Post job

Distribution specialist salary

Average distribution specialist salary

$36,140

$17.38 hourly rate

Entry-level distribution specialist salary
$24,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Average Distribution Specialist Salary

The average salary for a Distribution Specialist in the United States is approximately $36,140 annually, translating to around $17 per hour. Salary levels can vary significantly based on factors like experience, location, and industry. For instance, states such as California and New York often provide higher pay due to increased demand and living costs.

Top Paying Industries

Distribution Specialists can find lucrative opportunities in industries like logistics, retail, and e-commerce. Companies in these sectors often offer competitive salaries and benefits. Additionally, those with specialized skills or certifications can command higher wages.

Where to Earn More

To maximize earnings, consider pursuing roles in metropolitan areas where distribution centers are prevalent. Research shows that positions in urban centers often pay a premium compared to rural locations. Staying informed about industry trends and salary benchmarks can help you navigate your career path effectively. Explore Zippia for the latest job listings and salary insights tailored to Distribution Specialists.

On this page
Distribution specialist salary by: 

Let Zippia find your next distribution specialist job

Floating question marks illustration

Let Zippia find your next distribution specialist job

Floating question marks illustration

Where can a Distribution Specialist earn more?

Compare salary by location
Vs
65k
45k
25k
5k
Columbus, OH$52,110
Cleveland, OH$35,049
Compare salary by company
Vs
89k
69k
49k
29k
9k
Gilead Sciences$74,044
Johns Manville$38,666

Distribution specialist salary estimates from across the web

Based on the latest salary information compiled by Zippia, Salary.com, Indeed, Glassdoor, Ziprecruiter, SalaryExpert and Comparably, the average salary for a distribution specialist typically falls between $36,140 and $58,083.
zippia
$36,140yearly
glassdoor[1]
$48,779yearly
indeed[2]
$39,986yearly
comparably[3]
$47,353yearly
Salary.com[4]
$43,808yearly
ZipRecruiter[5]
$57,684yearly
SalaryExpert[6]
$58,083yearly

Average distribution specialist salary by state

The average distribution specialist salary in New Jersey, California, and Pennsylvania are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average distribution specialist salary states are Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana.

  • State view
  • County view
Average salary:

Highest paying states for distribution specialists

RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Pennsylvania$49,163$23.64
2Nevada$42,170$20.27
3Arizona$44,195$21.25
4Delaware$44,569$21.43
5New Jersey$51,865$24.94
6Wisconsin$41,144$19.78
7Georgia$41,457$19.93
8Hawaii$45,632$21.94
9Michigan$41,894$20.14
10California$51,402$24.71
11Vermont$40,444$19.44
12Connecticut$46,672$22.44
13Maryland$44,438$21.36
14North Carolina$38,301$18.41
15New York$43,530$20.93
16Rhode Island$45,653$21.95
17Minnesota$40,908$19.67
18Oregon$39,932$19.20
19Wyoming$35,273$16.96
20West Virginia$38,215$18.37
21North Dakota$36,562$17.58
22District of Columbia$46,668$22.44
23Iowa$35,079$16.86
24South Carolina$38,754$18.63
25Mississippi$35,204$16.93
26Massachusetts$42,612$20.49
27Idaho$37,380$17.97
28Utah$35,719$17.17
29Florida$37,141$17.86
30Colorado$38,225$18.38
31Ohio$34,505$16.59
32Montana$36,124$17.37
33Alaska$35,452$17.04
34New Hampshire$35,527$17.08
35Virginia$40,274$19.36
36Missouri$36,045$17.33
37Maine$36,279$17.44
38Washington$38,836$18.67
39Kansas$33,884$16.29
40Illinois$35,802$17.21
41Kentucky$32,902$15.82
42New Mexico$34,932$16.79
43Louisiana$33,621$16.16
44Arkansas$33,637$16.17
45South Dakota$34,127$16.41
46Texas$33,866$16.28
47Tennessee$32,214$15.49
48Indiana$31,367$15.08
49Nebraska$30,360$14.60
50Alabama$31,042$14.92
51Oklahoma$31,088$14.95

Highest paying cities for distribution specialists

The highest-paying cities for distribution specialists are Jersey City, NJ, Santa Ana, CA, and Allentown, PA.

RankCityAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Jersey City, NJ$52,110$25.05
2Santa Ana, CA$51,165$24.60
3Allentown, PA$50,183$24.13
4Glendale, AZ$44,391$21.34
5New York, NY$43,901$21.11
6Boston, MA$42,437$20.40
7North Las Vegas, NV$42,011$20.20
8Atlanta, GA$41,269$19.84
9Madison, WI$41,112$19.77
10Minneapolis, MN$40,917$19.67
11Richmond, VA$39,621$19.05
12Portland, OR$39,610$19.04
13Everett, WA$38,881$18.69
14Denver, CO$38,248$18.39
15Charlotte, NC$38,038$18.29
16Orlando, FL$36,813$17.70
17Minot, ND$36,532$17.56
18Chicago, IL$35,805$17.21
19Salt Lake City, UT$35,573$17.10
20Cleveland, OH$35,049$16.85

Distribution specialist salary details

A distribution specialist's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $52,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average distribution specialist salary graph
Average distribution specialist salary graph, trends, and summary

What is a distribution specialist's salary?

