Merchandise handler vs truck unloader

The differences between merchandise handlers and truck unloaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a truck unloader has an average salary of $32,543, which is higher than the $31,855 average annual salary of a merchandise handler.

The top three skills for a merchandise handler include basic math, math and pallets. The most important skills for a truck unloader are electric pallet jack, pallets, and sales floor.

Merchandise handler vs truck unloader overview

	Merchandise Handler	Truck Unloader
Yearly salary	$31,855	$32,543
Hourly rate	$15.31	$15.65
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	47,657	42,020
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 43%	High School Diploma, 63%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	-	-

Merchandise handler vs truck unloader salary

Merchandise handlers and truck unloaders have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Merchandise Handler	Truck Unloader
Average salary	$31,855	$32,543
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $37,000	Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	Taunton, MA	Portland, OR
Highest paying state	Hawaii	Alaska
Best paying company	The RealReal	Oriental Trading
Best paying industry	Retail	Transportation

Differences between merchandise handler and truck unloader education

There are a few differences between a merchandise handler and a truck unloader in terms of educational background:

	Merchandise Handler	Truck Unloader
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 43%	High School Diploma, 63%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Merchandise handler vs truck unloader demographics

Here are the differences between merchandise handlers' and truck unloaders' demographics:

	Merchandise Handler	Truck Unloader
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 60.3% Female, 39.7%	Male, 85.1% Female, 14.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% Asian, 5.9% White, 54.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%	Black or African American, 13.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 6.0% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between merchandise handler and truck unloader duties and responsibilities

Merchandise handler example responsibilities.

Clean and maintain the warehouse in compliance with OSHA standards.
Make visual evaluations and floor moves while maintaining OSHA guidelines.
Process incoming merchandise shipments by unpacking products, moving items in WMS, steaming clothing, and stocking shelves.
Transport pallets to where they need to go in the store to insure products are stocked up properly for customer needs.
Distribute production materials to designate locations on assembly lines observing the first-in-first-out (FIFO) inventory control practice.
Greet customers while bagging their groceries, collect carts in parking lot, put away return items, general sanitation.

Truck unloader example responsibilities.

Used jigs, torches, jacks, wedges, tumbuckles, hoists, cranes, drift pins, pry bars.
Stock floor according to current store map, utilize RF scanner for inventory database.
Replenish stock on floor and back-stock material (using RF device to record location).
Secure newly organize pallets utilizing shrink wrap.
Prepare pallets by following prescribe stacking arrangement and properly tagging pallets.
Volunteer work for kohl's cares events.

Merchandise handler vs truck unloader skills

Common merchandise handler skills

Basic Math, 21%
Math, 17%
Pallets, 11%
Hand Tools, 10%
Purchase Orders, 6%
Hand Trucks, 6%

Common truck unloader skills

Electric Pallet Jack, 24%
Pallets, 19%
Sales Floor, 16%
Customer Service, 9%
Stock Shelves, 8%
Stock Merchandise, 7%

Merchandise Handler vs. similar jobs

Merchandise Handler related careers

Merchandise Handler related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Transportation Industry
Merchandise Handler
Merchandise Handler vs Truck Unloader

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse transportation jobs