Cargo handler demographics and statistics in the US
Cargo handler demographics research summary. Zippia estimates cargo handler demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our cargo handler estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about cargo handlers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 7,450 cargo handlers currently employed in the United States.
- 24.4% of all cargo handlers are women, while 75.6% are men.
- The average cargo handler age is 39 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of cargo handlers is White (54.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.7%), Black or African American (13.9%) and Asian (6.0%).
- In 2022, women earned 96% of what men earned.
- 5% of all cargo handlers are LGBT.
- Cargo handlers are 69% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Cargo handler demographics by:
Cargo handler gender statistics
24.4% of cargo handlers are women and 75.6% of cargo handlers are men.
- Male, 75.6%
- Female, 24.4%
Cargo handler gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 75.6% |
| Female | 24.4% |
Cargo handler gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$32,469
Female income
$31,134
Cargo handler gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in cargo handler positions over time. Currently, 24.4% of cargo handlers are female.
Cargo handler gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 79.88% | 20.12% |
| 2011 | 80.38% | 19.62% |
| 2012 | 80.52% | 19.48% |
| 2013 | 79.81% | 20.19% |
| 2014 | 79.75% | 20.25% |
| 2015 | 79.94% | 20.06% |
| 2016 | 78.42% | 21.58% |
| 2017 | 78.90% | 21.10% |
| 2018 | 77.90% | 22.10% |
| 2019 | 76.48% | 23.52% |
| 2020 | 76.25% | 23.75% |
| 2021 | 75.64% | 24.36% |
Cargo handler related jobs gender ratio
We compared cargo handlers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, dredge operator and tower crane operator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Gift Wrapper | 12% | 88% |
| Gift Packer | 18% | 82% |
| Pill Packer | 19% | 81% |
| Cargo Handler | 76% | 24% |
| Green Chain Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Tower Crane Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Dredge Operator | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Cargo handler demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among cargo handlers is White, which makes up 54.9% of all cargo handlers. Comparatively, 18.7% of cargo handlers are Hispanic or Latino and 13.9% of cargo handlers are Black or African American.
- White, 54.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 18.7%
- Black or African American, 13.9%
- Asian, 6.0%
- Unknown, 5.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
Cargo handler race
| Cargo handler race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 54.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.7% |
| Black or African American | 13.9% |
| Asian | 6.0% |
| Unknown | 5.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.1% |
Cargo handler race and ethnicity over time
See how cargo handler racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Cargo handler race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 64.27% | 13.32% | 4.38% | 14.96% |
| 2011 | 62.40% | 14.76% | 4.42% | 15.00% |
| 2012 | 63.28% | 14.07% | 4.35% | 14.96% |
| 2013 | 63.56% | 13.52% | 4.48% | 14.95% |
| 2014 | 62.22% | 14.20% | 4.53% | 15.63% |
| 2015 | 61.68% | 13.74% | 4.51% | 16.48% |
| 2016 | 61.83% | 13.53% | 4.61% | 16.44% |
| 2017 | 61.46% | 13.33% | 5.03% | 16.51% |
| 2018 | 62.56% | 13.14% | 4.76% | 15.85% |
| 2019 | 61.13% | 13.39% | 4.97% | 16.81% |
| 2020 | 57.38% | 14.35% | 5.55% | 16.84% |
| 2021 | 54.88% | 13.87% | 6.01% | 18.71% |
Cargo handler wage gap by race
According to our data, white cargo handlers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american cargo handlers have the lowest average salary at $32,106.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $32,395 |
| White | $32,812 |
| Black or African American | $32,106 |
| Asian | $32,490 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $32,545 |
Average cargo handler age
See how the average age of cargo handlers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Cargo handler age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 38 | 37 |
| Unknown | 33 | 39 |
| Asian | 41.5 | 42 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 35 | 39 |
| White | 39 | 45 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 34.5 | 32 |
Cargo handler age breakdown
The average age of cargo handlers is 40+ years years old, representing 48% of the cargo handler population.
Cargo handler age breakdown
| Cargo Handler Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 48% |
| 30-40 years | 22% |
| 20-30 years | 27% |
Cargo handler educational attainment
The most common degree for cargo handlers is high school diploma, with 45% of cargo handlers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 22% and bachelor's degree degree at 16%.
- High School Diploma, 45%
- Bachelor's, 22%
- Associate, 16%
- Diploma, 11%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Cargo handlers by degree level
| Cargo handler degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 45% |
| Bachelor's | 22% |
| Associate | 16% |
| Diploma | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Cargo handler jobs you might like
Cargo handler wage gap by degree level
According to the data, cargo handlers with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $32,867 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, cargo handlers earn a median annual income of $32,676 compared to $32,322 for cargo handlers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $32,322 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $32,676 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $32,867 |
Cargo handler employment statistics
Most cargo handlers work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where cargo handlers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where cargo handlers work.
Cargo handler jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 4% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 10% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 20% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 13% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 24% |
| > 10,000 employees | 30% |
Cargo handler jobs by company type
Employees with the cargo handler job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most cargo handlers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Cargo handler jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 25% |
| Private | 69% |
| Government | 5% |
Cargo handler jobs by industry
The most common industries for cargo handlers are transportation, professional and retail.
Cargo handler industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 35% |
| Fortune 500 | 13% |
| Professional | 10% |
| Retail | 9% |
| Technology | 7% |
| Manufacturing | 6% |
| Finance | 3% |
| Government | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
Cargo handler turnover and employment statistics
Cargo handler unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for cargo handlers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Cargo handler unemployment rate by year
| Year | Cargo handler unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 16.75% |
| 2011 | 16.09% |
| 2012 | 14.47% |
| 2013 | 13.53% |
| 2014 | 11.22% |
| 2015 | 10.22% |
| 2016 | 9.47% |
| 2017 | 9.08% |
| 2018 | 7.89% |
| 2019 | 7.90% |
| 2020 | 9.98% |
| 2021 | 10.05% |
Average cargo handler tenure
The average cargo handler stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,382 cargo handlers resumes in Zippia's database.
Cargo handler tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 31% |
| 1-2 years | 28% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 15% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 7% |
Cargo handler LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of cargo handlers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Boom Operator | 1.94% | 31,804 |
| Euclid Operator | 3.85% | 42,275 |
| Scrap Metal Collector | 4.13% | 5,838 |
| Barrel Cleaner | 4.59% | 35,485 |
| Cargo Handler | 4.67% | - |
| Ampoule Sealer | 6.68% | 49 |
| Sewer Pipe Offbearer | 10.43% | 978 |
Similar cargo handler jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Boom Operator | 1.94% | 31,804 |
| Euclid Operator | 3.85% | 42,275 |
| Scrap Metal Collector | 4.13% | 5,838 |
| Barrel Cleaner | 4.59% | 35,485 |
| Ampoule Sealer | 6.68% | 49 |
| Sewer Pipe Offbearer | 10.43% | 978 |
Foreign languages spoken by cargo handlers
The most common foreign language among cargo handlers is Spanish at 74.5%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is German at 6.4% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 4.3%.
- Spanish, 74.5%
- German, 6.4%
- Portuguese, 4.3%
- French, 4.3%
- Italian, 4.3%
- Other, 6.2%
Cargo handler languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 74.5% |
| German | 6.4% |
| Portuguese | 4.3% |
| French | 4.3% |
| Italian | 4.3% |
| Other | 6.2% |
