As of September 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Distribution Manager in the United States is $43, which translates to an annual salary of about $89,191.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
Distribution Manager Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $101,293 | $8,441 | $1,948 | $49 |
| Average | $89,191 | $7,433 | $1,715 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,863 | $6,572 | $1,517 | $38 |
A Distribution Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Distribution Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Distribution Manager | 0-5 years | $89,191 |
| Distribution Senior Manager | 5+ years | $129,600 |
| Distribution Director | 5+ years | $183,234 |
| VP of Distribution | 5+ years | $211,108 |
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Leadership | 10.34% |
| Warehouse Management | 2.01% |
| Material Handling | 1.27% |
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Distribution Manager's salary.
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Analysis | $94,542 | |
| ISO | $92,759 | |
| Project Management | $92,759 |
Distribution Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $99,675. While startup companies pay approximate $84,315.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $84,315 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $89,171 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $96,249 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $99,675 |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Distribution Manager enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Distribution Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $101,574 and $110,609.
| Typical Education for Distribution Manager | |
|---|---|
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
| No Diploma | 1.3% |
| High School | 26.2% |
| Associates | 14.2% |
| Bachelors | 42.1% |
| Masters | 16.0% |
| Doctorate | 0.2% |
Understanding how a Distribution Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $101,293 | $8,441 | $1,948 | $49 |
| Average | $89,191 | $7,433 | $1,715 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,863 | $6,572 | $1,517 | $38 |
Salaries for a Distribution Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $97,184 in 2023 to around $97,132 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Distribution Manager salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | View More |
| 2023 | $97,184 |
| 2024 | $97,889 |
| 2025 | $97,132 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Manages and deploys the operational strategy, business processes, and systems for overall distribution operations, including order fulfillment, warehousing, inventory management, and transportation. Communicates and monitors production measurement metrics and sets performance targets at the team and individual level for all distribution-related functions that align with company objectives and are within regulatory guidelines. Utilizes data-driven analytical tools and systems to continuously monitor operations, identify inefficiencies, and develop optimization strategies. Troubleshoots and resolves escalated operational issues. Ensures all operations adhere to industry safety protocols and comply with OSHA, DOT, or other governmental regulations. May require a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a head of a unit/department. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 - 3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Leadership: Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
Warehouse Management: Planning, arranging, and organizing goods and materials for the daily operation of a warehouse.
Material Handling: Material handling involves short-distance movement within the confines of a building or between a building and a transportation vehicle. It uses a wide range of manual, semi-automated, and automated equipment and includes consideration of the protection, storage, and control of materials throughout their manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, consumption, and disposal. Material handling can be used to create time and place utility through the handling, storage, and control of material, as distinct from manufacturing, which creates form utility by changing the shape, form, and makeup of material.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers: