How To Become A Distribution Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a distribution manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

The distribution manager oversees the distribution of products, inventory, and parts. To achieve set goals, you have to manage distribution operations and set distribution goals. This is an eye-opener for you to quickly identify resources, provide assistance, and perform workload assignments to ensure productivity. Whenever new team members are needed, you are to take the responsibility of training them for the task ahead. Your team member's performance is one of your biggest goals; therefore, you must supervise the performance and growth of your members.

You are expected to supervise daily routines and improve route plans to ensure prompt deliveries. Just so you know, you are under the authority of the company's supervisor; therefore, their policies and procedures must be strictly obeyed. Your major priority is customer satisfaction which can be achieved by addressing their various questions and giving them the best products.

Essential skills of a distribution manager include the ability to think creatively, the capacity to reason logically, interpersonal skills, and skill in data analysis. The mean salary of a distribution manager annually is $84,000. There are several educational requirements for this position; however, you must have a bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or other related fields.

ScoreDistribution ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.0

Avg. Salary $89,264

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.2

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.42%

Asian 6.11%

Black or African American 11.14%

Hispanic or Latino 18.49%

Unknown 4.30%

White 59.54%

Gender

female 17.41%

male 82.59%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

6.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a distribution manager

Explore distribution manager education requirements

Most common distribution manager degrees

Bachelor's

65.8 %

Associate

15.5 %

Master's

8.1 %

Start to develop specific distribution manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	13.58%
Logistics	10.05%
Continuous Improvement	5.62%
OSHA	5.25%
Operational Procedures	4.03%

Complete relevant distribution manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New distribution managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a distribution manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real distribution manager resumes.

Research distribution manager duties and responsibilities

Manage all logistics including ocean and air imports, exports and domestic distribution via TL, LTL, and small parcel.
Compose and employ initial ISO procedures to attain certification.
Manage twenty-five team members during process of unloading trailers to include accurately processing and locating merchandise throughout warehouse with RF devices.
Earn FDA and GMP certification at a start-up distribution-base facility in five months.

Prepare your distribution manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your distribution manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a distribution manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable distribution manager resume templates

Build a professional distribution manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your distribution manager resume.