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The differences between dock workers and driver/material handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a driver/material handler has an average salary of $36,219, which is higher than the $36,027 average annual salary of a dock worker.
The top three skills for a dock worker include safety rules, tractor trailer and LTL. The most important skills for a driver/material handler are CDL, customer orders, and inventory control.
| Dock Worker | Driver/Material Handler | |
| Yearly salary | $36,027 | $36,219 |
| Hourly rate | $17.32 | $17.41 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 119,104 | 198,718 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 54% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Average age | 40 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
People working in the docks are collectively called dock workers. Their primary job is to load and unload ships. They are also named material movers and hand laborers who manually move stocks, freight, or other materials. While formal educational attainment is not a prerequisite to becoming a dock worker, several skills are required. Dockworkers should have the best physical strength, endurance, and agility. Having good hearing and eyesight is also essential in their job.
Primarily, driver/material handlers help maintain the production and distribution of products through inventory pullout, production materials, and supplies delivery, and finished product staging. Material handlers manage the transport of equipment or ammunition and conduct the planning and execution functions for effective grind force training. They pick and audit hazmat materials and deliver them to their customers. Also, they develop and expedite clear and effective communication with their customers.
Dock workers and driver/material handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dock Worker | Driver/Material Handler | |
| Average salary | $36,027 | $36,219 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $43,000 | Between $28,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | Coon Rapids, MN | Santa Clara, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Dairy Farmers of America | Merck |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a dock worker and a driver/material handler in terms of educational background:
| Dock Worker | Driver/Material Handler | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 54% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between dock workers' and driver/material handlers' demographics:
| Dock Worker | Driver/Material Handler | |
| Average age | 40 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1% | Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 15.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 2.6% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 4% |