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The differences between fulfillment managers and distribution 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 fulfillment manager and a distribution manager. Additionally, a fulfillment manager has an average salary of $91,647, which is higher than the $89,264 average annual salary of a distribution manager.
The top three skills for a fulfillment manager include logistics, continuous improvement and order management. The most important skills for a distribution manager are customer service, logistics, and continuous improvement.
| Fulfillment Manager | Distribution Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $91,647 | $89,264 |
| Hourly rate | $44.06 | $42.92 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 229,068 | 39,061 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Fulfillment managers are executive professionals who are responsible for supervising all activities that are related to the order processing of a company. These managers must manage the execution of customer orders and ensure that packages are correctly labeled with customers' shipping addresses before dispatching it to their logistics partners for shipping. As the point person between distribution centers and manufacturing plants, fulfillment managers must ensure that the warehouse has a sufficient amount of products to meet the needs of their customers. These managers must also compile reports about the volume of processed orders and submit them to their supply managers.
A distribution manager is responsible for managing the distribution of goods and services, ensuring the adequacy of merchandise in the storage, and monitoring the products' timely delivery to appropriate locations. Distribution managers process shipments and utilize software systems to track stock levels and order status, negotiate contracts with suppliers and third-party vendors, identify business opportunities to boost maximum productivity and performance, and develop supply strategies to minimize costs without compromising quality. A distribution manager must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills to manage business performance by coordinating with different teams on achieving business goals and objectives.
Fulfillment managers and distribution managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fulfillment Manager | Distribution Manager | |
| Average salary | $91,647 | $89,264 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $137,000 | Between $62,000 And $128,000 |
| Highest paying City | Windsor, CA | Redmond, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Accenture | Levi Strauss & Co. |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a fulfillment manager and a distribution manager in terms of educational background:
| Fulfillment Manager | Distribution Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between fulfillment managers' and distribution managers' demographics:
| Fulfillment Manager | Distribution Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.0% Female, 37.0% | Male, 82.6% Female, 17.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 5% |