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Freight associate vs package handler

The differences between freight associates and package handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a package handler has an average salary of $32,785, 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 package handler are warehouse environment, load trailers, and delivery truck.

Freight associate vs package handler overview

Freight AssociatePackage Handler
Yearly salary$32,103$32,785
Hourly rate$15.43$15.76
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs6,47793,831
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 40%High School Diploma, 49%
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 package handler do?

A package handler's primary duty is to place and load correct packages to delivery vehicles and review inventory upon shipments. Package handlers are responsible for analyzing product labels to make sure that the items are accurately processed. A package handler should also have basic knowledge on running warehouse equipment and loading tools to finish the task more efficiently. Package handlers must be able to communicate with other personnel for any concerns that might affect the parcel condition and customer's satisfaction.

Freight associate vs package handler salary

Freight associates and package handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Freight AssociatePackage Handler
Average salary$32,103$32,785
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $39,000Between $26,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City-Saint Paul, MN
Highest paying state-Minnesota
Best paying company-ALDI USA
Best paying industry-Retail

Differences between freight associate and package handler education

There are a few differences between a freight associate and a package handler in terms of educational background:

Freight AssociatePackage Handler
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 40%High School Diploma, 49%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Freight associate vs package handler demographics

Here are the differences between freight associates' and package handlers' demographics:

Freight AssociatePackage Handler
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 75.0% Female, 25.0%Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6%
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, 13.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 5.6% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between freight associate and package handler 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

Package handler example responsibilities.

  • Attach slings, ropes, or cables to objects such as pipes, hoses, or bundles.
  • Read GPS maps for your driving directions.
  • Operate sit down forklift for loading, unloading and running material.
  • License to operate MHE (forklifts, tractors, etc . )
  • Load grind and air shipments onto designate trailers using sit down forklift.
  • Conduct post inspections to ensure guard force personnel proficiency and level of alertness.
  • Show more

Freight associate vs package handler skills

Common freight associate skills
  • Sales Floor, 42%
  • Cleanliness, 42%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Sort Merchandise, 3%
  • Store Merchandise, 2%
  • Math, 1%
Common package handler skills
  • Warehouse Environment, 25%
  • Load Trailers, 10%
  • Delivery Truck, 9%
  • Safety Procedures, 9%
  • Load Packages, 8%
  • Load Trucks, 7%

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