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The differences between dock workers and unloaders 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 $32,885 average annual salary of an unloader.
The top three skills for a dock worker include safety rules, tractor trailer and LTL. The most important skills for an unloader are pallets, work ethic, and customer service.
| Dock Worker | Unloader | |
| Yearly salary | $36,027 | $32,885 |
| Hourly rate | $17.32 | $15.81 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 119,104 | 63,202 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 54% | High School Diploma, 59% |
| 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.
An unloader is responsible for monitoring truck deliveries and managing all goods and merchandise to the store. Unloaders verify the deliveries' correct quantity by checking the receipts and ensuring its quality for customers' purchase. They respond to the customers' inquiries and concerns, facilitate the shelf arrangement of the products, sort items, and help with the store's organization and cleanliness. An unloader must have excellent time-management skills and the ability to multitask to perform various tasks in the fast-paced industry.
Dock workers and unloaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dock Worker | Unloader | |
| Average salary | $36,027 | $32,885 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $43,000 | Between $26,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Coon Rapids, MN | Meridian, ID |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Dairy Farmers of America | Land O'Lakes |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a dock worker and an unloader in terms of educational background:
| Dock Worker | Unloader | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 54% | High School Diploma, 59% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between dock workers' and unloaders' demographics:
| Dock Worker | Unloader | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1% | Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7% |
| 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, 14.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 5.3% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |