Hazardous materials handler vs truck unloader

The differences between hazardous materials handlers and truck unloaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a hazardous materials handler has an average salary of $32,796, which is higher than the $32,543 average annual salary of a truck unloader.

The top three skills for a hazardous materials handler include hazardous waste, non hazardous materials and DOT. The most important skills for a truck unloader are electric pallet jack, pallets, and sales floor.

Hazardous materials handler vs truck unloader overview

	Hazardous Materials Handler	Truck Unloader
Yearly salary	$32,796	$32,543
Hourly rate	$15.77	$15.65
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	29,787	42,020
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 39%	High School Diploma, 63%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	-	-

Hazardous materials handler vs truck unloader salary

Hazardous materials handlers and truck unloaders have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Hazardous Materials Handler	Truck Unloader
Average salary	$32,796	$32,543
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $40,000	Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	-	Portland, OR
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	Oriental Trading
Best paying industry	-	Transportation

Differences between hazardous materials handler and truck unloader education

There are a few differences between a hazardous materials handler and a truck unloader in terms of educational background:

	Hazardous Materials Handler	Truck Unloader
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 39%	High School Diploma, 63%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Hazardous materials handler vs truck unloader demographics

Here are the differences between hazardous materials handlers' and truck unloaders' demographics:

	Hazardous Materials Handler	Truck Unloader
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 88.5% Female, 11.5%	Male, 85.1% Female, 14.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 14.1% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 5.3% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%	Black or African American, 13.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 6.0% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between hazardous materials handler and truck unloader duties and responsibilities

Hazardous materials handler example responsibilities.

Manage the logistics of incoming and outgoing shipments
Assess HAZMAT training needs and ensure training for all HAZMAT representatives.
Establish and maintain procedures for receiving, handling, and shipping of HAZMAT.
Distribute production materials to designate locations on assembly lines observing the first-in-first-out (FIFO) inventory control practice.
Thrive in this fast-pace environment requiring memorization, accuracy, and stamina.

Truck unloader example responsibilities.

Used jigs, torches, jacks, wedges, tumbuckles, hoists, cranes, drift pins, pry bars.
Stock floor according to current store map, utilize RF scanner for inventory database.
Replenish stock on floor and back-stock material (using RF device to record location).
Secure newly organize pallets utilizing shrink wrap.
Prepare pallets by following prescribe stacking arrangement and properly tagging pallets.
Volunteer work for kohl's cares events.

Hazardous materials handler vs truck unloader skills

Common hazardous materials handler skills

Hazardous Waste, 16%
Non Hazardous Materials, 16%
DOT, 16%
Safety Procedures, 13%
Hazmat, 7%
Bucket Loaders, 4%

Common truck unloader skills

Electric Pallet Jack, 24%
Pallets, 19%
Sales Floor, 16%
Customer Service, 9%
Stock Shelves, 8%
Stock Merchandise, 7%

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Transportation Industry
Hazardous Materials Handler
Hazardous Materials Handler vs Truck Unloader

Updated January 8, 2025

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