Loading dock hand vs package handler

The differences between loading dock hands 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 $30,478 average annual salary of a loading dock hand.

The top three skills for a loading dock hand include pallet jack, load trailers and dishwashers. The most important skills for a package handler are warehouse environment, load trailers, and delivery truck.

Loading dock hand vs package handler overview

	Loading Dock Hand	Package Handler
Yearly salary	$30,478	$32,785
Hourly rate	$14.65	$15.76
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	5,901	93,831
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 56%	High School Diploma, 49%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	-	-

Loading dock hand vs package handler salary

Loading dock hands and package handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Loading Dock Hand	Package Handler
Average salary	$30,478	$32,785
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $35,000	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 loading dock hand and package handler education

There are a few differences between a loading dock hand and a package handler in terms of educational background:

	Loading Dock Hand	Package Handler
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 56%	High School Diploma, 49%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Loading dock hand vs package handler demographics

Here are the differences between loading dock hands' and package handlers' demographics:

	Loading Dock Hand	Package Handler
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4%	Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 14.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 5.7% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%	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 loading dock hand and package handler duties and responsibilities

Loading dock hand example responsibilities.

Load orders into trailers for shipment; coordinate cross-dock operations and load consolidations.
Operate WMS shipping system efficiently and accurately.

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.

Loading dock hand vs package handler skills

Common loading dock hand skills

Pallet Jack, 32%
Load Trailers, 20%
Dishwashers, 10%
RF, 6%
Assembly Line, 4%
Water Truck, 4%

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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Loading Dock Hand
Loading Dock Hand vs Package Handler

Updated January 8, 2025

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