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Warehouse lead vs supervisor

The differences between warehouse leads and supervisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a warehouse lead, becoming a supervisor takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a supervisor has an average salary of $53,902, which is higher than the $41,281 average annual salary of a warehouse lead.

The top three skills for a warehouse lead include customer service, ladders and pallets. The most important skills for a supervisor are customer service, safety procedures, and sales floor.

Warehouse lead vs supervisor overview

Warehouse LeadSupervisor
Yearly salary$41,281$53,902
Hourly rate$19.85$25.91
Growth rate-3%-
Number of jobs123,344224,920
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4446
Years of experience42

What does a warehouse lead do?

Warehouse leads are responsible for supply chain management in distribution centers. Their duties and responsibilities include supervising employees and evaluating their performance, meeting safety regulations, and monitoring deliveries and shipments. They are the ones who interact with customers and clients to resolve any delivery issues that may arise. They also help with some administrative tasks such as order and invoice processing and maintenance. This role applies to those with excellent communication skills, leadership capabilities, and strong attention to detail.

What does a supervisor do?

Supervisors are responsible for overseeing the daily functions of employees in a specific team, department, or even a work shift. They create work schedules, organize work processes and workflows, train new hires, provide necessary reports related to the team function and the employees, monitor and evaluate employee performance, and ensure that goals of the specific team or department are met. When needed, supervisors also provide guidance to employees in terms of their career or even personal challenges. They also help in fostering harmonious work relationships by resolving interpersonal conflicts at work. To be successful in their role, they must have leadership skills, time management skills, decision-making capabilities, analytical skills, and problem-solving skills.

Warehouse lead vs supervisor salary

Warehouse leads and supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Warehouse LeadSupervisor
Average salary$41,281$53,902
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $62,000Between $31,000 And $92,000
Highest paying CityAllentown, PANew York, NY
Highest paying stateConnecticutAlaska
Best paying companySilicon Valley BankReed Smith
Best paying industryManufacturingHealth Care

Differences between warehouse lead and supervisor education

There are a few differences between a warehouse lead and a supervisor in terms of educational background:

Warehouse LeadSupervisor
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college-Stanford University

Warehouse lead vs supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between warehouse leads' and supervisors' demographics:

Warehouse LeadSupervisor
Average age4446
Gender ratioMale, 79.0% Female, 21.0%Male, 55.8% Female, 44.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 22.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 4.6% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage8%6%

Differences between warehouse lead and supervisor duties and responsibilities

Warehouse lead example 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.
  • Process all RTV transactions and prepare items for return as per vendor.
  • Process paperwork of RMA's and RTV's as directed from purchasing dept.
  • Show more

Supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Lead continuous process improvement and six sigma teams to meet ISO 9001 and QS 9000 standards.
  • Manage and implement merchandising strategy for POS marketing and display inventory.
  • Lead comprehensive training for each new volunteer or court-mandate worker regarding OSHA regulations and warehouse procedure.
  • Organize care with 6 CNAs.
  • Coordinate lifeguard duty schedule for all pools.
  • Maintain cleanliness throughout kitchen, coolers, and freezer areas.
  • Show more

Warehouse lead vs supervisor skills

Common warehouse lead skills
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Ladders, 6%
  • Pallets, 5%
  • RF, 5%
  • Sales Floor, 5%
  • Logistics, 5%
Common supervisor skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Safety Procedures, 9%
  • Sales Floor, 9%
  • POS, 9%
  • Direct Supervision, 9%
  • Payroll, 5%

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