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Materials technician vs warehouse worker

The differences between materials technicians and warehouse workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a materials technician has an average salary of $35,721, which is higher than the $33,010 average annual salary of a warehouse worker.

The top three skills for a materials technician include patients, customer service and patient care. The most important skills for a warehouse worker are pallets, customer service, and basic math.

Materials technician vs warehouse worker overview

Materials TechnicianWarehouse Worker
Yearly salary$35,721$33,010
Hourly rate$17.17$15.87
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs33,176255,502
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%High School Diploma, 59%
Average age3838
Years of experience--

What does a materials technician do?

A materials technician is responsible for inspecting and testing tools and materials required for production operations and manufacturing processes, ensuring its stability and efficiency to support business functions and produce high-quality outputs. Materials technicians review the production process and recommend cost-reduction resources by negotiating with trusted suppliers and vendors. They also identify the safety and reliability of materials to prevent operational delays and avoid potential hazards within the work area. A materials technician must be able to operate manufacturing equipment to develop improved techniques and write report findings.

What does a warehouse worker do?

Warehouse workers are employees assigned to handle tasks inside the company's warehouse. They are in charge of managing the entry and exit of goods inside the warehouse, ensure that the inventory is up-to-date, and check the quality of the goods that are stored. Warehouse workers receive the items that are delivered to the warehouse, ensure that the items are complete using the delivery list, and keep the items safe in the designated area in the warehouse. They also clear any items that will exit the warehouse by ensuring that only the items that are on the list will be removed from the warehouse, and checking if these items are safely packed before leaving.

Materials technician vs warehouse worker salary

Materials technicians and warehouse workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Materials TechnicianWarehouse Worker
Average salary$35,721$33,010
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $47,000Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying CityRahway, NJIndianapolis, IN
Highest paying stateHawaiiIndiana
Best paying companyOak Ridge National LaboratoryUnited Natural Foods
Best paying industryTechnologyManufacturing

Differences between materials technician and warehouse worker education

There are a few differences between a materials technician and a warehouse worker in terms of educational background:

Materials TechnicianWarehouse Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%High School Diploma, 59%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Materials technician vs warehouse worker demographics

Here are the differences between materials technicians' and warehouse workers' demographics:

Materials TechnicianWarehouse Worker
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 72.6% Female, 27.4%Male, 78.3% Female, 21.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 6.4% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 6.3% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between materials technician and warehouse worker duties and responsibilities

Materials technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage ISO documentation for corporate purchasing.
  • Perform construction surveying and Geotechnical investigations as required.
  • Direct inbound and outbound logistics operations, such as transportation and warehouse activities, safety performance, and logistics quality management.
  • Lumber, shingles, cement blocks, and etc.
  • Ensure sales for everyday needs of lumber, shingles, and many more supplies to customers and contractors.

Warehouse worker example responsibilities.

  • Ensure cleanliness and functionality of warehouse equipment on a regular basis.
  • Drive CDL box trucks and vans.
  • Experience in WMS, AS400, and RF technologies.
  • Load and unload metal plumbing, heating and HVAC inventory from semi-trucks.
  • Set up equipment and instructs patients on the basis use of equipment.
  • Perform job duties such as full-case, repack, replenishment, and recycling.
  • Show more

Materials technician vs warehouse worker skills

Common materials technician skills
  • Patients, 10%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Data Entry, 8%
  • Asphalt, 5%
  • Management System, 4%
Common warehouse worker skills
  • Pallets, 14%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Basic Math, 8%
  • Electric Pallet Jack, 6%
  • Customer Orders, 6%
  • Math, 5%

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