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The differences between material handler/warehouses and package handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a package handler has an average salary of $32,785, 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 package handler are warehouse environment, load trailers, and delivery truck.
| Material Handler/Warehouse | Package Handler | |
| Yearly salary | $32,384 | $32,785 |
| Hourly rate | $15.57 | $15.76 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 154,227 | 93,831 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
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.
Material handler/warehouses and package handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Handler/Warehouse | Package Handler | |
| Average salary | $32,384 | $32,785 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $38,000 | Between $26,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Tacoma, WA | Saint Paul, MN |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Minnesota |
| Best paying company | PPG | ALDI USA |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Retail |
There are a few differences between a material handler/warehouse and a package handler in terms of educational background:
| Material Handler/Warehouse | Package Handler | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between material handler/warehouses' and package handlers' demographics:
| Material Handler/Warehouse | Package Handler | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.0% Female, 15.0% | Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 13.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 5.6% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |