How To Become A Warehouse Lead: What It Is and Career Path

What is a warehouse lead and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A warehouse lead oversees the operations of a warehouse, ensuring that all tasks are completed efficiently and effectively. This includes managing inventory, supervising staff, coordinating shipments and deliveries, and maintaining safety standards. Additionally, a warehouse lead may be involved in hiring and training new employees, as well as developing and implementing new procedures to improve warehouse productivity. They must also be able to work independently and make decisions quickly and decisively.

ScoreWarehouse LeadUS Average

Salary

3.2

Avg. Salary $41,281

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.95%

Asian 6.45%

Black or African American 11.39%

Hispanic or Latino 22.09%

Unknown 4.87%

White 54.25%

Gender

female 21.03%

male 78.97%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

2.7

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a warehouse lead?

Pros

Good salary
Ability to learn new skills
Hands-on work
Job security
Opportunity to develop problem-solving skills

Cons

High-stress environment
Difficult to manage people with different personalities
Can be dangerous if safety protocols are not followed
Need to be on-call for emergencies
Must be able to handle unexpected situations

Key steps to become a warehouse lead

Explore warehouse lead education requirements

Most common warehouse lead degrees

High School Diploma

38.9 %

Bachelor's

26.6 %

Associate

19.9 %

Start to develop specific warehouse lead skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	14.20%
Ladders	6.47%
Pallets	5.39%
RF	5.20%
Sales Floor	4.86%

Complete relevant warehouse lead training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New warehouse leads learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a warehouse lead based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real warehouse lead resumes.

Gain additional warehouse lead certifications

Warehouse lead certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific warehouse lead certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for warehouse leads include Commercial Driver License (CDL) and Forklift Safety and Inspector.

More About Certifications

Research warehouse lead duties and responsibilities

Help manage an accurate, revolving FIFO inventory and rigorously investigate any discrepancies.
Utilize AS400 computer maintaining data.
Enter and transfer products' data in ERP systems.
Assist with developing a new ERP system concentrating on warehousing functions.

Get warehouse lead experience

Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a warehouse lead. The most common roles before becoming a warehouse lead include warehouse associate, cashier team lead and forklift operator.

Prepare your warehouse lead resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your warehouse lead resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a warehouse lead resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable warehouse lead resume templates

Build a professional warehouse lead resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your warehouse lead resume.