Merchandise handler demographics and statistics in the US
Merchandise handler demographics research summary. Zippia estimates merchandise handler demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our merchandise handler estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about merchandise handlers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 10,944 merchandise handlers currently employed in the United States.
- 39.7% of all merchandise handlers are women, while 60.3% are men.
- The average merchandise handler age is 39 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of merchandise handlers is White (54.8%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (20.8%), Black or African American (12.0%) and Asian (5.9%).
- Merchandise handlers are most in-demand in Columbus, OH.
- The retail industry is the highest-paying for merchandise handlers.
- Taunton, MA pays an annual average wage of $35,273, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women merchandise handlers earned 97% of what men earned.
- 5% of all merchandise handlers are LGBT.
- Iowa is the best state for merchandise handlers to live.
- Merchandise handlers are 63% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Merchandise handler demographics by:
Merchandise handler gender statistics
39.7% of merchandise handlers are women and 60.3% of merchandise handlers are men.
- Male, 60.3%
- Female, 39.7%
Merchandise handler gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 60.3% |
| Female | 39.7% |
Merchandise handler gender pay gap
Women earn 97¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$32,209
Female income
$31,097
Merchandise handler gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in merchandise handler positions over time. Currently, 39.7% of merchandise handlers are female.
Merchandise handler gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 66.06% | 33.94% |
| 2011 | 66.76% | 33.24% |
| 2012 | 66.95% | 33.05% |
| 2013 | 65.96% | 34.04% |
| 2014 | 65.88% | 34.12% |
| 2015 | 66.15% | 33.85% |
| 2016 | 64.05% | 35.95% |
| 2017 | 64.70% | 35.30% |
| 2018 | 63.34% | 36.66% |
| 2019 | 61.45% | 38.55% |
| 2020 | 61.15% | 38.85% |
| 2021 | 60.34% | 39.66% |
Merchandise handler related jobs gender ratio
We compared merchandise handlers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, dredge operator and tower crane operator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Gift Wrapper | 12% | 88% |
| Gift Packer | 18% | 82% |
| Pill Packer | 19% | 81% |
| Merchandise Handler | 60% | 40% |
| Green Chain Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Tower Crane Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Dredge Operator | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Merchandise handler demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among merchandise handlers is White, which makes up 54.8% of all merchandise handlers. Comparatively, 20.8% of merchandise handlers are Hispanic or Latino and 12.0% of merchandise handlers are Black or African American.
- White, 54.8%
- Hispanic or Latino, 20.8%
- Black or African American, 12.0%
- Asian, 5.9%
- Unknown, 5.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
Merchandise handler race
| Merchandise handler race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 54.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 20.8% |
| Black or African American | 12.0% |
| Asian | 5.9% |
| Unknown | 5.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.1% |
Merchandise handler race and ethnicity over time
See how merchandise handler racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Merchandise handler race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 64.18% | 11.40% | 4.29% | 17.06% |
| 2011 | 62.31% | 12.84% | 4.32% | 17.10% |
| 2012 | 63.19% | 12.15% | 4.26% | 17.06% |
| 2013 | 63.47% | 11.60% | 4.39% | 17.05% |
| 2014 | 62.13% | 12.28% | 4.43% | 17.73% |
| 2015 | 61.59% | 11.82% | 4.42% | 18.58% |
| 2016 | 61.74% | 11.61% | 4.52% | 18.54% |
| 2017 | 61.38% | 11.41% | 4.94% | 18.61% |
| 2018 | 62.48% | 11.22% | 4.66% | 17.95% |
| 2019 | 61.04% | 11.47% | 4.87% | 18.91% |
| 2020 | 57.29% | 12.43% | 5.45% | 18.94% |
| 2021 | 54.79% | 11.95% | 5.91% | 20.81% |
Merchandise handler wage gap by race
According to our data, white merchandise handlers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american merchandise handlers have the lowest average salary at $31,907.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $32,148 |
| White | $32,493 |
| Black or African American | $31,907 |
| Asian | $32,226 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $32,272 |
Average merchandise handler age
See how the average age of merchandise handlers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Merchandise handler age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 38 | 37 |
| Unknown | 33 | 39 |
| Asian | 41.5 | 42 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 35 | 39 |
| White | 39 | 45 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 34.5 | 32 |
Merchandise handler age breakdown
The average age of merchandise handlers is 40+ years years old, representing 48% of the merchandise handler population.
