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The differences between shipping managers and distribution center 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 shipping manager and a distribution center manager. Additionally, a distribution center manager has an average salary of $99,459, which is higher than the $52,003 average annual salary of a shipping manager.
The top three skills for a shipping manager include customer service, on-time delivery and logistics. The most important skills for a distribution center manager are logistics, customer service, and OSHA.
| Shipping Manager | Distribution Center Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $52,003 | $99,459 |
| Hourly rate | $25.00 | $47.82 |
| Growth rate | -3% | - |
| Number of jobs | 19,541 | 75,501 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A shipping manager is responsible for monitoring the shipment procedures of a distribution center, ensuring the quality and quantity of the merchandise before release to avoid delays and client conflicts. Shipping managers evaluate staff performance on their productivity in meeting timely deliveries and operational efficiency. They handle and track shipping activities through software tools and implement strategies for better optimization. A shipping manager also responds to clients' inquiries and concerns, resolving complaints immediately by conducting item replacements or payment refunds.
A distribution center manager is an individual who is responsible for managing all the daily activities of a centralized distribution center, warehouse, or another shipping facility. Distribution center managers are required to supervise the loading and unloading of all packages as well as ensure that all goods and products have the proper storage conditions. They must evaluate freight services and manage relationships with the chose vendors. Distribution center managers are also required to monitor the safety of the facility and make sure that workers properly store everything to prevent injuries.
Shipping managers and distribution center managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Shipping Manager | Distribution Center Manager | |
| Average salary | $52,003 | $99,459 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $73,000 | Between $70,000 And $141,000 |
| Highest paying City | Auburn, WA | Woodland, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | California |
| Best paying company | Harvard University | Bed Bath & Beyond |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a shipping manager and a distribution center manager in terms of educational background:
| Shipping Manager | Distribution Center Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between shipping managers' and distribution center managers' demographics:
| Shipping Manager | Distribution Center Manager | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.6% Female, 22.4% | Male, 88.4% Female, 11.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |