Colliers Group: Warehouse Labor Costs Vary Significantly Across Major U.S. Furniture Markets
Furniture World News Desk on
4/7/2025
Labor costs for warehouse workers remain a key factor in the pricing structure of furniture wholesale and retail distribution. A recent market analysis from Salary.com highlights notable differences in median warehouse associate salaries across major U.S. metropolitan areas, with implications for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers managing national logistics networks.
According to the data, Newark, NJ reports the highest fully burdened annual salary for a Warehouse Associate II at $60,928, while Memphis, TN reports the lowest at $50,560. These figures include a 28% benefits burden and are based on a 2,000-hour work year, which translates to an hourly wage range of approximately $25.25 (Memphis) to $30.46 (Newark).
Other selected cities and their annual median salaries include:
- Seattle, WA – $59,520
- Chicago, IL – $56,576
- Houston, TX – $54,144
- Atlanta, GA – $52,992
- Miami, FL – $52,096
- Denver, CO – $54,912
- Phoenix, AZ – $53,248
- Dallas, TX – $53,248
- Las Vegas, NV – $54,528
- Charleston, SC – $51,200
Several California cities also report higher-than-average warehouse salaries:
- Stockton, CA – $57,856
- Bakersfield, CA – $57,216
- Ontario, CA – $57,216
The data serves as a benchmark for evaluating labor expenses tied to warehouse operations, especially for companies navigating geographic expansion, third-party logistics, or cost containment strategies.
For companies operating in or distributing to these regions, understanding localized wage expectations is critical for forecasting operational costs and maintaining competitive pricing structures in furniture distribution.
*For fully burdened hourly wages, divide the annual salary by 2,000 hours.
Example: Memphis Annual Salary of $50,560 / 2,000 Hours = $25.25 per hour.
Source: Salary.com
About Ben Haverty
Ben Haverty has over 30 years of experience as an executive and entrepreneur in the furniture industry, operating retail stores, home delivery warehouses and regional distribution facilities. As the lead of Colliers Furniture Real Estate Group, Ben works with Colliers integrated real estate services to provide comprehensive solutions for every stage of the furniture industry supply chain, ranging from retail showrooms to home delivery furniture warehouses and wholesale distribution centers. Contact Ben to connect with Colliers’ team of professionals to accelerate your success in the home furnishings industry. For more information, visit www.colliers.com/en/experts/ben-haverty.