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Dock hand vs material handler

The differences between dock hands and material handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a material handler has an average salary of $33,215, which is higher than the $31,840 average annual salary of a dock hand.

The top three skills for a dock hand include boats, customer service and unload trailers. The most important skills for a material handler are pallets, basic math, and forklifts.

Dock hand vs material handler overview

Dock HandMaterial Handler
Yearly salary$31,840$33,215
Hourly rate$15.31$15.97
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs63,913174,068
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%High School Diploma, 51%
Average age4040
Years of experience--

Dock hand vs material handler salary

Dock hands and material handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Dock HandMaterial Handler
Average salary$31,840$33,215
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $40,000Between $26,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City-Minneapolis, MN
Highest paying state-Minnesota
Best paying company-Battelle
Best paying industry-Automotive

Differences between dock hand and material handler education

There are a few differences between a dock hand and a material handler in terms of educational background:

Dock HandMaterial Handler
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%High School Diploma, 51%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Dock hand vs material handler demographics

Here are the differences between dock hands' and material handlers' demographics:

Dock HandMaterial Handler
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 85.8% Female, 14.2%Male, 77.6% Female, 22.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 5.5% White, 58.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 13.9% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 5.6% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between dock hand and material handler duties and responsibilities

Dock hand example responsibilities.

  • Used an RF to scan merchandise.
  • Operate forklift to cross load LTL trucks.
  • Perform soldering and de-soldering of through hole and SMT components.
  • Track and place individual pieces of LTL freight in a warehouse setting.
  • Use basic multimeter skills to verify the components that have been place at SMT.
  • Used RF scanner, and scanning all items picking and stocking, help customers need, and maintain work area cleanliness ,
  • Show more

Material handler example responsibilities.

  • Utilize a manufacturing cloud ERP system to accomplish tasks.
  • Operate forklift according to OSHA safety regulations.
  • Pull parts from stockroom using detail BOM's.
  • Perform daily transactions of materials and inventory movements in ERP system.
  • Help train in coming personnel on FedEx and LTL carriers shipping systems.
  • Move parts from CNC operators to stock area or to assemblers directly.
  • Show more

Dock hand vs material handler skills

Common dock hand skills
  • Boats, 40%
  • Customer Service, 22%
  • Unload Trailers, 11%
  • Load Trucks, 5%
  • RAN, 3%
  • General Maintenance, 3%
Common material handler skills
  • Pallets, 12%
  • Basic Math, 6%
  • Forklifts, 6%
  • Math, 5%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Hand Tools, 4%

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