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Freight associate vs dock worker

The differences between freight associates and dock workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a dock worker has an average salary of $36,027, which is higher than the $32,103 average annual salary of a freight associate.

The top three skills for a freight associate include sales floor, cleanliness and customer service. The most important skills for a dock worker are safety rules, tractor trailer, and LTL.

Freight associate vs dock worker overview

Freight AssociateDock Worker
Yearly salary$32,103$36,027
Hourly rate$15.43$17.32
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs6,477119,104
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 40%High School Diploma, 54%
Average age4040
Years of experience--

What does a freight associate do?

The typical tasks of a freight associate include stocking merchandise on shelves, organizing the sales floor, and providing excellent customer service. Freight associates load and unload trucks and transfer the items from the receiving area to the store. Some of them may operate heavy equipment like forklifts. They may work on the critical functions of equipment for proper maintenance. Also, they maintain the cleanliness of the sales floor and the work area on a regular basis.

What does a dock worker do?

People working in the docks are collectively called dock workers. Their primary job is to load and unload ships. They are also named material movers and hand laborers who manually move stocks, freight, or other materials. While formal educational attainment is not a prerequisite to becoming a dock worker, several skills are required. Dockworkers should have the best physical strength, endurance, and agility. Having good hearing and eyesight is also essential in their job.

Freight associate vs dock worker salary

Freight associates and dock workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Freight AssociateDock Worker
Average salary$32,103$36,027
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $39,000Between $29,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City-Coon Rapids, MN
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Dairy Farmers of America
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between freight associate and dock worker education

There are a few differences between a freight associate and a dock worker in terms of educational background:

Freight AssociateDock Worker
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 40%High School Diploma, 54%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Freight associate vs dock worker demographics

Here are the differences between freight associates' and dock workers' demographics:

Freight AssociateDock Worker
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 75.0% Female, 25.0%Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.0% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between freight associate and dock worker duties and responsibilities

Freight associate example responsibilities.

  • Operate a wide variety of lift equipment.
  • Work at the MSP airport sorting and loading air containers to assure proper delivery.
  • Job duties include receiving and unloading freight, pulling pallets to the floor after separating.
  • Specialize in use of RF equipment to determine sign needs by fixture for particular ad events.
  • Stack empty CHEP pallets in racks and regular pallets on dock floor at end of shift.
  • Perform inventory duties with the RF hand scanner, which include research, outs, and rigs.
  • Show more

Dock worker example responsibilities.

  • Operate yard truck to manage dock needs, maintain safety and cleanliness of dock as well as yard.
  • Work with AS400 WMS to coordinate the movement of freight in and out of the terminal.
  • Use of the AS400 to process outbound shipments, including but not limit to data entry, and BOL imaging.
  • Print BOL for daily deliveries.
  • Use RF scanning system to select orders.
  • Process and palletize all damage, penny, and RTV merchandise.
  • Show more

Freight associate vs dock worker skills

Common freight associate skills
  • Sales Floor, 42%
  • Cleanliness, 42%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Sort Merchandise, 3%
  • Store Merchandise, 2%
  • Math, 1%
Common dock worker skills
  • Safety Rules, 12%
  • Tractor Trailer, 8%
  • LTL, 8%
  • Unload Trailers, 6%
  • Basic Math, 5%
  • Dock Equipment, 5%

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