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What does a material handler/warehouse associate do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
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Material handler/warehouse associate responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real material handler/warehouse associate resumes:

  • Perform analysis of logistics for equipment, personnel, and training on computer spreadsheets/databases, using specialize tracking software.
  • Job knowledge includes receiving, picking, packing, order processing and shipping of parcel, LTL & TL medical shipments.

Material handler/warehouse associate skills and personality traits

We calculated that 17% of Material Handler/Warehouse Associates are proficient in Pallets, Pallet Jack, and Warehouse Equipment. They’re also known for soft skills such as Listening skills, Physical strength, and Customer-service skills.

We break down the percentage of Material Handler/Warehouse Associates that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Pallets, 17%

    Maneuvered 50-100 pallets daily utilizing an electric cherry picker.

  • Pallet Jack, 12%

    Operated power and manual pallet jacks., These tools were used every day to assist in moving and picking inventory.

  • Warehouse Equipment, 8%

    Maintain and monitor warehouse equipment for safety and operational efficiency.

  • Safety Procedures, 7%

    Follow safety procedures and regulations; including wearing special protective gear and disposing of materials as regulated by FDA.

  • Delivery Truck, 6%

    Stocked up and unloaded delivery truck when needed.

  • Load Trucks, 5%

    Stock, pack/unpack boxes and load/unload trucks on a daily basis.

Common skills that a material handler/warehouse associate uses to do their job include "pallets," "pallet jack," and "warehouse equipment." You can find details on the most important material handler/warehouse associate responsibilities below.

Listening skills. The most essential soft skill for a material handler/warehouse associate to carry out their responsibilities is listening skills. This skill is important for the role because "hand laborers and material movers follow instructions that a supervisor gives them." Additionally, a material handler/warehouse associate resume shows how their duties depend on listening skills: "communicated to help assist with oversized customer orders monitored inventory levels to ensure availability of product. "

Physical strength. Another essential skill to perform material handler/warehouse associate duties is physical strength. Material handler/warehouse associates responsibilities require that "some hand laborers and material movers must be able to lift and carry heavy objects." Material handler/warehouse associates also use physical strength in their role according to a real resume snippet: "picked items requested on purchase orders (physically) . "

Customer-service skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of material handler/warehouse associates is customer-service skills. This skill is critical to many everyday material handler/warehouse associate duties, as "hand laborers and material movers who work with the public, such as grocery baggers or carwash attendants, must be pleasant and courteous to customers." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "fulfilled customer orders and prepared pallets for shipping. "

All material handler/warehouse associate skills

Choose from 10+ customizable material handler/warehouse associate resume templates

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Material Handler/Warehouse Associate Resume
Material Handler/Warehouse Associate Resume
Material Handler/Warehouse Associate Resume
Material Handler/Warehouse Associate Resume
Material Handler/Warehouse Associate Resume
Material Handler/Warehouse Associate Resume
Material Handler/Warehouse Associate Resume
Material Handler/Warehouse Associate Resume
Material Handler/Warehouse Associate Resume
Material Handler/Warehouse Associate Resume
Material Handler/Warehouse Associate Resume
Material Handler/Warehouse Associate Resume
Material Handler/Warehouse Associate Resume
Material Handler/Warehouse Associate Resume
Material Handler/Warehouse Associate Resume
Material Handler/Warehouse Associate Resume

Compare different material handler/warehouse associates

Material handler/warehouse associate vs. Can handler

Can handlers or material handlers have various duties and responsibilities within an organization. These include maintaining production and product distribution, staging finished products, and delivering production supplies and materials. Other responsibilities include maintaining inventory, documenting supplies and materials disposition, and receiving supplies and materials from production. They receive credit-return materials by verifying the code, quantity, and lot number. Can handlers also prepare products for shipment, maintain material-handling equipment, and contribute to teamwork and effort. The skills and qualifications needed for this position include organizational skills, inventory control, and data entry skills.