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rate
90th Percentile$52,000$4,333$25
75th Percentile$43,000$3,583$21
Average$36,140$3,012$17
25th Percentile$29,000$2,417$14
10th Percentile$24,000$2,000$12

Highest paying distribution specialist jobs

The highest paying types of distribution specialists are specialist, ammunition specialist, and materials specialist.

Job titleAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rateJob openings
Warehouse Coordinator$34,095$2,841$16.39155,315
Shipper$33,233$2,769$15.98169,934
Receiving Coordinator$33,588$2,799$16.1531,732
Distribution Coordinator$37,166$3,097$17.8731,587
Distribution Clerk$32,142$2,679$15.4586,473
Distribution Technician$33,564$2,797$16.14154,925

Which companies pay distribution specialists the most?

Distribution specialist salaries at Gilead Sciences and Johnson & Johnson are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average distribution specialist salary at companies like Synopsys and Chicago Public Schools are highly competitive.

RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rate
1Gilead Sciences$74,044$35.60
2Johnson & Johnson$64,062$30.80
3Synopsys$55,863$26.86
4Chicago Public Schools$53,446$25.70
5Genie Industries$49,771$23.93
6Camping World$48,734$23.43
7Apple$48,506$23.32
8Haemonetics$48,145$23.15
9Volvo Trucks$47,226$22.70
10Steris$44,241$21.27
11Raytheon Technologies$43,739$21.03
12Starz$42,918$20.63
13HUB International$42,887$20.62
14ATEC Spine$42,291$20.33
15Meritor$41,341$19.88
16Terex$40,762$19.60
17Water Street Mission$39,443$18.96
18Syngenta$39,026$18.76
19Air Liquide$38,864$18.68
20Johns Manville$38,666$18.59

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$38,000$37,600$37,200$36,800$36,400$36,000
MaleFemale

Distribution Specialist salary by industry

The average distribution specialist salary varies across industries:

  • The average distribution specialist salary in the health care industry is $40,607, the highest of any industry.
  • The average distribution specialist salary in the finance industry is $38,805.
  • Distribution specialists in the media industry earn an average salary of $34,524, the lowest of any industry.

Highest paying industries for distribution specialists

RankIndustryAverage salaryHourly rate
1Health Care$40,607$19.52
2Manufacturing$38,805$18.66
3Automotive$38,582$18.55
4Technology$37,335$17.95
5Retail$36,502$17.55
6Transportation$34,868$16.76
7Media$34,524$16.60

High paying distribution specialist jobs

Distribution specialist salary trends

The average distribution specialist salary has risen by $12,103 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average distribution specialist earned $24,037 annually, but today, they earn $36,140 a year. That works out to a 38% change in pay for distribution specialists over the last decade.

Compare distribution specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average distribution specialist salary over time

Compare distribution specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Distribution specialist salary by year

YearAvg. salaryHourly rate% Change
2026$36,100$17.38+2.0%
2025$35,400$17.02+20.3%
2024$28,200$13.57+4.8%
2023$26,900$12.92+2.6%
2022$26,200$12.59+2.6%

Recently added distribution specialist salaries

CompanyJobLocationDate addedSalary
FreedomroadsInbound Distribution SpecialistLebanon, IN06/29/2025$35,688
Worldpantry.comDistribution Specialist I-III Wage at Pay-Period Bonuses Based On Team PerformanceUnion City, CA06/26/2025$37,960
Go2 DeliveryInventory and Distribution SpecialistVirginia Beach, VA06/25/2025$35,479
Epic Charter SchoolTechnical Assets Distribution SpecialistOklahoma City, OK06/24/2025$43,461
HyattElectronic Distribution Specialist (Remote Opportunity)Chicago, IL06/20/2025$41,218
Process Development Engineer In Windsor, WisconsinDistribution Specialist-Supply Chain TechnicianDeForest, WI06/19/2025$43,827
Wm Bolthouse Farms Inc.Distribution SpecialistRancho Cucamonga, CA06/16/2025$43,827
Dixon ValveDistribution SpecialistChestertown, MD06/11/2025$35,479
VersitiBlood Production Distribution Specialist-Hospital Services 2Nd Shift)Chicago, IL06/10/2025$40,697
VersitiBlood Distribution Specialist-3Rd ShiftGrand Rapids, MI06/10/2025$37,649

Distribution specialist salary FAQs

Search for distribution specialist jobs

Browse office and administrative jobs