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The differences between forklift drivers and material handler/forklift 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 forklift driver and a material handler/forklift operator. Additionally, a material handler/forklift operator has an average salary of $36,453, which is higher than the $33,476 average annual salary of a forklift driver.
The top three skills for a forklift driver include pallets, electric pallet jack and safety procedures. The most important skills for a material handler/forklift operator are pallets, safety procedures, and electric pallet jack.
| Forklift Driver | Material Handler/Forklift Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $33,476 | $36,453 |
| Hourly rate | $16.09 | $17.53 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 116,516 | 168,379 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 61% | High School Diploma, 59% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A forklift operator is responsible for managing and operating industrial trucks and machines to ensure its performance safety and stability. Forklift operators' duties include safely handling of deliveries, securely moving items to storage areas, monitoring inventories and supplies, running diagnostic tests, reporting inspected malfunctions and deficiencies, performing basic troubleshooting, and adhering to safety procedures. It is a requirement that a forklift operator must have excellent time-management skills, as well as the ability to multi-task for daily operations.
A material handler and forklift operator is responsible for transporting and storing various kinds of goods, even including fragile or hazardous shipments. The duties and location will vary depending on the line of work or industry involved. However, most of the tasks will require efficiency in operating machinery, communication skills, and great attention to detail. Furthermore, a material handler and forklift operator must monitor products and keep an accurate record of overall activities, transport materials within allotted time and schedule, and maintain communication and coordination with co-workers and supervisors.
Forklift drivers and material handler/forklift operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Forklift Driver | Material Handler/Forklift Operator | |
| Average salary | $33,476 | $36,453 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $41,000 | Between $29,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | Shakopee, MN | Lakeville, MN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | BD | Nestlé |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a forklift driver and a material handler/forklift operator in terms of educational background:
| Forklift Driver | Material Handler/Forklift Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 61% | High School Diploma, 59% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between forklift drivers' and material handler/forklift operators' demographics:
| Forklift Driver | Material Handler/Forklift Operator | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 15.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 2.5% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 16.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 2.4% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |