Sector

Nondurable Goods Wholesale Careers

Food and beverage distribution moves products from producers to grocery and foodservice. Mostly on-site operations with moderate credential requirements.

2.2M
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$58K
Median salary
Across all roles
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Nondurable Goods Wholesale

Food and beverage distribution attracts people who appreciate the essential nature and constant rhythm of the work. You're keeping restaurants, grocery stores, and institutions supplied with the products they need daily โ€” work where reliability, freshness, and relationship management determine success.

The challenge can come from the perishable nature and relentless schedule. Food doesn't wait โ€” deliveries happen early mornings, multiple times per week, and spoilage means lost money. The work involves temperature-controlled logistics, food safety compliance, and managing thin margins on high-volume products. Customer demands are immediate and service failures are quickly apparent.

The sector varies by product focus and customer type. Broadline distributors serve diverse foodservice customers; specialty distributors focus on specific categories like produce, seafood, or ethnic foods. Working with restaurants differs from institutional foodservice or retail grocery supply. Some operations are regional independents; others are part of national distribution networks.

For people who thrive here, the rewards are real: the satisfaction of essential work that feeds communities, the relationships built through consistent reliable service, and the tangible nature of products everyone understands. If you appreciate early starts, physical work, and want employment that's genuinely necessary, food distribution offers stable careers with clear purpose.

How people break in

Delivery and warehouse accessible. CDL valuable for driving roles. Sales develops relationships. Management evolves from operations.

Work environment tends toward
Temperature controlFrequent deliveryFood safetyRelationship salesEarly hours
Industries it connects to
RestaurantsGroceryHealthcareEducation
Salary vs. national average
-19%
$58K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$15K$36K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level โ†’
Salary range across all nondurable goods wholesale roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$88K
2. Boulder$76K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$72K
4. Trenton-Princeton$69K
5. Durham-Chapel Hill$68K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$69K in mid-market metros to ~$99K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap โ€” metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $99K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ยท $85K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $79K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $88K adj.
Boulder ยท $76K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $72K adj.
Most jobs
New York ยท 25.6M
Los Angeles ยท 17M
Chicago ยท 12.3M
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts โ€” signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Nondurable Goods Wholesale.

๐Ÿšช
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Wholesale & Distribution data
16%
People tend to stay in Wholesale & Distribution. Lower turnover often indicates better working conditions or higher switching costs.
โ†“ 6%vs. 22% all industries
๐Ÿข
Typical Employer Size
Small-skewed
Small businesses dominate. More variety in roles but less formal structure and benefits.
93%
Small
<50
6%
Mid
50โ€“249
1%
Large
250+
๐Ÿ 
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
mostly_onsite
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
๐Ÿ“‹
Credential Density
Moderate
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
๐Ÿค
Union Presence
Based on all Wholesale & Distribution data
~4%
Minimal union coverage means compensation is individually negotiated. Know your market rate going in.
โ†“ 4%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Union Members Summary 2024
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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034
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