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Driver/material handler vs cherry picker operator

The differences between driver/material handlers and cherry picker operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a driver/material handler and a cherry picker operator. Additionally, a driver/material handler has an average salary of $36,219, which is higher than the $33,956 average annual salary of a cherry picker operator.

The top three skills for a driver/material handler include CDL, customer orders and inventory control. The most important skills for a cherry picker operator are cherry-picker, pallets, and rf scanner.

Driver/material handler vs cherry picker operator overview

Driver/Material HandlerCherry Picker Operator
Yearly salary$36,219$33,956
Hourly rate$17.41$16.32
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs198,718105,023
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 53%High School Diploma, 62%
Average age4343
Years of experience44

What does a driver/material handler do?

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.

What does a cherry picker operator do?

Cherry pickers perform a safe and efficient operation of motorized lift vehicles in pulling customer order-based products. The cherry pickers manage different warehouse operating systems and associates to support processing and internal order logistics. They perform preventive maintenance on pallet packs, machines, cherry pickers, and forklifts. It is part of their job to count, verify, and check documents for completeness and accuracy. The skills to develop for this job include warehouse environment, clamp, and pallet jack operations.

Driver/material handler vs cherry picker operator salary

Driver/material handlers and cherry picker operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Driver/Material HandlerCherry Picker Operator
Average salary$36,219$33,956
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $45,000Between $27,000 And $41,000
Highest paying CitySanta Clara, CAEagan, MN
Highest paying stateHawaiiHawaii
Best paying companyMerckUnited Natural Foods
Best paying industryAutomotiveAutomotive

Differences between driver/material handler and cherry picker operator education

There are a few differences between a driver/material handler and a cherry picker operator in terms of educational background:

Driver/Material HandlerCherry Picker Operator
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 53%High School Diploma, 62%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Driver/material handler vs cherry picker operator demographics

Here are the differences between driver/material handlers' and cherry picker operators' demographics:

Driver/Material HandlerCherry Picker Operator
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 89.4% Female, 10.6%Male, 76.5% Female, 23.5%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 16.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 2.4% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between driver/material handler and cherry picker operator duties and responsibilities

Driver/material handler example responsibilities.

  • Manage temporary staff doing warehouse work and train and test them in order to receive forklift certification per OSHA.
  • Load and unload LTL freight from inbound and outbound trailers.
  • Operate forklifts in transferring loading and unloading materials in LTL.
  • Pick and audit hazmat and international orders.
  • Handle emergency hazmat situations requiring quick decision making skills.
  • Stack and move pallets from different lines with different products documenting quantity and quality while participating in a team environment.
  • Show more

Cherry picker operator example responsibilities.

  • Order selector, replenish, loader
  • Pick parts using scan handgunHelp QC pack parts into box
  • Order selector fork lift operator shipping and receiving whole sale foods
  • Collect and deliver pallets of inventory to other stations.
  • Maintain accurate and timely documentation as is required by organization and OSHA.
  • Pick inventory on floor level using a walkie.
  • Show more

Driver/material handler vs cherry picker operator skills

Common driver/material handler skills
  • CDL, 21%
  • Customer Orders, 11%
  • Inventory Control, 9%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Safety Rules, 7%
  • Pallets, 6%
Common cherry picker operator skills
  • Cherry-Picker, 36%
  • Pallets, 11%
  • RF Scanner, 10%
  • Electric Pallet Jack, 6%
  • Cherry Pickers, 6%
  • Work Ethic, 5%

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