of the organization. They ensure that the business is running smoothly from an operations standpoint. They make sure that the processes in place produce the necessary output by implementing quality control measures. They also manage finances and ensure that there is enough budget to keep the operations of the business running. They also ensure that the production of goods or services is cost-efficient. Operations managers also handle people-related concerns. They are responsible for interviewing candidates, choosing the ones to hire, and ensuring that individuals assigned to operations are properly trained.
Distribution center managers and operations managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Distribution Center Manager | Operations Manager | |
| Average salary | $99,459 | $76,894 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $141,000 | Between $47,000 And $123,000 |
| Highest paying City | Woodland, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Bed Bath & Beyond | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a distribution center manager and an operations manager in terms of educational background:
| Distribution Center Manager | Operations Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between distribution center managers' and operations managers' demographics:
| Distribution Center Manager | Operations Manager | |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.4% Female, 11.6% | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 10% |