Post job

Shipping supervisor vs dock supervisor

The differences between shipping supervisors and dock supervisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a shipping supervisor and a dock supervisor. Additionally, a shipping supervisor has an average salary of $48,598, which is higher than the $36,007 average annual salary of a dock supervisor.

The top three skills for a shipping supervisor include customer service, safety procedures and logistics. The most important skills for a dock supervisor are work ethic, safety rules, and government regulations.

Shipping supervisor vs dock supervisor overview

Shipping SupervisorDock Supervisor
Yearly salary$48,598$36,007
Hourly rate$23.36$17.31
Growth rate-3%6%
Number of jobs26,13810,675
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a shipping supervisor do?

A shipping supervisor is responsible for monitoring the goods and services, ensuring its quality and quantity before packaging and shipment processing to avoid delays and possible client complaints. Shipping supervisors manage the shipment schedule, including verification of the location and determining correct charges. They also keep track of the incoming and outgoing deliveries by maintaining an organized record in the company's database. A shipping supervisor must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially on handling customers' concerns, conducting item replacements, and overseeing the warehouse staff to meet maximum productivity goals.

What does a dock supervisor do?

Dock supervisors are responsible for ensuring safety while managing dockworkers in the loading and unloading of materials from vessels on the water. They supervise and coordinate with the dockworkers and analyze the vessel's specifications and blueprints to identify the required size, shape, and number of bilge blocks and keel to support the vessel. Other tasks include supervising the dockworkers' tasks such as painting, cleaning, drydocking, and repairing vessels and overseeing flooding operations, and pulling out of vessels from drydock.

Shipping supervisor vs dock supervisor salary

Shipping supervisors and dock supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Shipping SupervisorDock Supervisor
Average salary$48,598$36,007
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $66,000Between $31,000 And $41,000
Highest paying CityNew Brunswick, NJ-
Highest paying stateConnecticut-
Best paying companySchneider Electric Industrial Services-
Best paying industryProfessional-

Differences between shipping supervisor and dock supervisor education

There are a few differences between a shipping supervisor and a dock supervisor in terms of educational background:

Shipping SupervisorDock Supervisor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Shipping supervisor vs dock supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between shipping supervisors' and dock supervisors' demographics:

Shipping SupervisorDock Supervisor
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 82.2% Female, 17.8%Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 6.8% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 6.2% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between shipping supervisor and dock supervisor duties and responsibilities

Shipping supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Manage the reconciliation process of RMA's, product inspection and freight claims.
  • Manage product movement across multiple WMS platforms and commodity lines within distribution center, conveyor lines and induction system.
  • Manage international shipping - coordinate documentation, commercial invoices, letters of credit, NAFTA, certificates of origin.
  • Manage and organize LTL shipments and warehouse responsibilities.
  • Work with a USPS representative to deliver a manifest with all orders account for.
  • Integrate new information to create and present an ISO training seminar for plant managers and coordinators.
  • Show more

Dock supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Manage large team of outbound shipping loaders ensuring timely and proper loading of trailers.
  • Manage cleanliness and organization throughout the facility.
  • Manage logistics personnel and logistics systems and direct daily operations.
  • Train staff on company policies, safety procedures, and OSHA compliance.
  • Perform accurate and timely entries of all dock and line haul movement on the AS400 computer system.
  • Upload daily productivity and Kronos time.
  • Show more

Shipping supervisor vs dock supervisor skills

Common shipping supervisor skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Safety Procedures, 8%
  • Logistics, 7%
  • Shipping Receiving, 6%
  • Continuous Improvement, 6%
  • ISO, 5%
Common dock supervisor skills
  • Work Ethic, 15%
  • Safety Rules, 13%
  • Government Regulations, 13%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Necessary Paperwork, 6%
  • LTL, 5%

Browse transportation jobs