How to hire a distribution warehouse manager

How to hire a distribution warehouse manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step distribution warehouse 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 warehouse manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new distribution warehouse manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a distribution warehouse manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The distribution warehouse manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A distribution warehouse manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, distribution warehouse managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

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

   Type of Distribution Warehouse Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Distribution Warehouse Manager		$3-48
   Receiving Supervisor	A receiving supervisor manages and directs the activities of teams receiving and handling deliveries and items. Receiving supervisors coordinate and support the operations in their department... Show more	$13-23
   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:

   • Safety Procedures
   • Logistics
   • Operational Procedures
   • Inventory Control
   • Warehouse Operations
   • Customer Service
   • Shipping Receiving
   • Warehouse Associates
   • Pallet Jack
   • Customer Orders
   • WMS
   • Cycle Counts
   • Warehouse Inventory
   • Distribution Warehouse

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all documentation of records to ensure FDA compliance and accuracy.
   • Manage payroll and oversee center/facility expenses and accounts payable practicing cost containment strategies.
   • Negotiate and coordinate logistics, ordering and receiving products from the manufacturer, space allocation, warehouse operations and inventory control.
   • Implement ISO for quality control.
   • Ensure in cycle counting and quarterly inventory via RF gun.
   • Key member of ISO compliance team; help meet certification and audit standards.

   More distribution warehouse manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the distribution warehouse manager job description is a good way to get more applicants. A distribution warehouse manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a distribution warehouse manager in Arkansas may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level distribution warehouse manager. Additionally, a distribution warehouse manager with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average distribution warehouse manager salary

   $13.61hourly

   $28,318 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level distribution warehouse manager salary

   $7,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average distribution warehouse manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Pennsylvania	$42,634	$21
   2	Washington	$39,225	$19
   3	California	$38,663	$19
   4	Arizona	$34,246	$16
   5	Utah	$34,092	$16
   6	Iowa	$34,031	$16
   7	Wisconsin	$33,965	$16
   8	Indiana	$31,556	$15
   9	Illinois	$31,537	$15
   10	Florida	$29,834	$14
   11	South Carolina	$28,700	$14
   12	Nebraska	$28,479	$14
   13	Arkansas	$28,152	$14
   14	Tennessee	$26,389	$13
   15	Texas	$26,016	$13
   16	Mississippi	$25,895	$12
   17	Georgia	$25,578	$12

   Average distribution warehouse manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Schneider Electric Industrial Services	$73,637	$35.40	12
   2	A-dec	$67,505	$32.45
   3	NBCUniversal	$58,857	$28.30	9
   4	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$55,191	$26.53	22
   5	Armstrong Flooring	$49,468	$23.78	4
   6	Kroger	$36,575	$17.58	27
   7	Reyes Holdings	$35,318	$16.98	54
   8	Dollar General	$34,966	$16.81	71
   9	Walmart	$31,797	$15.29	24
   10	Optimum Nutrition	$31,744	$15.26	3
   11	US Alliance	$31,105	$14.95
   12	F&M MAFCO	$30,995	$14.90
   13	Southeastern Grocers	$29,901	$14.38
   14	Siegwerk USA Co.	$29,254	$14.06
   15	Randstad North America, Inc.	$28,970	$13.93	3
   16	Dollar Tree	$28,825	$13.86	22
   17	Admiral Beverage	$28,230	$13.57	18
   18	Kelly Services	$28,202	$13.56	52
   19	John Deere	$27,470	$13.21	2
   20	Goodwin Recruiting	$27,441	$13.19

4. Writing a distribution warehouse manager job description

   A job description for a distribution warehouse manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a distribution warehouse manager job description:

   Distribution warehouse manager job description example

   
   
   WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION ASSOCIATE
   Our top client is looking for a Warehouse/Distribution Associate to join their team in Maynard, MA. As the Warehouse Distribution Associate, you will assist with the shipping/receiving dock and inventory. You will be working in a fast-paced environment with a rapidly growing next generation telecom hardware provider. This role requires someone who can perform multiple job functions in a startup environment with minimal supervision. This position is 100% onsite M-F.
   
   REQUIREMENTS:
   

   • 1 year + of warehouse/distribution experience
   • Shipping/receiving experience
   • Basic Excel and math experience
   • Physical requirements
   • Ability to lift 30 lbs
   • Long amounts of sitting
   • Bending, lifting and reaching
   • Good communication + attitude

   PLUS SKILLS:
   

   • International shipping experience
   • Experience w. large carriers such as UPS/FedEx
   • Inventory experience

   DAY-TO-DAY:
   

   • Shipping/ Receiving and export logistics including RMA shipping/logistics support
   • Coordinates international shipping logistics, generates commercial invoices and country specific paperwork. Ensure the company maintains compliance with international shipping requirements. Prepares all shipping documents in a timely and accurate manner.
   • Receives incoming shipments for DOF model with contract manufacturers
   • Works with CM to ensure proper packaging of product and custom labels that are required by the customer.
   • Coordination of freight carriers to arrange for pick-up and transit to customers- 90% international shipping.
   • Troubleshoots lost or delayed shipment and resolution of problem freight invoices.
   • Production Planning/Inventory Control area:
   • Production Control responsibility for work order/job maintenance, job closings, tracking inventory variances. Job/work order planning, release and maintenance.
   • Coordinate with Sales Operations, Supply Chain and Program Management Teams to ensure backlog and customer priorities are met.
   • Perform and monitor all inventory reconciliation for production Bill of Materials in inventory system. Ensure timely ECO implementation on BOM's and production work orders.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right distribution warehouse manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with distribution warehouse managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit distribution warehouse managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting distribution warehouse managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 warehouse manager

   Once you've selected the best distribution warehouse manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new distribution warehouse manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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 warehouse manager?