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The differences between dock workers and freight handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a dock worker has an average salary of $36,027, which is higher than the $35,944 average annual salary of a freight handler.
The top three skills for a dock worker include safety rules, tractor trailer and LTL. The most important skills for a freight handler are basic math, pallets, and math.
| Dock Worker | Freight Handler | |
| Yearly salary | $36,027 | $35,944 |
| Hourly rate | $17.32 | $17.28 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 119,104 | 67,422 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 54% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A freight handler is responsible for monitoring the distribution and delivery of the freight, unloading and storing materials, and verifying the accurate information of the freight records. Freight handlers inspect the condition and quality of the goods and materials before loading into the distribution trucks for shipment. They also operate various warehouse tools and equipment to transport merchandise from the vehicle to different parts of the facility. A freight handler must be highly organized, especially in checking the correct tagging of items and conducting safety checks.
Dock workers and freight handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dock Worker | Freight Handler | |
| Average salary | $36,027 | $35,944 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $43,000 | Between $28,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Coon Rapids, MN | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Dairy Farmers of America | R+L Carriers |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a dock worker and a freight handler in terms of educational background:
| Dock Worker | Freight Handler | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 54% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between dock workers' and freight handlers' demographics:
| Dock Worker | Freight Handler | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1% | Male, 88.2% Female, 11.8% |
| 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, 13.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 5.2% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |