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What does a picker operator do?

Updated January 8, 2025
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Picker operator responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real picker operator resumes:

  • Use automate systems and RF units to pull, put away and load customer product, in addition to managing inventory
  • Work at a CNC machine station and provide accurate input to the machines.
  • Perform specialized production line and quality control duties in a professional production environment specializing in plastic extrusion.
  • Certify cherry picker operator / pull orders and putaway

Picker operator skills and personality traits

We calculated that 35% of Picker Operators are proficient in Pallet Jack, Pallets, and Warehouse Environment. They’re also known for soft skills such as Alertness, Coordination, and Mechanical skills.

We break down the percentage of Picker Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Pallet Jack, 35%

    Certified pallet jack operator -Material handler for customer orders -Constant inventory consolidation

  • Pallets, 15%

    Loaded and unloaded materials manually, off and on to pallets, platforms or lifting devices.

  • Warehouse Environment, 13%

    Worked in a warehouse environment scanning and picking products for Privately owned heating and cooling companies and other Blackman stores.

  • Customer Orders, 12%

    Operated Powered equipment to retrieve customer orders on elevated racking.

  • OSHA, 5%

    Comply with OSHA and MSDS Standard.

  • Safety Standards, 4%

    Enforced safety standards by preparing composite risk management assessments for individual training exercises and various operations throughout South Korea.

Most picker operators use their skills in "pallet jack," "pallets," and "warehouse environment" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential picker operator responsibilities here:

Coordination. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling picker operator duties is coordination. The role rewards competence in this skill because "material moving machine operators must have steady hands and feet to guide and control heavy machinery precisely." According to a picker operator resume, here's how picker operators can utilize coordination in their job responsibilities: "maintained good communication with supervisors, managers, and co-workers for proper safety procedures and coordination of various shipments. "

Mechanical skills. This is an important skill for picker operators to perform their duties. For an example of how picker operator responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "material moving machine operators make minor adjustments to their machines and perform basic maintenance on them." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a picker operator: "scored highest record for facility skills used time management, quality check, mechanical knowledge".

Visual ability. A big part of what picker operators do relies on "visual ability." You can see how essential it is to picker operator responsibilities because "material moving machine operators must be able to see clearly where they are driving or what they are moving." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical picker operator tasks: "maintained a moderate level of visual attention and mental concentration for extended periods of time while properly stacking products on pallets. "

Communication skills. Another crucial skill for a picker operator to carry out their responsibilities is "communication skills." A big part of what picker operators relies on this skill, since "material moving machine operators signal and direct workers to load and unload material." How this skill relates to picker operator duties can be seen in an example from a picker operator resume snippet: "help with machine operation and forklift driving accomplishments trained new employees skills used good communication skills"

All picker operator skills

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Compare different picker operators

Picker operator vs. Forklift operator and receiver

An order picker is responsible for obtaining particular orders from a warehouse or storage facility and having it processed for delivery, all while ensuring accuracy and speed. Most of the duties of an order picker revolve around physical work as there are instances where one must lift and transport heavy materials, and even assemble certain items. Furthermore, an order picker is also in charge of necessary administrative tasks, such as producing documentation, keeping records, processing inventory systems, and even responding to inquires.

If we compare the average picker operator annual salary with that of a forklift operator and receiver, we find that forklift operators and receiver typically earn a $564 higher salary than picker operators make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between picker operators and forklift operators and receiver are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like pallets, customer orders, and safety standards.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, picker operator responsibilities require skills like "pallet jack," "warehouse environment," "osha," and "epj." Meanwhile a typical forklift operator and receiver has skills in areas such as "shipping receiving," "production lines," "electric pallet jack," and "load trucks." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Forklift operators and receiver earn the highest salaries when working in the automotive industry, with an average yearly salary of $37,086. On the other hand, picker operators are paid more in the transportation industry with an average salary of $35,466.On average, forklift operators and receiver reach similar levels of education than picker operators. Forklift operators and receiver are 0.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Picker operator vs. Order picker

A machine operator/forklift operator is responsible for operating industrial trucks to move merchandise around the warehouse facilities and other assigned areas. Machine operators/forklift operators also assist with inventory tasks by scanning orders and ensuring the correct merchandise for shipment. They manage the stability of the vehicles, ensuring its efficiency and optimization during operations, performing engine repairs for any inconsistencies to avoid delays on deliveries. A machine operator/forklift operator should strictly follow the safety protocols of the business, as well as have knowledge of the mechanical industry.

A career as a order picker brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a picker operator. In fact, order pickers salary is $949 lower than the salary of picker operators per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both picker operators and order pickers have skills such as "pallets," "warehouse environment," and "customer orders. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that picker operator responsibilities requires skills like "pallet jack," "osha," "epj," and "sit." But an order picker might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "basic math," "electric pallet jack," "safety procedures," and "math."

Order pickers may earn a lower salary than picker operators, but order pickers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $34,093. On the other hand, picker operators receive higher pay in the transportation industry, where they earn an average salary of $35,466.order pickers earn similar levels of education than picker operators in general. They're 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Picker operator vs. Machine operator/forklift operator

A material handler and forklift operator is responsible for transporting and storing various kinds of goods, even including fragile or hazardous shipments. The duties and location will vary depending on the line of work or industry involved. However, most of the tasks will require efficiency in operating machinery, communication skills, and great attention to detail. Furthermore, a material handler and forklift operator must monitor products and keep an accurate record of overall activities, transport materials within allotted time and schedule, and maintain communication and coordination with co-workers and supervisors.

On average scale, machine operator/forklift operators bring in lower salaries than picker operators. In fact, they earn a $447 lower salary per year.By looking over several picker operators and machine operator/forklift operators resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "customer orders," "safety standards," and "inventory control." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, picker operators are more likely to have skills like "pallet jack," "pallets," "warehouse environment," and "osha." But a machine operator/forklift operator is more likely to have skills like "drive forklift," "load trucks," "machine operation," and "cnc."

Machine operator/forklift operators earn the best pay in the automotive industry, where they command an average salary of $36,711. Picker operators earn the highest pay from the transportation industry, with an average salary of $35,466.Most machine operator/forklift operators achieve a similar degree level compared to picker operators. For example, they're 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Picker operator vs. Material handler/forklift operator

Material handler/forklift operators typically earn higher pay than picker operators. On average, material handler/forklift operators earn a $3,554 higher salary per year.While both picker operators and material handler/forklift operators complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like pallets, customer orders, and safety standards, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between picker operators and material handler/forklift operators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a picker operator might have more use for skills like "pallet jack," "warehouse environment," "osha," and "epj." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of material handler/forklift operators require skills like "safety procedures," "electric pallet jack," "forklift operation," and "sit-down forklift. "

The automotive industry tends to pay the highest salaries for material handler/forklift operators, with average annual pay of $37,909. Comparatively, the highest picker operator annual salary comes from the transportation industry.material handler/forklift operators reach similar levels of education compared to picker operators, in general. The difference is that they're 0.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of picker operator

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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