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Material handler/warehouse vs driver/material handler

The differences between material handler/warehouses 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 $32,384 average annual salary of a material handler/warehouse.

The top three skills for a material handler/warehouse include pallets, work ethic and warehouse environment. The most important skills for a driver/material handler are CDL, customer orders, and inventory control.

Material handler/warehouse vs driver/material handler overview

Material Handler/WarehouseDriver/Material Handler
Yearly salary$32,384$36,219
Hourly rate$15.57$17.41
Growth rate6%7%
Number of jobs154,227198,718
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 53%
Average age4043
Years of experience-4

What does a material handler/warehouse do?

A warehouse material handler is responsible for assisting warehouse operations, moving merchandise from one place to another, labeling products, performing quality check procedures, packaging goods, and loading and unloading items from distribution vehicles. Warehouse material handlers operate warehouse tools and equipment for production, as well as ensuring the adequacy of stock inventory needed for orders and deliveries. A warehouse material handler also updates product information on the database and do administrative tasks, such as writing reports and responding to customers' inquiries and concerns.

What does a driver/material handler do?

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 handler/warehouse vs driver/material handler salary

Material handler/warehouses and driver/material handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Material Handler/WarehouseDriver/Material Handler
Average salary$32,384$36,219
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $38,000Between $28,000 And $45,000
Highest paying CityTacoma, WASanta Clara, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiHawaii
Best paying companyPPGMerck
Best paying industryManufacturingAutomotive

Differences between material handler/warehouse and driver/material handler education

There are a few differences between a material handler/warehouse and a driver/material handler in terms of educational background:

Material Handler/WarehouseDriver/Material Handler
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 53%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Material handler/warehouse vs driver/material handler demographics

Here are the differences between material handler/warehouses' and driver/material handlers' demographics:

Material Handler/WarehouseDriver/Material Handler
Average age4043
Gender ratioMale, 85.0% Female, 15.0%Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 5.4% White, 54.2% 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 Percentage5%4%

Differences between material handler/warehouse and driver/material handler duties and responsibilities

Material handler/warehouse example responsibilities.

  • Experience in WMS management system.
  • Handle stock tickets, and pack cross-dock shipments in accordance with establish WMS procedures.
  • Pull installation material for service partners and technicians using RF scanners and JDE warehouse management system.
  • Perform all warehouse distribution duties using sit-down and stand-up lift trucks, RF scanners and warehouse management system.
  • Utilize material moving equipment such as pallet jacks, forklifts and dollies to bring products and materials to an appropriate location.
  • Move property from one place to another with and without the use of pull carts, dollies, and pallet jacks.
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Driver/material handler example responsibilities.

  • Manage temporary staff doing warehouse work and train and test them in order to receive forklift certification per OSHA.
  • Load and unload LTL freight from inbound and outbound trailers.
  • Operate forklifts in transferring loading and unloading materials in LTL.
  • Pick and audit hazmat and international orders.
  • Handle emergency hazmat situations requiring quick decision making skills.
  • Stack and move pallets from different lines with different products documenting quantity and quality while participating in a team environment.
  • Show more

Material handler/warehouse vs driver/material handler skills

Common material handler/warehouse skills
  • Pallets, 16%
  • Work Ethic, 12%
  • Warehouse Environment, 9%
  • Customer Orders, 7%
  • Supply Support, 5%
  • Ladders, 4%
Common driver/material handler skills
  • CDL, 21%
  • Customer Orders, 11%
  • Inventory Control, 9%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Safety Rules, 7%
  • Pallets, 6%

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