15 Warehouse Jobs That Pay Well

While some warehouse positions are entry-level with little or no experience needed, there are also many high-level management positions for you to grow in your warehouse career. To help you find the right opportunity, here are 15 common warehouse jobs that will help you earn well over minimum wage.

Common warehouse jobs

Here are some of the common jobs you can find in a warehouse:

1. Material handler

National average salary: $38,008 per year

Primary duties: A material handler is someone who helps maintain the warehouse stock. They do this by identifying, labeling and organizing materials and supplies, and documenting the location of inventory so items can be retrieved later. They also record shipments and ensure the proper number of units is included in outgoing orders.

Companies with this position: U.S. Venture Inc., Campbell Soup Co., The Salvation Army

2. Production worker

National average salary: $39,089 per year

Primary duties: Production workers operate and maintain warehouse and factory equipment, such as conveyor lines, and assist with preparing materials for distribution. They check and assemble product parts, and make sure all machinery and equipment are safe, functional and run smoothly to help maximize the warehouse team’s efficiency.

Companies with this position: Direct Source Meats, Lear Corp., Ford Motor Co.

3. Inspector/packer

National average salary: $41,096 per year

Primary duties: Warehouse inspectors and packers, also called warehouse packagers, are tasked with marking and labeling products. They also measure and weigh materials, and examine all warehouse storage areas, containers and packaging processes to ensure shipments are packed according to a company’s specifications.

Companies with this position: Jabil Inc., Summit Careers Inc., Huhtamaki Group

4. Shipping and receiving clerk

National average salary: $41,319 per year

Primary duties: Shipping and receiving clerks weigh packages, prepare shipping labels and inspect returned items for damage. They keep records of outgoing and incoming shipments and compare packing slips against work orders to ensure accuracy. Additionally, they may be responsible for operating hand trucks or lift trucks to hoist or move materials and place items in the proper area or department.

Companies with this position: PGA Tour Superstore, Boeing, Blue Bell Creameries

5. Assembly technician

National average salary: $41,487 per year

Primary duties: An assembly technician works as part of an assembly line team, and is responsible for using tools or machinery to put together products or components of complex products like automobiles, aircraft and computers. They may also be tasked with gathering tools and materials, reading and following templates, blueprints or instructional guides to ensure proper item assembly.

Companies with this position: Ikea, Express Employment Professionals, Simply Hired

6. Entry-level laborer

National average salary: $41,952 per year

Primary duties: An entry-level laborer, or general laborer, is someone who assists with a variety of general warehouse tasks including loading and unloading packages and materials, prepping worksites before projects begin, keeping work areas clear of debris and hazards and preparing equipment for higher level laborers.

Companies with this position: Express Employment Professionals, County of Ventura Government, Cactus Asphalt

7. Forklift operator

National average salary: $42,589 per year

Primary duties: Forklift operators are responsible for operating industrial hydraulic forklift trucks to load and unload materials. They may be tasked with delivering materials to storage areas and loading docks, or into trucks or railroad cars. Forklift drivers also keep work areas clean and safe by carefully organizing materials on pallets.

Companies with this position: PepsiCo, Costco Wholesale, Ikea

8. Truck loader

National average salary: $45,452 per year

Primary duties: A truck loader works as part of the shipping and receiving team, and is responsible for loading and unloading materials into trucks, trains, shipping containers and ship cargo areas. They assist with unloading shipments and placing materials in the proper storage area. They may also be tasked with confirming and recording shipment delivery.

Companies with this position: NAPA Auto Parts, Waste Management, CVS

9. Warehouse stocker

National average salary: $51,679 per year

Primary duties: A warehouse stocker, or stock clerk, is someone who receives and unpacks merchandise shipments, labels them with tags or codes and stocks shelves. They are responsible for scanning items and verifying the quality of merchandise before stocking. They may work in a standalone warehouse or the back of a retail or grocery store.

Companies with this position: Staffmark, Randstad, RC Willey

10. Receiving manager

National average salary: $54,204 per year

Primary duties: A receiving manager oversees all distribution services within a warehouse, including training and supervising receiving staff, planning and executing processes, checking inventory, coordinating operations and managing allocated budgets. They also complete and record quality checks and verification of received shipments.

Companies with this position: The Home Depot, Wells Fargo, Target

11. Shipping supervisor

National average salary: $57,421 per year

Primary duties: Shipping supervisors are responsible for ensuring all shipments are sent and delivered according to their schedule and budget. They monitor outgoing and incoming shipments and verify that all items are in good condition and sent to the appropriate destinations. Shipping supervisors are also tasked with managing shipping staff and act as a liaison between warehouse workers and the organization’s upper management.

Companies with this position: International Paper, Tyson Foods Inc., Independence Corrugated

12. Production manager

National average salary: $68,145 per year

Primary duties: A production manager trains and supervises lower-level production staff, plans production schedules and assesses resource requirements. They also manage budgets, prepare estimates and negotiate timetables and rates with clients. Production managers also ensure their team complies with quality measures and safety regulations.

Companies with this position: Power Home Remodeling, CarMax, Tyson Foods Inc.

13. Quality assurance manager

National average salary: $69,009 per year

Primary duties: Quality assurance managers are responsible for checking to ensure no damaged or defective products or shipments leave the warehouse. They enforce defined compliance measures, conduct safety and hazard analyses, monitor day-to-day procedures and inspect inventories.

Companies with this position: PwC, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Johnson & Johnson

14. Shift manager

National average salary: $71,901 per year

Primary duties: Warehouse shift managers ensure warehouse activities run smoothly throughout their assigned shift. They’re responsible for making sure each shift is adequately staffed, equipment is functional and the organization has the supplies necessary to complete planned activities. They monitor safety compliance and record completed shipments at the end of each shift.

Companies with this position: Starbucks, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, The Spinx Company

15. Warehouse process engineer

National average salary: $86,730 per year

Primary duties: A process engineer works on behalf of an organization to develop and optimize industrial processes and procedures, and guide warehouse certifications. They assess existing methods and test systems, gather and interpret data and identify and correct inefficiencies. Process engineers may also be responsible for testing and upgrading warehouse technology systems.

Companies with this position: Micron Technology, Procter & Gamble, Saint-Gobain

Skills for warehouse jobs

To succeed in a warehouse position, you will likely need some or all of the following skills:

• Manual dexterity

• Organizational skills

• Physical coordination

• Physical strength

• Verbal communication

• Written communication

Some roles also require leadership skills or specific technical abilities and training that you may receive either on the job or through a certification program.