How To Become A Distributor Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a distributor operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A Distributor Operator usually works in a distribution center and is responsible for incoming and outgoing merchandise.

Amongst other things, they are tasked with the picking, arranging, and packing of customers' shipments, creating and maintaining shipping logs, ensuring that all work they perform is in line with OSHA requirements and other federal and state regulations, receiving and organizing incoming shipments, handling returns, and contacting and cooperating with other employees, representatives of other warehouses and other company locations, and staff members of other companies. They will also surely need to use certain machinery, such as forklifts, and report on their work and any issues that may come up.

A person seeking work in this position will generally need to have a minimum of a high school diploma or a GED. They may need a valid forklift operating license and a proficiency in the use of computers and certain warehouse maintenance programs, and they often get on-the-job training, too. On average, a Distributor Operator earns $15.88 an hour.

ScoreDistributor OperatorUS Average

Salary

2.9

Avg. Salary $37,262

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.3

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.87%

Asian 2.72%

Black or African American 17.20%

Hispanic or Latino 19.40%

Unknown 4.52%

White 55.30%

Gender

female 18.90%

male 81.10%

Age - 44

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 - 44

Stress level

8.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.8

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a distributor operator

Explore distributor operator education requirements

Most common distributor operator degrees

High School Diploma

30.3 %

Bachelor's

28.7 %

Associate

24.8 %

Start to develop specific distributor operator skills

Skills	Percentages
Asphalt	17.08%
CDL	15.84%
DOT	8.28%
Safety Procedures	5.81%
Hand Tools	4.72%

Complete relevant distributor operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New distributor operators 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 distributor operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real distributor operator resumes.

Research distributor operator duties and responsibilities

Unload chemicals from chemicals trucks while wearing proper PPE.
Work around asphalt pavers shoveling operating various equipment to include roller and road broom.
Experience directing high performing logistics teams to plan, process, and deliver accurate and time-critical complex materials orders.
Participate in after hours on-call rotation for customer service emergency leaks, turn on/ turn off, and SCADA system alarms.

Prepare your distributor operator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your distributor operator 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 distributor operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable distributor operator resume templates

Build a professional distributor operator 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 distributor operator resume.