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The differences between material handlers and assemblers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a material handler has an average salary of $33,215, which is higher than the $30,849 average annual salary of an assembler.
The top three skills for a material handler include pallets, basic math and forklifts. The most important skills for an assembler are assembly line, part numbers, and dexterity.
| Material Handler | Assembler | |
| Yearly salary | $33,215 | $30,849 |
| Hourly rate | $15.97 | $14.83 |
| Growth rate | 6% | - |
| Number of jobs | 174,068 | 22,566 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Material handlers are responsible for moving products, storing items, and managing supplies to proper shelf categories. A material handler also documents deliveries and ensures that all items for shipment are correct and free of any damage. Material handlers must also be a fast-learner to operate various warehouse equipment that would make the task more efficient and less time-consuming. A material handler must also check all the incoming deliveries to validate all purchases made. Material handlers must be able to analyze sheet orders and prepare the correct merchandise the client needs.
An assembler's general responsibility is to assemble parts and pieces of an item to create a full-length component. An assembler's duties also include checking inventories for correct quantities of components, following blueprints and acknowledging assembly instructions, verifying resources and supplies before assembly, and inspecting tools and equipment necessary to get the job done. Assemblers must also have extensive knowledge of machines, especially troubleshooting and maintenance, and ensuring the quality of the items without compromising the standard safety regulations of the production.
Material handlers and assemblers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Handler | Assembler | |
| Average salary | $33,215 | $30,849 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $41,000 | Between $24,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Battelle | Jefferson Lab |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a material handler and an assembler in terms of educational background:
| Material Handler | Assembler | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between material handlers' and assemblers' demographics:
| Material Handler | Assembler | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.6% Female, 22.4% | Male, 59.1% Female, 40.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.9% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 5.6% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 9.1% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |