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The differences between reach truck operators and terminal 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 reach truck operator and a terminal operator. Additionally, a terminal operator has an average salary of $39,948, which is higher than the $34,625 average annual salary of a reach truck operator.
The top three skills for a reach truck operator include pallets, rf scanner and basic math. The most important skills for a terminal operator are loaders, cranes, and rail cars.
| Reach Truck Operator | Terminal Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $34,625 | $39,948 |
| Hourly rate | $16.65 | $19.21 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 137,300 | 43,328 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 57% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Ramp supervisors oversee safety procedures, ramp equipment, and company policies. They will be tasked with oversight of airport ramp operations, directing the loading and unloading of aircraft cargo and baggage, assurance of proper ramp functions, and compliance with the airport and the government's regulations. Ramp supervisors will also train and manage other staff members.
A terminal operator is responsible for assisting daily operations within the transportation or manufacturing agencies. Terminal operators inspect the stability and efficiency of equipment and machinery to ensure its optimal performance during operational processes. They conduct quality control tests to determine inconsistencies in terminal functions and strategize techniques to enhance distribution policies. A terminal operator must have excellent organizational and mechanical skills to maintain terminal equipment and assist the team in performing duties to achieve business goals and objectives.
Reach truck operators and terminal operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Reach Truck Operator | Terminal Operator | |
| Average salary | $34,625 | $39,948 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $42,000 | Between $32,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | Fargo, ND |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | United Natural Foods | Land O'Lakes |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Construction |
There are a few differences between a reach truck operator and a terminal operator in terms of educational background:
| Reach Truck Operator | Terminal Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 57% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between reach truck operators' and terminal operators' demographics:
| Reach Truck Operator | Terminal Operator | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.9% Female, 9.1% | Male, 82.5% Female, 17.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 16.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 2.8% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 15.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 2.9% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |