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The differences between material handler/forklift operators and operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a material handler/forklift operator and an operator. Additionally, an operator has an average salary of $37,928, which is higher than the $36,453 average annual salary of a material handler/forklift operator.
The top three skills for a material handler/forklift operator include pallets, safety procedures and electric pallet jack. The most important skills for an operator are safety procedures, CDL, and emergency calls.
| Material Handler/Forklift Operator | Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $36,453 | $37,928 |
| Hourly rate | $17.53 | $18.23 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 168,379 | 159,077 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 59% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A material handler and forklift operator is responsible for transporting and storing various kinds of goods, even including fragile or hazardous shipments. The duties and location will vary depending on the line of work or industry involved. However, most of the tasks will require efficiency in operating machinery, communication skills, and great attention to detail. Furthermore, a material handler and forklift operator must monitor products and keep an accurate record of overall activities, transport materials within allotted time and schedule, and maintain communication and coordination with co-workers and supervisors.
Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them. They are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of the machine, and they should be able to troubleshoot problems and provide remedies to them. They must be knowledgeable about the different parts of the machine and how to mitigate any challenges that may arise. Operators should be alert, detail-oriented, and familiar with safety and health guidelines.
Material handler/forklift operators and operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Handler/Forklift Operator | Operator | |
| Average salary | $36,453 | $37,928 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $45,000 | Between $27,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lakeville, MN | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Nestlé | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a material handler/forklift operator and an operator in terms of educational background:
| Material Handler/Forklift Operator | Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 59% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between material handler/forklift operators' and operators' demographics:
| Material Handler/Forklift Operator | Operator | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% | Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 16.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 2.4% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 16.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |