The People Behind Every Successful Distribution Business
The distribution industry keeps businesses running. Some very talented people keep it running, employing people with various skills: technical, managerial, sales, operations, and hands-on work.
Whether you like planning, solving problems, or physically handling shipments, there’s a role that fits. Here are some of the key jobs that keep this industry running efficiently:
1. Warehouse associates
Experience: No experience to 1 year
Skills Needed:
Estimated salary: $33K–$56K per year
Responsibilities: Picking, packing, and preparing products for shipment. It’s fast-paced, detail-oriented work that keeps supply chains moving. Some companies train warehouse associates on-site.
2. Forklift operator
Experience: Requires certification
Skills Needed:
Estimated salary: $34K–$53K per year
Responsibilities: Moving heavy pallets, stacking inventory, and ensuring products are stored and retrieved efficiently. Forklift certification is usually required, though some employers provide training.
3. Delivery drivers
Experience: 1+ years of driving experience
Skills Needed:
Estimated salary: $45K–$115K per year
Responsibilities: No matter how advanced distribution systems become, someone still has to make that final trip. Whether delivering goods to businesses or customers, they are the final step in the supply chain.
4. Warehouse automation technicians
Experience: 2+ years in a technical role
Skills Needed:
Responsibilities: This is one of the fastest-growing roles in the field. Warehouses are smarter than ever, using AI and robotics to speed up operations. But technology isn’t perfect. When a conveyor system breaks down or a robotic picker stops working, a technician is the one who gets it back on track.
Salary: $48K–$100K per year
5. eCommerce Fulfillment Manager
Experience: 3–5 years in fulfillment or logistics
Skills Needed:
Salary: $75K–$85K per year
Responsibilities: With online shopping growing rapidly, businesses need someone who can handle direct-to-customer shipments. An ecommerce fulfillment manager oversees packing, shipping, and order tracking, ensuring customers get their products quickly and accurately.
These roles might not always be in the spotlight, but they play a critical role in keeping distribution businesses efficient, cost-effective, and customer-friendly.
6. Sales Representative
Experience: 2+ years in sales or account management
Skills Needed:
Estimated salary: $50K–$140K per year (often commission-based)
Responsibilities: You can’t move products if no one is buying them. A sales representative in distribution isn’t just selling for the sake of selling. They’re connecting businesses with the right products, making sure stores, manufacturers, and distributors get exactly what they need.
7. Customer Service Specialist
Experience: 1–3 years in customer support
Skills Needed:
Estimated salary: $50K–$80K per year
Responsibilities: When things don’t go as planned, customer service specialists step in. Orders get delayed, shipments go missing, and businesses suddenly need to make last-minute changes. They stay calm, update customers, answer calls, and find quick solutions to keep everything on track.
8. Demand Planner
Experience: 3–5 years in inventory planning or forecasting
Skills Needed:
Estimated salary: $72k - $110k per year
Responsibilities: Not all businesses stock the right products at the right time unless they have a demand planner. This role involves forecasting what customers will need in the future based on trends, sales data, and market shifts. A demand planner helps prevent overstocking or running out of high-demand items.
9. Logistics Coordinators
Experience: 5+ years in logistics or supply chain management
Skills Needed:
Estimated salary: $77K–$121K per year
Responsibilities: They ensure products move efficiently from point A to point B without issues. They track shipments, manage delivery schedules, and troubleshoot problems along the way.
10. Distribution Manager
Experience: 7+ years in distribution or warehouse management
Skills Needed:
Estimated salary: $80K–$140K per year
Responsibilities: A Distribution Manager is the one keeping everything in sync. They oversee the operations. Warehouses, trucks, suppliers, deadlines, it’s all in their hands. If something goes wrong, they fix it. If things need to move faster, they figure it out. They’re the reason businesses don’t wake up to empty stockroom.
These are crucial job roles and often go by different names. For example, a Distribution Manager might also be called an Operations Manager. Every business has unique needs, so the scope of work and the estimated salary may vary from company to company. However, these remain the core responsibilities of the role.
Final Thoughts:
No matter how much the world changes, things will always need to move from one place to another. That means there will always be opportunities.
Some roles need experience. Others can be learned on the job. Some are about big-picture planning, others are about getting things done in the moment. But if you’re looking for a place where your work directly keeps things running, this is it.