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Driver/material handler vs material handler lead

The differences between driver/material handlers and material handler leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a material handler lead has an average salary of $37,147, which is higher than the $36,219 average annual salary of a driver/material handler.

The top three skills for a driver/material handler include CDL, customer orders and inventory control. The most important skills for a material handler lead are logistics, safety procedures, and material handlers.

Driver/material handler vs material handler lead overview

Driver/Material HandlerMaterial Handler Lead
Yearly salary$36,219$37,147
Hourly rate$17.41$17.86
Growth rate7%6%
Number of jobs198,71837,577
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 53%High School Diploma, 45%
Average age4340
Years of experience4-

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 material handler lead do?

A material handler lead, also known as a package handler, warehouse associate, or hand laborer, manually moves products, merchandise, stock, and other materials. This role tends to be found within supply chains, manufacturing, production, shipping, storage, or customer receiving. This role entails maintaining inventory, taking note of the location of stock, verifying production orders, loading delivery trucks, and filling client orders. They also need to ensure safety in the working area and maintain accurate documentation of the materials that are being shipped.

Driver/material handler vs material handler lead salary

Driver/material handlers and material handler leads have different pay scales, as shown below.

Driver/Material HandlerMaterial Handler Lead
Average salary$36,219$37,147
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $45,000Between $29,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CitySanta Clara, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateHawaiiAlaska
Best paying companyMerckHalliburton
Best paying industryAutomotiveHealth Care

Differences between driver/material handler and material handler lead education

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

Driver/Material HandlerMaterial Handler Lead
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 53%High School Diploma, 45%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Driver/material handler vs material handler lead demographics

Here are the differences between driver/material handlers' and material handler leads' demographics:

Driver/Material HandlerMaterial Handler Lead
Average age4340
Gender ratioMale, 89.4% Female, 10.6%Male, 82.2% Female, 17.8%
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, 13.5% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 5.5% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage4%5%

Differences between driver/material handler and material handler lead 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

Material handler lead example responsibilities.

  • Experience in managing JIT material handling, shipping, rail dock, truck dock and metal assembly areas.
  • Lead and execute projects relate to different commodities such as copper and silver, expect savings of $435K.
  • Utilize RF inventory management system, maintain records in accordance with guidelines to ensure integrity of ISO standards.
  • Help the site meet OSHA VPP status.
  • Train as foamer for Hazmat.
  • Follow all OSHA and PPE standards.
  • Show more

Driver/material handler vs material handler lead skills

Common driver/material handler skills
  • CDL, 21%
  • Customer Orders, 11%
  • Inventory Control, 9%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Safety Rules, 7%
  • Pallets, 6%
Common material handler lead skills
  • Logistics, 9%
  • Safety Procedures, 9%
  • Material Handlers, 9%
  • Shipping Receiving, 7%
  • Pallets, 5%
  • RF, 4%

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