Freight sorter vs package handler

The differences between freight sorters 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 $30,215 average annual salary of a freight sorter.

The top three skills for a freight sorter include load freight, delivery vehicle and hand trucks. The most important skills for a package handler are warehouse environment, load trailers, and delivery truck.

Freight sorter vs package handler overview

	Freight Sorter	Package Handler
Yearly salary	$30,215	$32,785
Hourly rate	$14.53	$15.76
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	24,613	93,831
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 39%	High School Diploma, 49%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	-	-

Freight sorter vs package handler salary

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

	Freight Sorter	Package Handler
Average salary	$30,215	$32,785
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $37,000	Between $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 sorter and package handler education

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

	Freight Sorter	Package Handler
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 39%	High School Diploma, 49%
Most common major	Electrical Engineering	Business
Most common college	-	-

Freight sorter vs package handler demographics

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

	Freight Sorter	Package Handler
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 70.9% Female, 29.1%	Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	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 Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between freight sorter and package handler duties and responsibilities

Freight sorter example responsibilities.

Process mail using automate mail processing equipment or manual methods of sortation and distribution.
Volunteer work for kohl's cares events.

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.

Freight sorter vs package handler skills

Common freight sorter skills

Load Freight, 62%
Delivery Vehicle, 22%
Hand Trucks, 6%
Sales Floor, 6%
Sort Freight, 4%

Common package handler skills

Warehouse Environment, 25%
Load Trailers, 10%
Delivery Truck, 9%
Safety Procedures, 9%
Load Packages, 8%
Load Trucks, 7%

Freight Sorter vs. similar jobs

Freight Sorter related careers

Freight Sorter related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Transportation Industry
Freight Sorter
Freight Sorter vs Package Handler

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse transportation jobs