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The average salary for a Material Handler in the United States is approximately $32,384 per year, translating to about $16 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, experience, and specific industry. For example, entry-level positions may start around $15.57 per hour, while seasoned professionals can earn considerably more.
States like California, Texas, and New York offer some of the highest salaries for Material Handlers due to the demand in urban areas and major distribution centers. Cities such as Los Angeles and New York City provide competitive wages, often exceeding the national average.
Experience plays a crucial role in salary determination. Entry-level material handlers earn less, while those with several years in the field see their earnings increase significantly. This means that gaining experience can lead to more lucrative positions and responsibilities.
Understanding the salary dynamics for Material Handlers is essential for job seekers aiming to negotiate salaries or choose their career paths wisely. Whether starting in the field or advancing their careers, knowing where to find the best opportunities can make a significant difference.
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The average material handler/warehouse salary in Hawaii, Alaska, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average material handler/warehouse salary states are Arkansas, Mississippi, and New Mexico.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $34,882 | $16.77 |
| 2 | Indiana | $33,481 | $16.10 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $35,972 | $17.29 |
| 4 | Iowa | $33,896 | $16.30 |
| 5 | Kansas | $33,368 | $16.04 |
| 6 | Washington | $36,801 | $17.69 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $32,547 | $15.65 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $33,548 | $16.13 |
| 9 | Oregon | $35,334 | $16.99 |
| 10 | Alaska | $37,431 | $18.00 |
| 11 | Nebraska | $34,492 | $16.58 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $33,409 | $16.06 |
| 13 | Colorado | $35,368 | $17.00 |
| 14 | Ohio | $32,168 | $15.47 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $31,205 | $15.00 |
| 16 | Utah | $32,676 | $15.71 |
| 17 | Nevada | $31,846 | $15.31 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $33,901 | $16.30 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $40,823 | $19.63 |
| 20 | Michigan | $31,345 | $15.07 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $30,647 | $14.73 |
| 22 | California | $33,879 | $16.29 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $32,320 | $15.54 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $32,335 | $15.55 |
| 25 | Maryland | $32,733 | $15.74 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $37,591 | $18.07 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $33,569 | $16.14 |
| 28 | Missouri | $31,936 | $15.35 |
| 29 | Arizona | $31,523 | $15.16 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $32,012 | $15.39 |
| 31 | New York | $33,957 | $16.33 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $31,819 | $15.30 |
| 33 | Illinois | $31,981 | $15.38 |
| 34 | Georgia | $31,168 | $14.98 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $30,946 | $14.88 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $29,954 | $14.40 |
| 37 | Montana | $31,904 | $15.34 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $30,954 | $14.88 |
| 39 | Vermont | $31,749 | $15.26 |
| 40 | Texas | $31,220 | $15.01 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $30,464 | $14.65 |
| 42 | Idaho | $30,637 | $14.73 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $30,122 | $14.48 |
| 44 | Delaware | $31,695 | $15.24 |
| 45 | Maine | $30,497 | $14.66 |
| 46 | Florida | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| 47 | Virginia | $30,772 | $14.79 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $29,298 | $14.09 |
| 49 | Alabama | $29,335 | $14.10 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $29,552 | $14.21 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $28,659 | $13.78 |
The highest-paying cities for material handler/warehouses are Tacoma, WA, Brooklyn Park, MN, and Denver, CO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tacoma, WA | $36,916 | $17.75 |
| 2 | Brooklyn Park, MN | $35,996 | $17.31 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $35,392 | $17.02 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $35,312 | $16.98 |
| 5 | Madison, WI | $34,801 | $16.73 |
| 6 | Omaha, NE | $34,512 | $16.59 |
| 7 | Richmond, CA | $34,411 | $16.54 |
| 8 | Springfield, MA | $33,952 | $16.32 |
| 9 | South Bend, IN | $33,852 | $16.27 |
