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Fork truck operator vs driver/material handler

The differences between fork truck operators and driver/material handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a fork truck operator and a driver/material handler. Additionally, a driver/material handler has an average salary of $36,219, which is higher than the $32,272 average annual salary of a fork truck operator.

The top three skills for a fork truck operator include pallets, safety procedures and load trucks. The most important skills for a driver/material handler are CDL, customer orders, and inventory control.

Fork truck operator vs driver/material handler overview

Fork Truck OperatorDriver/Material Handler
Yearly salary$32,272$36,219
Hourly rate$15.52$17.41
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs117,624198,718
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 51%High School Diploma, 53%
Average age4343
Years of experience44

Fork truck operator vs driver/material handler salary

Fork truck operators and driver/material handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Fork Truck OperatorDriver/Material Handler
Average salary$32,272$36,219
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $39,000Between $28,000 And $45,000
Highest paying CityGrand Forks, NDSanta Clara, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaHawaii
Best paying companySeneca FoodsMerck
Best paying industryFinanceAutomotive

Differences between fork truck operator and driver/material handler education

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

Fork Truck OperatorDriver/Material Handler
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 51%High School Diploma, 53%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Fork truck operator vs driver/material handler demographics

Here are the differences between fork truck operators' and driver/material handlers' demographics:

Fork Truck OperatorDriver/Material Handler
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 87.1% Female, 12.9%Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 1.9% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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 Percentage4%4%

Differences between fork truck operator and driver/material handler duties and responsibilities

Fork truck operator example responsibilities.

  • Create and cataloge files for GMP library.
  • Perform specialized production line and quality control duties in a professional production environment specializing in plastic extrusion.
  • Perform specialized production line and quality control duties in a professional production environment specializing in plastic extrusion.

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.
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Fork truck operator vs driver/material handler skills

Common fork truck operator skills
  • Pallets, 19%
  • Safety Procedures, 10%
  • Load Trucks, 7%
  • Load Trailers, 6%
  • Pallet Jack, 6%
  • Assembly Line, 5%
Common driver/material handler skills
  • CDL, 21%
  • Customer Orders, 11%
  • Inventory Control, 9%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Safety Rules, 7%
  • Pallets, 6%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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