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Warehouse specialist vs warehouse associate

The differences between warehouse specialists and warehouse associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a warehouse specialist has an average salary of $35,015, which is higher than the $32,863 average annual salary of a warehouse associate.

The top three skills for a warehouse specialist include customer service, logistics and pallets. The most important skills for a warehouse associate are pallets, work ethic, and customer service.

Warehouse specialist vs warehouse associate overview

Warehouse SpecialistWarehouse Associate
Yearly salary$35,015$32,863
Hourly rate$16.83$15.80
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs211,496215,910
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 39%High School Diploma, 50%
Average age3838
Years of experience--

What does a warehouse specialist do?

A warehouse specialist is someone who manages the daily procedures and functions of the warehouse efficiently and effectively. Their services are often needed in shipping docks, airports, and other industry warehouses. The specialist's primary responsibilities include supervising the shipping and receiving of materials and products, organizing the storage area, and monitoring the inventory. Candidates for the job must have strong knowledge in inventory control systems, able to multi-task, be physically fit, and able to safely operate warehouse machinery.

What does a warehouse associate do?

Warehouse associates are employees who take on any task needed at the company warehouse. They receive incoming deliveries, store the items in their proper places, scan the items to log them into the company system, manage stocks and inventory, conduct product inspection to check for damages or defects, and maintain the overall cleanliness of the warehouse. Warehouse associates are also responsible for receiving purchase orders, assembling and packing products related to orders, checking the accuracy of the products relative to the order, and ensuring proper shipment of the products.

Warehouse specialist vs warehouse associate salary

Warehouse specialists and warehouse associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Warehouse SpecialistWarehouse Associate
Average salary$35,015$32,863
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $43,000Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying CitySparks, NVPortland, OR
Highest paying stateHawaiiNorth Dakota
Best paying companyTata GroupUline
Best paying industryTransportationManufacturing

Differences between warehouse specialist and warehouse associate education

There are a few differences between a warehouse specialist and a warehouse associate in terms of educational background:

Warehouse SpecialistWarehouse Associate
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 39%High School Diploma, 50%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Warehouse specialist vs warehouse associate demographics

Here are the differences between warehouse specialists' and warehouse associates' demographics:

Warehouse SpecialistWarehouse Associate
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 82.9% Female, 17.1%Male, 73.7% Female, 26.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.7% Asian, 6.9% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between warehouse specialist and warehouse associate duties and responsibilities

Warehouse specialist example responsibilities.

  • Perform daily inventory management duties consisting of: cycle counting, RF scanning, maintain database records and systems.
  • Pick and pack pharmaceutical product inventory with optimum accuracy using warehouse management system and RF scanners.
  • Perform raw material sampling, inventory counts, HAZMAT shipments.
  • Conduct quality control at HAZMAT storage facility; process any corrections on errors as well.
  • Train to follow OSHA safety guidelines and practices, use a forklift, and other automate equipment.
  • Attend OSHA regulate safety certification classes.
  • Show more

Warehouse associate example responsibilities.

  • Rotate stock by code and receiving date - FIFO.
  • Create and ship documents for customs using DHL software.
  • Utilize RF gun for scanning duties include closing out invoices and assigning load plans.
  • Perform all tasks according to OSHA regulations and also attend daily safety tool box meetings.
  • Utilize a hand-held RF unit to select products/quantities for retail orders in a high volume warehouse.
  • Require consistent heavy lifting, math skills (primarily measurements), and fierce attention to detail.
  • Show more

Warehouse specialist vs warehouse associate skills

Common warehouse specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Logistics, 8%
  • Pallets, 6%
  • Shipping Receiving, 5%
  • Inventory Control, 4%
  • Safety Regulations, 4%
Common warehouse associate skills
  • Pallets, 15%
  • Work Ethic, 12%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Basic Math, 7%
  • Warehouse Environment, 5%
  • Math, 4%

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