There are different types of warehouse jobs, some needing candidates to have a bachelor’s degree and others open to those with just a high school diploma.
Each warehouse job requires considerably varying sets of skills and expertise. Management level jobs need strong organizational skills and the ability to manage staff while those at lower levels require a different set of skills.
To help you choose an appropriate job, we have sampled a few high-paying warehouse jobs, some paying as high as $75,000 a year.
High paying warehouse jobs 2022
Below we highlight a few high-paying jobs ideal for people looking to work in warehouses.
1. Warehouse packer
Warehouse packers, also called pickers or packagers, are responsible for labeling and preparing items for shipment. They measure and weigh the products and ensure the warehouse storage areas and containers are in order.
Sometimes they can carry out inspections to ensure the packaging process is done in accordance with the company’s and/or client specifications.
The mean annual salary for warehouse packers in the United States is $32,300 and the highest-paid workers get more than $42,000 a year.
2. Production worker
Production workers in warehouses are tasked with operating and maintaining warehouse equipment, such as conveyor lines, pallet jacks, dock levelers, truck restraints, dock seals & shelters, dock boards & plates, wheel chocks, and bumpers.
They can also assemble product parts as well as make sure the warehouse machinery and equipment are safe and function properly to ensure smooth operations and maximize warehouse workers’ efficiency.
The average annual salary for warehouse production workers is $25,163 with the top earners getting more than $33,500 a year.
3. Warehouse clerk
Warehouse clerks process customer orders & financial transactions, keep inventory organized, compare packing slips against orders for accuracy, and may assist in shipping the orders or unpacking the shipments.
Other tasks they do include labeling merchandise with tags or codes, stocking warehouse shelves, scanning & verifying merchandise quality, preparing shipping labels, and inspecting returned goods to make sure none is damaged.
The mean annual salary for warehouse clerks in the U.S. is $37,500. The highest-paid warehouse clerks earn more than $71,000 a year, which makes this one of the highest-paying warehouse jobs.
4. Warehouse worker
Warehouse laborers or workers perform the general, and often manual, tasks within the warehouse. Such tasks include loading and unloading goods from trucks, packaging items for shipment, moving products around the warehouse, prepping worksites for projects, and keeping work areas clean and safe.
The average annual salary for warehouse workers in the U.S. is $36,280 with the top earners getting more than $51,000 a year.
5. Inventory control manager
Inventory control managers oversee and ensure all inventory procedures and milestones are met, which includes budgeting and warehouse staff management.
In most cases, you need a bachelor’s degree along with years of role-specific experience to land a job as an inventory control manager. Computer literacy and strong organizational skills will definitely give you the edge over other candidates.
This is definitely one of the highest-paying warehouse jobs in the U.S. with their mean annual salary being $54,255. The highest-paid warehouse inventory control managers earn more than $99,000 a year.
6. Distribution center manager
Distribution center managers are responsible for planning and overseeing the daily activities of a warehouse distribution center. They also budget for long-term warehouse distribution goals and projects and are responsible for training supervisory teams.
The mean annual salary for warehouse distribution center managers is $69,434. The highest-paid managers earn more than $102,000 a year, making this one of the high-paying warehouse jobs in the U.S.
7. Warehouse manager
Warehouse managers are responsible for the receipt, storage, inventory, and dispatch of warehouse goods as well as managing the warehouse staff. They are required to have a clear understanding of proper safety procedures, warehouse best practices, and equipment maintenance.
According to PayScale, this is one of the highest-paying warehouse jobs in the U.S. Warehouse managers earn a mean annual salary of $55,600 with the highest getting paid more than $79,000 a year.
8. Forklift operator
Just as the name suggests, forklift operators are warehouse workers that operate hydraulic forklift trucks to load, unload, and move goods and cargo within the warehouse. They deliver goods to loading docks or into trucks as well as take unloaded cargo to appropriate storage areas.
They are responsible for ensuring the cargo is safely moved and oftentimes they are required to have certifications to operate the trucks.
The average annual salary for warehouse forklift operators in the U.S. is $33,530 and the highest earners get more than $42,000 a year.
9. Warehouse associate
Warehouse associates typically transport & stock goods, pack orders, keep inventory records and ensure the warehouse is clean and orderly at all times. You need a high school diploma and strong organizational skills to get a job as a warehouse associate.
The mean annual salary for warehouse associates is $38,770. The highest-paid 10% earn more than $64,000 a year, making this one of the high-paying warehouse jobs in the U.S.
10. Shift manager
Warehouse shift managers oversee smooth operations in the warehouse throughout their assigned shifts. They manage staff, ensure the warehouse equipment functions properly, and ensure everything is in place for the staff on shift to fulfill their respective tasks.
Shift managers also monitor safety compliance and take records of all the fulfilled shipments at the end of every shift.
The mean annual salary for warehouse shift managers is $37,400 and the highest-paid 10% earn more than $49,000 a year.
11. Material handler
Material handlers maintain warehouse stock by identifying, labeling, organizing warehouse supplies, and documenting the inventory location for easy identification and retrieval. They can also record shipments and ensure all outgoing orders meet shipment specifications.
The average annual salary for warehouse material handlers is $29,000 while the top paid get more than $40,500 a year.
12. Shipping supervisor
Shipping supervisors ensure all shipments are delivered on time and according to the allocated budget. They ensure all goods are in good condition and delivered on time to the appropriate destinations. Another important role shipping supervisors have is managing shipping staff and ensuring they fulfill their responsibilities.
Warehouse shipping supervisors earn a mean annual salary of $45,000 while the highest-paid 10% earn more than $63,500 a year.
13. Production manager
Another high-paying warehouse job is that of a production manager, whose role is to train and supervise lower-level production staff. They are also responsible for planning production schedules, assessing resource requirements, managing production budgets, and negotiating production timetables and rates with clients.
Production managers are also tasked with ensuring the teams they manage comply with quality measures and warehouse safety regulations.
The mean annual salary for production managers in the United States is $74,600 with the highest-paid 10% earning more than $97,450 a year.
Final thoughts
These are just a few high-paying warehouse jobs, most of which you can get without a bachelor’s degree. It’s important to note that most warehouse jobs will be physically demanding and requires one to be physically fit.