How to hire a distribution center manager

How to hire a distribution center manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step distribution center manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a distribution center manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new distribution center manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a distribution center manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a distribution center manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a distribution center manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a distribution center manager that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of distribution center managers.

   Type of Distribution Center Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Distribution Center Manager		$33-67
   Logistics Director	A logistics director spearheads and oversees a company's logistics operations. They are primarily responsible for setting goals and guidelines, managing the budgets and timelines, researching new opportunities, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of operations, and implementing solutions against problem areas... Show more	$33-80
   Logistics Supervisor	A logistics supervisor is an individual tasked to oversee goods shipment and delivery in organizations. Supervisors manage the planning, organization, and implementation of the company's systems... Show more	$22-42

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Logistics
   • Customer Service
   • OSHA
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Inventory Control
   • Process Improvement
   • Distribution Centers
   • Shipping Receiving
   • Safety Program
   • Distribution Operations
   • Center Management
   • Warehouse Operations
   • Sigma
   • Direct Reports

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Assist in implementing MRP program, BOM and manage inventory reorder points and forecasting.
   • Manage all DC relate building projects and small systems support department for 6 DCs.
   • Manage distribution center operations for industry leading LTL transportation provider.
   • Manage financial performance including operational expense control, damage reduction, capital expenditures and payroll.
   • Manage successful integration of new WMS system including voice pick technology and engineer labor standards.
   • Manage logistics operations issues that include branch logistics plan implementation, warehouse and delivery personnel management, inventory management and security/safety/housekeeping.

   More distribution center manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your distribution center manager job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A distribution center manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a distribution center manager in Tennessee may be lower than in California, and an entry-level distribution center manager usually earns less than a senior-level distribution center manager. Additionally, a distribution center manager with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average distribution center manager salary

   $99,459yearly

   $47.82 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level distribution center manager salary

   $70,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average distribution center manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$130,414	$63
   2	Nevada	$125,555	$60
   3	Texas	$112,887	$54
   4	Pennsylvania	$111,262	$53
   5	Georgia	$108,727	$52
   6	Massachusetts	$108,262	$52
   7	Oregon	$105,258	$51
   8	North Carolina	$103,796	$50
   9	Utah	$100,725	$48
   10	Arizona	$99,287	$48
   11	New Mexico	$98,650	$47
   12	Washington	$97,837	$47
   13	Indiana	$94,732	$46
   14	Oklahoma	$94,329	$45
   15	Missouri	$92,248	$44
   16	Maine	$91,730	$44
   17	Colorado	$90,844	$44
   18	Illinois	$89,637	$43
   19	Kansas	$88,820	$43
   20	Tennessee	$86,917	$42

   Average distribution center manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Bed Bath & Beyond	$137,065	$65.90
   2	Nike	$128,972	$62.01	1
   3	Rivian	$122,615	$58.95
   4	Best Buy	$120,950	$58.15	1
   5	The Clorox Company	$114,926	$55.25	4
   6	Stryker	$114,081	$54.85
   7	The Judge Group	$112,712	$54.19
   8	RH	$112,312	$54.00	7
   9	Accenture	$111,687	$53.70	325
   10	Hubbell	$110,876	$53.31
   11	Medifast	$107,748	$51.80
   12	Philips	$106,171	$51.04	2
   13	CVS Health	$105,638	$50.79	314
   14	SAMSUNG SDS	$105,375	$50.66	3
   15	General Mills	$105,337	$50.64	1
   16	AmerisourceBergen	$102,457	$49.26
   17	Woodward Communications	$101,888	$48.98	1
   18	Eaton	$101,748	$48.92	15
   19	McKesson	$101,266	$48.69	9
   20	J.W. Pepper	$100,088	$48.12	1

4. Writing a distribution center manager job description

   A distribution center manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a distribution center manager job description:

   Distribution center manager job description example

   C ome work at a place where innovation and teamwork come together to support the most exciting missions in the world!
   
   Why work at "just another job" when you can join Petco where we "work for you"! We raise the bar, we build communities.
   
   + We offer a Safe, Diverse, and Inclusive work environment, flexible schedules, competitive starting rates and career growth opportunities.
   + We have amazing benefits and discounts worth barking about.
   
   + We deliver healthy and happy experiences for pets and the people who love them by providing products, services, advice and experiences that keep pets physically fit, mentally alert, socially engaged and emotionally happy!
   
   Essential Job Functions: Through previous background and experience, the candidate must demonstrate, with or without an accommodation, the ability to: - Interact professionally and effectively through verbal and written communication with all professional contacts with an emphasis on the Company's interests. - Independently prioritize and accomplish multiple tasks within established timeframes. - Analyze data to determine the appropriate course of action. - Effectively accomplish assigned duties/tasks through the work of subordinates. - Move merchandise up to 50 pounds. Supervisory Responsibilities: The nature of this position entails supervising one or more work units in the Distribution Center, to include ongoing training and assignment delegation. The Distribution Center Supervisor is also responsible for providing primary input toward the performance evaluations of the Distribution Center Associates as well as hiring, disciplining and terminating employees. Work Environment: While some job duties are performed while seated indoors, the majority of the time is spent in the Distribution Center, where exposure to heat, cold, dirt, dust, fumes and noise should not be overlooked. As the Distribution Center Supervisor may also be required on occasion to work in the warehouse, there may be risk of injury resulting from improper procedures. Education (Required): High school diploma or equivalent (GED) Education (Preferred): Bachelors degree is preferred. Work Experience (Required): demonstrate a strong working knowledge of basic Distribution Center management principles, including scheduling, accounting relationships and inventory control policies. Incumbent must also have working knowledge of basic computer skills to log, track and report data.
   
   Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find distribution center managers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your distribution center manager job on Zippia to find and recruit distribution center manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with distribution center manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new distribution center manager

   Once you've found the distribution center manager candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new distribution center manager. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a distribution center manager?