Forklift-picker vs material handler/forklift operator

The differences between forklift-pickers 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-picker and a material handler/forklift operator. Additionally, a material handler/forklift operator has an average salary of $36,453, which is higher than the $32,704 average annual salary of a forklift-picker.

The top three skills for a forklift-picker include pallets, pallet jack and rf scanner. The most important skills for a material handler/forklift operator are pallets, safety procedures, and electric pallet jack.

Forklift-picker vs material handler/forklift operator overview

	Forklift-Picker	Material Handler/Forklift Operator
Yearly salary	$32,704	$36,453
Hourly rate	$15.72	$17.53
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	44,786	168,379
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 65%	High School Diploma, 59%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	4	4

Forklift-picker vs material handler/forklift operator salary

Forklift-pickers and material handler/forklift operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Forklift-Picker	Material Handler/Forklift Operator
Average salary	$32,704	$36,453
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $40,000	Between $29,000 And $45,000
Highest paying City	Sioux Falls, SD	Lakeville, MN
Highest paying state	North Dakota	North Dakota
Best paying company	Tyson Foods	Nestlé
Best paying industry	Technology	Automotive

Differences between forklift-picker and material handler/forklift operator education

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

	Forklift-Picker	Material Handler/Forklift Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 65%	High School Diploma, 59%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Forklift-picker vs material handler/forklift operator demographics

Here are the differences between forklift-pickers' and material handler/forklift operators' demographics:

	Forklift-Picker	Material Handler/Forklift Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4%	Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 2.8% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	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%

Differences between forklift-picker and material handler/forklift operator duties and responsibilities

Forklift-picker example responsibilities.

Operate forklift to organize and wrap complete pallets, also operate other machinery that handle completed pallets to load company trucks.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation as is required by organization and OSHA.
Shrink wrap pallet and then set pallet by the correct load door to be check for accuracy.
Certify cherry picker operator / pull orders and putaway

Material handler/forklift operator example responsibilities.

Use automate systems and RF units to pull, put away and load customer product, in addition to managing inventory
Train in all aspects of warehousing, shipping, receiving using WMS.
Receive parts from the manufacturers and scan parts into the inventory using warehouse management system (WMS).
Perform specialized production line and quality control duties in a professional production environment specializing in plastic extrusion.
Determine require pallet count to meet the statistical receiving requirements.
Operate tools (hand truck, fork lift, dollies, hand jack), distribute materials to their designate departments.

Forklift-picker vs material handler/forklift operator skills

Common forklift-picker skills

Pallets, 22%
Pallet Jack, 17%
RF Scanner, 10%
Load Trucks, 8%
Shipping Receiving, 7%
Reach Truck, 6%

Common material handler/forklift operator skills

Pallets, 19%
Safety Procedures, 10%
Electric Pallet Jack, 10%
Forklift Operation, 7%
RF Scanner, 6%
Assembly Line, 4%

Forklift-Picker vs. similar jobs

Forklift-Picker related careers

Forklift-Picker related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Transportation Industry
Forklift-Picker
Forklift-Picker vs Material Handler/Forklift Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse transportation jobs