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Material handler/warehouse vs warehouse employee

The differences between material handler/warehouses and warehouse employees can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a warehouse employee has an average salary of $32,510, 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 warehouse employee are pallets, customer service, and cleanliness.

Material handler/warehouse vs warehouse employee overview

Material Handler/WarehouseWarehouse Employee
Yearly salary$32,384$32,510
Hourly rate$15.57$15.63
Growth rate6%1%
Number of jobs154,227186,499
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 42%
Average age4038
Years of experience--

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 warehouse employee do?

A warehouse employee is responsible for assisting high-level operations of the warehouse or distribution centers, organizing merchandise inventory, packing and labeling products, operating warehouse tools and equipment, and processing shipment orders efficiently and accurately. Warehouse employees maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities to avoid potential hazards and delay during operations. They assist in loading and unloading items from delivery vehicles to different areas of the warehouse. A warehouse employee may also perform administrative duties, such as responding to customers' inquiries and concerns through calls and e-mails, resolving complaints, and writing reports.

Material handler/warehouse vs warehouse employee salary

Material handler/warehouses and warehouse employees have different pay scales, as shown below.

Material Handler/WarehouseWarehouse Employee
Average salary$32,384$32,510
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $38,000Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying CityTacoma, WASanta Rosa, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiWashington
Best paying companyPPGALDI USA
Best paying industryManufacturingTransportation

Differences between material handler/warehouse and warehouse employee education

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

Material Handler/WarehouseWarehouse Employee
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 42%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Material handler/warehouse vs warehouse employee demographics

Here are the differences between material handler/warehouses' and warehouse employees' demographics:

Material Handler/WarehouseWarehouse Employee
Average age4038
Gender ratioMale, 85.0% Female, 15.0%Male, 82.7% Female, 17.3%
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, 8.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 6.8% White, 57.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage5%6%

Differences between material handler/warehouse and warehouse employee 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.
  • Show more

Warehouse employee example responsibilities.

  • Manage all FEDEX shipments and advise solutions to shipment issues.
  • Work in direct pack department, utilizing RF scanner to select and pack items for shipping to various stores.
  • Unpack shipment using RF scanner to check in parts, verifying condition and quantity before sending to staging area.
  • Assemble pallets of product according to company standards and specifications.
  • Assemble medical equipment-Deliver medical supplies to patients homes and medical facilities-Prepare supplies and packaging for delivery-Load packages according to borough
  • Operate power equipment including: order pickers, tuggers, reach trucks, and counterbalance forklifts.

Material handler/warehouse vs warehouse employee skills

Common material handler/warehouse skills
  • Pallets, 16%
  • Work Ethic, 12%
  • Warehouse Environment, 9%
  • Customer Orders, 7%
  • Supply Support, 5%
  • Ladders, 4%
Common warehouse employee skills
  • Pallets, 21%
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • Cleanliness, 11%
  • Customer Orders, 10%
  • Plumbing, 9%
  • Inventory Management, 5%

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