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The differences between material handler leads and loader/unloaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a material handler lead has an average salary of $37,147, which is higher than the $31,827 average annual salary of a loader/unloader.
The top three skills for a material handler lead include logistics, safety procedures and material handlers. The most important skills for a loader/unloader are inventory control, electric pallet jack, and pallets.
| Material Handler Lead | Loader/Unloader | |
| Yearly salary | $37,147 | $31,827 |
| Hourly rate | $17.86 | $15.30 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 37,577 | 67,063 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | High School Diploma, 63% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A material handler lead, also known as a package handler, warehouse associate, or hand laborer, manually moves products, merchandise, stock, and other materials. This role tends to be found within supply chains, manufacturing, production, shipping, storage, or customer receiving. This role entails maintaining inventory, taking note of the location of stock, verifying production orders, loading delivery trucks, and filling client orders. They also need to ensure safety in the working area and maintain accurate documentation of the materials that are being shipped.
A loader's responsibilities regularly involve manual work such as lifting and transporting objects to vehicles like trucks and vans. The tasks of a loader may also include operating various kinds of machines, maintain accurate documentation and inventory, sort and organize goods while examining their quality and quantity, and devise strategies on how to expand space capacity. A loader also needs to coordinate with staff at all times, and report to managers or supervisors should there be any issues or inconsistencies.
Material handler leads and loader/unloaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Handler Lead | Loader/Unloader | |
| Average salary | $37,147 | $31,827 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $47,000 | Between $26,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Tacoma, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Minnesota |
| Best paying company | Halliburton | Bunge |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a material handler lead and a loader/unloader in terms of educational background:
| Material Handler Lead | Loader/Unloader | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | High School Diploma, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between material handler leads' and loader/unloaders' demographics:
| Material Handler Lead | Loader/Unloader | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.2% Female, 17.8% | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 5.5% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 14.9% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 5.5% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |