Junior

Distribution Coordinator

The shipment organizer — coordinating distribution activities to ensure products reach customers on time.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
C
R
I
S
A
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Distribution Coordinators
Employment concentration · ~353 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Distribution Coordinator

As a Distribution Coordinator, you coordinate distribution activities to ensure products move efficiently from warehouse to customer. You're scheduling shipments, coordinating with carriers, tracking deliveries, handling exceptions, and ensuring distribution operations run smoothly.

Your day follows distribution flow. You might schedule outbound shipments, then coordinate carrier pickups, then track in-transit deliveries, then resolve delivery exceptions, then communicate with customers on timing. You're ensuring products get where they need to go.

The hardest part is managing when things don't go as planned. Carriers are late, orders change, addresses are wrong — you need to solve problems quickly while keeping routine operations moving. The people who thrive here are organized, responsive, and can handle multiple priorities simultaneously.

RelationshipsAbove avg
IndependenceAbove avg
Working ConditionsAbove avg
SupportModerate
AchievementModerate
RecognitionModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
StrategyExecution
StructuredAdaptable
ManagingContributing
CollaborativeIndependent
Volume levelCarrier mixCustomer typeGeographic scopeSystem sophistication
Distribution coordination varies by volume and complexity. High-volume operations have more routine; lower volume may have more complexity per shipment. Carrier mix affects relationships and processes. B2B and B2C distribution have different characteristics. Geographic scope ranges from local to national. System sophistication varies significantly.
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Distribution Coordinators (SOC 11-3071.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Distribution Coordinator career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
1
Logistics analysis
Analytical skills open specialist paths
2
Carrier management
Developing carrier relationships increases value
3
Process improvement
Improving distribution processes creates advancement opportunities
What distribution volume would I handle?
What carriers and modes are involved?
What systems are used?
How much customer interaction is involved?
What does advancement look like?
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$61K–$181K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
213K
U.S. Employment
+6.1%
10yr Growth
19K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$110K$107K$104K$101K$99K201920202021202220232024$99K$110K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningMonitoringCoordinationTime ManagementSystems AnalysisComplex Problem SolvingInstructingNegotiationActive Learning
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
11-3071.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.