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The differences between material handlers and driver/material handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a driver/material handler has an average salary of $36,219, which is higher than the $33,215 average annual salary of a material handler.
The top three skills for a material handler include pallets, basic math and forklifts. The most important skills for a driver/material handler are CDL, customer orders, and inventory control.
| Material Handler | Driver/Material Handler | |
| Yearly salary | $33,215 | $36,219 |
| Hourly rate | $15.97 | $17.41 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 174,068 | 198,718 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Average age | 40 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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.
Primarily, driver/material handlers help maintain the production and distribution of products through inventory pullout, production materials, and supplies delivery, and finished product staging. Material handlers manage the transport of equipment or ammunition and conduct the planning and execution functions for effective grind force training. They pick and audit hazmat materials and deliver them to their customers. Also, they develop and expedite clear and effective communication with their customers.
Material handlers and driver/material handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Handler | Driver/Material Handler | |
| Average salary | $33,215 | $36,219 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $41,000 | Between $28,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | Santa Clara, CA |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Battelle | Merck |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a material handler and a driver/material handler in terms of educational background:
| Material Handler | Driver/Material Handler | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between material handlers' and driver/material handlers' demographics:
| Material Handler | Driver/Material Handler | |
| Average age | 40 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.6% Female, 22.4% | Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6% |
| 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, 15.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 2.6% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 4% |