| 10 | Des Moines, IA | $33,836 | $16.27 |
| 11 | Kansas City, KS | $33,434 | $16.07 |
| 12 | Salt Lake City, UT | $32,688 | $15.72 |
| 13 | Allentown, PA | $32,640 | $15.69 |
| 14 | Reno, NV | $32,422 | $15.59 |
| 15 | Newark, NJ | $32,381 | $15.57 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $32,062 | $15.41 |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $32,006 | $15.39 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $32,002 | $15.39 |
| 19 | Newark, DE | $31,755 | $15.27 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $31,542 | $15.16 |
Material Handler/Warehouses are the most in-demand in these five cities:
A material handler/warehouse's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $38,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $32,384 | $2,699 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
The highest paying types of material handler/warehouses are material handler/forklift operator, driver/material handler, and driver/warehouse worker.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warehouse Machine Operator | $33,796 | $2,816 | $16.25 | 229,051 |
| Warehouse Technician | $34,985 | $2,915 | $16.82 | 231,431 |
| Warehouse Attendant | $33,093 | $2,758 | $15.91 | 210,627 |
| Warehouse Receiving | $32,814 | $2,734 | $15.78 | 193,563 |
| Warehouse Employee | $32,510 | $2,709 | $15.63 | 186,499 |
| Warehouse Stocker | $31,896 | $2,658 | $15.33 | 190,585 |
Top companies hiring material handler/warehouses now:
Material handler/warehouse salaries at PPG and The J.M. Smucker Co. are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average material handler/warehouse salary at companies like Dairy Farmers of America and Bob's Discount Furniture are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PPG | $38,707 | $18.61 |
| 2 | The J.M. Smucker Co. | $38,595 | $18.56 |
| 3 | Dairy Farmers of America | $38,459 | $18.49 |
| 4 | Bob's Discount Furniture | $38,397 | $18.46 |
| 5 | Raytheon Technologies | $38,391 | $18.46 |
| 6 | Nucor | $38,362 | $18.44 |
| 7 | Thermo Fisher Scientific | $38,144 | $18.34 |
| 8 | Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co | $38,103 | $18.32 |
| 9 | Lockheed Martin | $37,821 | $18.18 |
| 10 | TreeHouse Foods | $37,741 | $18.14 |
| 11 | Chewy | $37,698 | $18.12 |
| 12 | Ashley HomeStore | $37,670 | $18.11 |
| 13 | Clean Harbors | $37,386 | $17.97 |
| 14 | Land O'Lakes | $37,314 | $17.94 |
| 15 | The RealReal | $37,298 | $17.93 |
| 16 | Western Digital | $37,279 | $17.92 |
| 17 | DuPont | $37,145 | $17.86 |
| 18 | Amcor | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| 19 | Dot Foods | $36,830 | $17.71 |
| 20 | Havertys Furniture | $36,806 | $17.70 |
The average material handler/warehouse salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $34,722 | $16.69 |
| 2 | Energy | $34,151 | $16.42 |
| 3 | Retail | $33,813 | $16.26 |
| 4 | Technology | $33,218 | $15.97 |
| 5 | Transportation | $31,259 | $15.03 |
The average material handler/warehouse salary has risen by $7,670 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average material handler/warehouse earned $24,714 annually, but today, they earn $32,384 a year. That works out to a 20% change in pay for material handler/warehouses over the last decade.
Compare material handler/warehouse salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare material handler/warehouse salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,400 | $15.57 | +5.2% |
| 2024 | $30,700 | $14.76 | +4.2% |
| 2023 | $29,400 | $14.14 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | $28,100 | $13.53 | +3.9% |
| 2021 | $27,000 | $13.00 | +3.7% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Venture | Warehouse Material Handler Hybrid Driver | Colorado Springs, CO | 06/30/2025 | $40,697 |
| U.S. Venture | Warehouse Material Handler | Fairfield, NJ | 06/30/2025 | $43,827 |
| U.S. Venture | Warehouse Material Handler | Hope, ME | 06/30/2025 | $40,697 |
| U.S. Venture | Warehouse Material Handler-Weekend Shift | North Atlanta, GA | 06/30/2025 | $42,784 |
| U.S. Venture | Warehouse Material Handler-2Nd Shift | Solon, OH | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| U.S. Venture | Warehouse Material Handler-3Rd Shift | Las Vegas, NV | 06/30/2025 | $40,175 |
| U.S. Venture | Warehouse Material Handler-2Nd Shift | Colorado Springs, CO | 06/30/2025 | $42,784 |
| U.S. Venture | Warehouse Material Handler | Saint Louis, MO | 06/30/2025 | $43,827 |
| U.S. Venture | Warehouse Material Handler | Madison, WI | 06/30/2025 | $39,653 |
| U.S. Venture | Warehouse Material Handler-Admin | Rochester, NY | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
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