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The differences between warehouse managers and distribution 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 warehouse manager and a distribution manager. Additionally, a distribution manager has an average salary of $89,264, which is higher than the $62,189 average annual salary of a warehouse manager.
The top three skills for a warehouse manager include customer service, safety regulations and safety procedures. The most important skills for a distribution manager are customer service, logistics, and continuous improvement.
| Warehouse Manager | Distribution Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $62,189 | $89,264 |
| Hourly rate | $29.90 | $42.92 |
| Growth rate | - | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 56,944 | 39,061 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Warehouse managers oversee the overall operations of a company's warehouse. They manage the inventory by ensuring that the inventory records are updated and accurate. They tend to deliveries and check all items. They ensure that items in the warehouse are appropriately stored and secured. They also supervise the shipping of items from the warehouse and ensure that the correct products are delivered. Warehouse managers continuously find ways to improve the efficiency of warehouse operations. Warehouse managers manage warehouse personnel as well, ensuring that they are trained well and motivated to work.
A distribution manager is responsible for managing the distribution of goods and services, ensuring the adequacy of merchandise in the storage, and monitoring the products' timely delivery to appropriate locations. Distribution managers process shipments and utilize software systems to track stock levels and order status, negotiate contracts with suppliers and third-party vendors, identify business opportunities to boost maximum productivity and performance, and develop supply strategies to minimize costs without compromising quality. A distribution manager must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills to manage business performance by coordinating with different teams on achieving business goals and objectives.
Warehouse managers and distribution managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Warehouse Manager | Distribution Manager | |
| Average salary | $62,189 | $89,264 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $103,000 | Between $62,000 And $128,000 |
| Highest paying City | Reno, NV | Redmond, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | PayPal | Levi Strauss & Co. |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a warehouse manager and a distribution manager in terms of educational background:
| Warehouse Manager | Distribution Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between warehouse managers' and distribution managers' demographics:
| Warehouse Manager | Distribution Manager | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.1% Female, 9.9% | Male, 82.6% Female, 17.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 6.2% White, 58.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |