Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between lead warehouse associates and warehouse managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a lead warehouse associate, becoming a warehouse manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a warehouse manager has an average salary of $62,189, which is higher than the $37,856 average annual salary of a lead warehouse associate.
The top three skills for a lead warehouse associate include work ethic, pallets and pallet jack. The most important skills for a warehouse manager are customer service, safety regulations, and safety procedures.
| Lead Warehouse Associate | Warehouse Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $37,856 | $62,189 |
| Hourly rate | $18.20 | $29.90 |
| Growth rate | 1% | - |
| Number of jobs | 137,747 | 56,944 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 37% |
| Average age | 44 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A lead warehouse associate is primarily in charge of leading a team of warehouse associates in performing daily inventory and product management tasks. Their responsibilities typically include loading and unloading product shipments, labeling and organizing items according to protocols and management guidelines, operating equipment such as forklifts and scanners, keeping extensive records, and verifying documentation. Moreover, as a lead warehouse associate, it is essential to coordinate teams and maintain an open communication line with managers for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Warehouse managers oversee the overall operations of a company's warehouse. They manage the inventory by ensuring that the inventory records are updated and accurate. They tend to deliveries and check all items. They ensure that items in the warehouse are appropriately stored and secured. They also supervise the shipping of items from the warehouse and ensure that the correct products are delivered. Warehouse managers continuously find ways to improve the efficiency of warehouse operations. Warehouse managers manage warehouse personnel as well, ensuring that they are trained well and motivated to work.
Lead warehouse associates and warehouse managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Warehouse Associate | Warehouse Manager | |
| Average salary | $37,856 | $62,189 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $47,000 | Between $37,000 And $103,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jersey City, NJ | Reno, NV |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Clean Harbors | PayPal |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Technology |
There are a few differences between a lead warehouse associate and a warehouse manager in terms of educational background:
| Lead Warehouse Associate | Warehouse Manager | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 37% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between lead warehouse associates' and warehouse managers' demographics:
| Lead Warehouse Associate | Warehouse Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.8% Female, 17.2% | Male, 90.1% Female, 9.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.0% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 6.2% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 6.2% White, 58.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |