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The differences between freight handlers and material handler leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a material handler lead has an average salary of $37,147, which is higher than the $35,944 average annual salary of a freight handler.
The top three skills for a freight handler include basic math, pallets and math. The most important skills for a material handler lead are logistics, safety procedures, and material handlers.
| Freight Handler | Material Handler Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $35,944 | $37,147 |
| Hourly rate | $17.28 | $17.86 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 67,422 | 37,577 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 54% | High School Diploma, 45% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A freight handler is responsible for monitoring the distribution and delivery of the freight, unloading and storing materials, and verifying the accurate information of the freight records. Freight handlers inspect the condition and quality of the goods and materials before loading into the distribution trucks for shipment. They also operate various warehouse tools and equipment to transport merchandise from the vehicle to different parts of the facility. A freight handler must be highly organized, especially in checking the correct tagging of items and conducting safety checks.
A material handler lead, also known as a package handler, warehouse associate, or hand laborer, manually moves products, merchandise, stock, and other materials. This role tends to be found within supply chains, manufacturing, production, shipping, storage, or customer receiving. This role entails maintaining inventory, taking note of the location of stock, verifying production orders, loading delivery trucks, and filling client orders. They also need to ensure safety in the working area and maintain accurate documentation of the materials that are being shipped.
Freight handlers and material handler leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Freight Handler | Material Handler Lead | |
| Average salary | $35,944 | $37,147 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $44,000 | Between $29,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Billerica, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | R+L Carriers | Halliburton |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a freight handler and a material handler lead in terms of educational background:
| Freight Handler | Material Handler Lead | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 54% | High School Diploma, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between freight handlers' and material handler leads' demographics:
| Freight Handler | Material Handler Lead | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.2% Female, 11.8% | Male, 82.2% Female, 17.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 5.2% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 5.5% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |