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What is a receiving lead and how to become one
A receiving lead is in charge of receiving merchandise at a warehouse or large retail store. They ensure that all merchandise is in its proper place by inspecting deliveries, keeping track of paperwork such as receipts, and moving items to their rightful place using machinery such as forklifts. In addition to moving around the merchandise, the receiving lead is in charge of the whole receiving department. They set the schedule, train new hires, and encourage workers to meet their quotas.
Successful receiving leads have excellent interpersonal skills to interact with their subordinates, customers, and vendors. They also need to have a good head for logistics to keep track of inventory. It also helps to have good physical stamina--some of that merchandise can be heavy.
Although a few receiving leads have Bachelor's degrees, a college diploma is not necessary to do this job. Most get by with only a high school diploma. Practical experience working in receiving is more important than education. Receiving leads earn an average salary of $17.69 an hour; this is above minimum wage in most parts of the country.
Avg. Salary $38,819
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate -3%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.75%
Asian 7.55%
Black or African American 10.79%
Hispanic or Latino 21.52%
Unknown 4.24%
White 55.15%
Genderfemale 25.58%
male 74.42%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Receiving Lead career paths
Key steps to become a receiving lead
Explore receiving lead education requirements
Start to develop specific receiving lead skills
Skills 
Percentages Shipping Receiving 23.30% Customer Service 12.47% Sales Floor 7.79% Safety Procedures 7.44% Safety Regulations 6.31% Complete relevant receiving lead training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New receiving leads learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a receiving lead based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real receiving lead resumes.Research receiving lead duties and responsibilities
- Manage distribution costs; maintain contracts with shipping companies; organize mass mailings using USPS.
- Implement an operating WMS that work in conjunction with wrist mount RF units for optimum pick productivity.
- Allocate necessary space for stock rotation and assist with proper FIFO process.
- Supply production areas with materials using FIFO to ensure flow of production.
Get receiving lead experience
Generally, it takes 6-12 months to become a receiving lead. The most common roles before becoming a receiving lead include cashier, forklift operator team lead and sales associate.Prepare your receiving lead resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your receiving lead resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a receiving lead resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Receiving Lead Resume templates
Build a professional Receiving Lead resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Receiving Lead resume.
Apply for receiving lead jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a receiving lead job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Receiving Lead Job
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Average receiving lead salary
The average Receiving Lead salary in the United States is $38,819 per year or $19 per hour. Receiving lead salaries range between $29,000 and $51,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do receiving leads rate their job?
Receiving Lead reviews
Really enjoy everything
Fast pace, dealing with customer service, work is always changing
Management stuck in the same position no room for growth
People who still
Updated January 8, 2025