The annual salary of can handlers is $307 lower than the average salary of material handler/warehouse associates.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between material handler/warehouse associates and can handlers are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like pallet jack, safety procedures, and delivery truck.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between material handler/warehouse associates and can handler. For instance, material handler/warehouse associate responsibilities require skills such as "pallets," "warehouse equipment," "cherry pickers," and "shipping receiving." Whereas a can handler is skilled in "customer service," "patients," "supply support," and "fedex." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Can handlers tend to make the most money working in the automotive industry, where they earn an average salary of $33,051. In contrast, material handler/warehouse associates make the biggest average salary, $38,110, in the manufacturing industry.The education levels that can handlers earn slightly differ from material handler/warehouse associates. In particular, can handlers are 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a material handler/warehouse associate. Additionally, they're 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Material handler/warehouse associate vs. Package handler

A package handler's primary duty is to place and load correct packages to delivery vehicles and review inventory upon shipments. Package handlers are responsible for analyzing product labels to make sure that the items are accurately processed. A package handler should also have basic knowledge on running warehouse equipment and loading tools to finish the task more efficiently. Package handlers must be able to communicate with other personnel for any concerns that might affect the parcel condition and customer's satisfaction.

Package handler positions earn higher pay than material handler/warehouse associate roles. They earn a $13 higher salary than material handler/warehouse associates per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both material handler/warehouse associates and package handlers have skills such as "pallet jack," "safety procedures," and "delivery truck. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that material handler/warehouse associate responsibilities requires skills like "pallets," "warehouse equipment," "cherry pickers," and "shipping receiving." But a package handler might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "warehouse environment," "load trailers," "load packages," and "supply support."

On average, package handlers earn a higher salary than material handler/warehouse associates. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, package handlers earn the most pay in the retail industry with an average salary of $38,714. Whereas material handler/warehouse associates have higher pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $38,110.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Package handlers tend to reach similar levels of education than material handler/warehouse associates. In fact, they're 1.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Material handler/warehouse associate vs. Warehouse labour

Warehouse labour workers are responsible for organizing shipment details by processing the correct quantity of orders, ensuring that the items are free from any defects and mislabeling. Warehouse labourers prepare the items for packaging efficiently, update the inventory records, and escalate production discrepancy to the management for immediate resolution. They should also strictly adhere to the production area's safety regulations, especially on loading and unloading items, and moving each package to appropriate shelves using warehouse equipment.

On average scale, warehouse labours bring in lower salaries than material handler/warehouse associates. In fact, they earn a $1,026 lower salary per year.material handler/warehouse associates and warehouse labours both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "pallets," "warehouse equipment," and "safety procedures," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, material handler/warehouse associates are more likely to have skills like "pallet jack," "rf scanner," "hazardous materials," and "wms." But a warehouse labour is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "basic math," "cleanliness," and "math."

Warehouse labours earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $33,085. Comparatively, material handler/warehouse associates have the highest earning potential in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $38,110.Most warehouse labours achieve a similar degree level compared to material handler/warehouse associates. For example, they're 2.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Material handler/warehouse associate vs. Warehouse clerk

A warehouse clerk is an employee responsible for the process of ordered goods while keeping the warehouse well-organized and clean. Warehouse clerks accept company products' deliveries, inspect them for any damages, and store them accordingly in the warehouse. Companies require their warehouse clerks to have many skills, such as an operating forklift or other machinery to transport large and heavy goods. Warehouse clerks must also possess abilities like knowledge in Warehouse Management Software programs and detailed-oriented capable of noticing small errors in orders.

Warehouse clerks average a lower salary than the annual salary of material handler/warehouse associates. The difference is about $1,208 per year.While their salaries may vary, material handler/warehouse associates and warehouse clerks both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "pallets," "warehouse equipment," and "safety procedures. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A material handler/warehouse associate uses "pallet jack," "cherry pickers," "rf scanner," and "osha." Warehouse clerks are more likely to have duties that require skills in "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "data entry," and "logistics. "The transportation industry tends to pay the highest salaries for warehouse clerks, with average annual pay of $32,595. Comparatively, the highest material handler/warehouse associate annual salary comes from the manufacturing industry.warehouse clerks reach similar levels of education compared to material handler/warehouse associates, in general. The difference is that they're 1.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of material handler/warehouse associate

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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