Merchandise handler age breakdown
| Merchandise Handler Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 48% |
| 30-40 years | 22% |
| 20-30 years | 27% |
Merchandise handler educational attainment
The most common degree for merchandise handlers is high school diploma, with 43% of merchandise handlers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 23% and bachelor's degree degree at 18%.
- High School Diploma, 43%
- Bachelor's, 23%
- Associate, 18%
- Diploma, 11%
- Other Degrees, 5%
Merchandise handlers by degree level
| Merchandise handler degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 43% |
| Bachelor's | 23% |
| Associate | 18% |
| Diploma | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 5% |
Merchandise handler jobs you might like
Merchandise handler wage gap by degree level
According to the data, merchandise handlers with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $32,539 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, merchandise handlers earn a median annual income of $32,380 compared to $32,087 for merchandise handlers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $32,087 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $32,380 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $32,539 |
Merchandise handler employment statistics
Most merchandise handlers work for a private in the retail industry.
Company size where merchandise handlers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where merchandise handlers work.
Merchandise handler jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 4% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 10% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 16% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 29% |
| > 10,000 employees | 35% |
Merchandise handler jobs by company type
Employees with the merchandise handler job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most merchandise handlers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Merchandise handler jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 35% |
| Private | 63% |
| Government | 1% |
Merchandise handler jobs by industry
The most common industries for merchandise handlers are retail, manufacturing and professional.
Merchandise handler industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Retail | 33% |
| Fortune 500 | 15% |
| Manufacturing | 12% |
| Professional | 9% |
| Transportation | 7% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Government | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
Merchandise handler turnover and employment statistics
Merchandise handler unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for merchandise handlers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Merchandise handler unemployment rate by year
| Year | Merchandise handler unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 16.75% |
| 2011 | 16.09% |
| 2012 | 14.47% |
| 2013 | 13.53% |
| 2014 | 11.22% |
| 2015 | 10.22% |
| 2016 | 9.47% |
| 2017 | 9.08% |
| 2018 | 7.89% |
| 2019 | 7.90% |
| 2020 | 9.98% |
| 2021 | 10.05% |
Average merchandise handler tenure
The average merchandise handler stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 2,030 merchandise handlers resumes in Zippia's database.
Merchandise handler tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 38% |
| 1-2 years | 27% |
| 3-4 years | 10% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 7% |
Merchandise handler LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of merchandise handlers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Monorail Crane Operator | 1.94% | 30,037 |
| Washroom Operator | 3.85% | 42,354 |
| Disposal Worker | 4.13% | 19,911 |
| Drain Cleaner | 4.59% | 35,746 |
| Merchandise Handler | 4.67% | - |
| Gift Wrapper | 6.68% | 607 |
| Drying Oven Attendant | 10.43% | 44,648 |
Similar merchandise handler jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Monorail Crane Operator | 1.94% | 30,037 |
| Washroom Operator | 3.85% | 42,354 |
| Disposal Worker | 4.13% | 19,911 |
| Drain Cleaner | 4.59% | 35,746 |
| Gift Wrapper | 6.68% | 607 |
| Drying Oven Attendant | 10.43% | 44,648 |
Foreign languages spoken by merchandise handlers
The most common foreign language among merchandise handlers is Spanish at 80.8%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 5.8% and Japanese is the third-most popular at 3.8%.
- Spanish, 80.8%
- French, 5.8%
- Japanese, 3.8%
- Arabic, 3.8%
- Chinese, 1.9%
- Other, 3.9%
Merchandise handler languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 80.8% |
| French | 5.8% |
| Japanese | 3.8% |
| Arabic | 3.8% |
| Chinese | 1.9% |
| Other | 3.9% |
