Dock hand vs package handler

The differences between dock hands and package handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a package handler has an average salary of $32,785, 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 package handler are warehouse environment, load trailers, and delivery truck.

Dock hand vs package handler overview

	Dock Hand	Package Handler
Yearly salary	$31,840	$32,785
Hourly rate	$15.31	$15.76
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	63,913	93,831
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	High School Diploma, 49%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	-	-

Dock hand vs package handler salary

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

	Dock Hand	Package Handler
Average salary	$31,840	$32,785
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $40,000	Between $26,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City	-	Saint Paul, MN
Highest paying state	-	Minnesota
Best paying company	-	ALDI USA
Best paying industry	-	Retail

Differences between dock hand and package handler education

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

	Dock Hand	Package Handler
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	High School Diploma, 49%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Dock hand vs package handler demographics

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

	Dock Hand	Package Handler
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 85.8% Female, 14.2%	Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6%
Race ratio	Black 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, 13.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 5.6% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between dock hand and package 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 ,

Package handler example responsibilities.

Attach slings, ropes, or cables to objects such as pipes, hoses, or bundles.
Read GPS maps for your driving directions.
Operate sit down forklift for loading, unloading and running material.
License to operate MHE (forklifts, tractors, etc . )
Load grind and air shipments onto designate trailers using sit down forklift.
Conduct post inspections to ensure guard force personnel proficiency and level of alertness.

Dock hand vs package handler skills

Common dock hand skills

Boats, 40%
Customer Service, 22%
Unload Trailers, 11%
Load Trucks, 5%
RAN, 3%
General Maintenance, 3%

Common package handler skills

Warehouse Environment, 25%
Load Trailers, 10%
Delivery Truck, 9%
Safety Procedures, 9%
Load Packages, 8%
Load Trucks, 7%

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Transportation Industry
Dock Hand
Dock Hand vs Package Handler

Updated January 8, 2025

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