Materials handling equipment operator vs pallet jack operator

The differences between materials handling equipment operators and pallet jack operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a materials handling equipment operator and a pallet jack operator. Additionally, a materials handling equipment operator has an average salary of $34,554, which is higher than the $34,098 average annual salary of a pallet jack operator.

The top three skills for a materials handling equipment operator include pallets, pallet jack and safety regulations. The most important skills for a pallet jack operator are pallets, electric pallet jack, and safety regulations.

Materials handling equipment operator vs pallet jack operator overview

	Materials Handling Equipment Operator	Pallet Jack Operator
Yearly salary	$34,554	$34,098
Hourly rate	$16.61	$16.39
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	72,569	136,563
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 49%	High School Diploma, 63%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	4	4

Materials handling equipment operator vs pallet jack operator salary

Materials handling equipment operators and pallet jack operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Materials Handling Equipment Operator	Pallet Jack Operator
Average salary	$34,554	$34,098
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $43,000	Between $28,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	-	Denver, CO
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	Cargill
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between materials handling equipment operator and pallet jack operator education

There are a few differences between a materials handling equipment operator and a pallet jack operator in terms of educational background:

	Materials Handling Equipment Operator	Pallet Jack Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 49%	High School Diploma, 63%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Materials handling equipment operator vs pallet jack operator demographics

Here are the differences between materials handling equipment operators' and pallet jack operators' demographics:

	Materials Handling Equipment Operator	Pallet Jack Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3%	Male, 89.5% Female, 10.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 15.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 17.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 2.7% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between materials handling equipment operator and pallet jack operator duties and responsibilities

Materials handling equipment operator example responsibilities.

Operate stand-up forklift, reach truck and walkie.
Unload railcars using crane, forklift and overhead hoists.
Certify on walkie rider, stand-up forklift/ high reach forklift, and turret truck.
Perform daily pre and post maintenance inspection checks on designate material handling equipment (MHE).
Load and secure items onto pallets and ensure that the materials are in the proper place and prepare them for shipment.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation as is required by organization and OSHA.

Pallet jack operator example responsibilities.

Use automate systems and RF units to pull, put away and load customer product, in addition to managing inventory
Perform specialized production line and quality control duties in a professional production environment specializing in plastic extrusion.
Promote to pallet jack operator for re-hang area
Operate pallet jack move material through facility and perform routine maintenance on equipment
Comply with all OSHA and MSDS standards.
Comply with all OSHA and MSDS standards by reporting quality variances.

Materials handling equipment operator vs pallet jack operator skills

Common materials handling equipment operator skills

Pallets, 16%
Pallet Jack, 12%
Safety Regulations, 9%
End Loaders, 8%
Basic Math, 7%
Safety Procedures, 6%

Common pallet jack operator skills

Pallets, 33%
Electric Pallet Jack, 23%
Safety Regulations, 6%
RF Scanner, 6%
Basic Math, 6%
Warehouse Environment, 3%

Materials Handling Equipment Operator vs. similar jobs

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Transportation Industry
Materials Handling Equipment Operator
Materials Handling Equipment Operator vs Pallet Jack Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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