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Freight handler salary
Average freight handler salary
$35,944
Freight Handler Salary Overview
The role of a freight handler is crucial in the logistics industry, responsible for loading, unloading, and moving goods throughout warehouses and shipping facilities. As of October 2025, the average salary for freight handlers is $35,944 per year, translating to around $17 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as experience level, location, and the specific employer.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level freight handlers can expect to earn less, while those with several years in the field often see their salaries increase. For instance, freight handlers with more than five years of experience may earn upwards of $40,000 annually. This positions the role as a solid option for those willing to grow their skills over time.
Location Impact on Salary
Geographic location also plays a significant role in salary differences. States with higher living costs, such as California and New York, often offer higher wages for freight handlers compared to states with lower costs of living. Tracking local salary trends can help candidates target their job searches effectively.
Job Opportunities
As the demand for freight handlers continues to rise, numerous job opportunities are available across various industries. This role provides a pathway for career advancement into supervisory or logistical roles, making it a strategic choice for those entering the workforce.
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Where can a Freight Handler earn more?
Freight handler salaries by experience level
Freight handler salary estimates from across the web
Average freight handler salary by state
The average freight handler salary in Alaska, Massachusetts, and Vermont are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average freight handler salary states are Georgia, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for freight handlers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $44,265 | $21.28 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $41,686 | $20.04 |
| 3 | Maine | $43,518 | $20.92 |
| 4 | Vermont | $45,258 | $21.76 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $44,866 | $21.57 |
| 6 | Iowa | $40,198 | $19.33 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $41,285 | $19.85 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $46,118 | $22.17 |
| 9 | Michigan | $39,713 | $19.09 |
| 10 | New York | $44,818 | $21.55 |
| 11 | Alaska | $46,597 | $22.40 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $41,453 | $19.93 |
| 13 | Illinois | $39,810 | $19.14 |
| 14 | Ohio | $36,526 | $17.56 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $39,583 | $19.03 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $40,965 | $19.69 |
| 17 | Utah | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $48,013 | $23.08 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $40,925 | $19.68 |
| 20 | Maryland | $39,616 | $19.05 |
| 21 | Montana | $39,558 | $19.02 |
| 22 | Nevada | $37,186 | $17.88 |
| 23 | Kansas | $36,033 | $17.32 |
| 24 | Arizona | $36,563 | $17.58 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $34,294 | $16.49 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $33,586 | $16.15 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $35,773 | $17.20 |
| 28 | Missouri | $36,142 | $17.38 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $36,463 | $17.53 |
| 30 | Idaho | $34,779 | $16.72 |
| 31 | Delaware | $38,093 | $18.31 |
| 32 | Colorado | $38,198 | $18.36 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $35,060 | $16.86 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $33,806 | $16.25 |
| 35 | Oregon | $34,523 | $16.60 |
| 36 | Washington | $36,109 | $17.36 |
| 37 | Indiana | $32,587 | $15.67 |
| 38 | California | $35,347 | $16.99 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $38,746 | $18.63 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $31,727 | $15.25 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $34,841 | $16.75 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $33,509 | $16.11 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $33,879 | $16.29 |
| 44 | Georgia | $32,292 | $15.53 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $31,935 | $15.35 |
| 46 | Florida | $33,374 | $16.05 |
| 47 | Virginia | $33,900 | $16.30 |
| 48 | Alabama | $31,162 | $14.98 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $32,378 | $15.57 |
| 50 | Texas | $30,888 | $14.85 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $30,311 | $14.57 |
Highest paying cities for freight handlers
The highest-paying cities for freight handlers are Billerica, MA, Buffalo, NY, and Lakeville, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Billerica, MA | $46,176 | $22.20 |
| 2 | Buffalo, NY | $44,659 | $21.47 |
| 3 | Lakeville, MN | $44,607 | $21.45 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $43,902 | $21.11 |
| 5 | Portland, ME | $43,492 | $20.91 |
| 6 | Bethlehem, PA | $42,175 | $20.28 |
| 7 | Fargo, ND | $41,105 | $19.76 |
| 8 | Aurora, IL | $39,809 | $19.14 |
| 9 | Des Moines, IA | $39,690 | $19.08 |
| 10 | Aurora, CO | $38,212 | $18.37 |
| 11 | Sparks, NV | $38,158 | $18.35 |
| 12 | West Valley City, UT | $37,923 | $18.23 |
| 13 | Aberdeen, SD | $36,991 | $17.78 |
| 14 | Saint Charles, MO | $36,426 | $17.51 |
| 15 | Kansas City, KS | $36,285 | $17.44 |
| 16 | Delaware, OH | $36,273 | $17.44 |
| 17 | Kent, WA | $36,151 | $17.38 |
| 18 | Fontana, CA | $34,923 | $16.79 |
| 19 | Portland, OR | $34,543 | $16.61 |
| 20 | Oklahoma City, OK | $33,816 | $16.26 |
Freight handler salary details
A freight handler's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $44,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a freight handler's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 75th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| Average | $35,944 | $2,995 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
Highest paying freight handler jobs
The highest paying types of freight handlers are material handler lead, material handler/forklift operator, and driver/material handler.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mover | $33,187 | $2,766 | $15.96 | 4,222 |
| Dock Worker | $36,027 | $3,002 | $17.32 | 119,104 |
| Loader/Unloader | $31,827 | $2,652 | $15.30 | 67,063 |
| Unloader | $32,885 | $2,740 | $15.81 | 63,202 |
| Warehouseman | $36,022 | $3,002 | $17.32 | 158,488 |
| Loader | $32,820 | $2,735 | $15.78 | 40,008 |
Top companies hiring freight handlers now:
Which companies pay freight handlers the most?
Freight handler salaries at R+L Carriers and Southeastern Freight Lines are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average freight handler salary at companies like Forward Air and Oak Harbor Freight Lines are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R+L Carriers | $40,372 | $19.41 |
| 2 | Southeastern Freight Lines | $39,969 | $19.22 |
| 3 | Forward Air | $39,903 | $19.18 |
| 4 | Oak Harbor Freight Lines | $39,491 | $18.99 |
| 5 | CEVA Logistics | $39,422 | $18.95 |
| 6 | FedEx | $39,290 | $18.89 |
| 7 | Gordon Food Service | $37,356 | $17.96 |
| 8 | PW Companies | $36,642 | $17.62 |
| 9 | Lynden | $35,932 | $17.27 |
| 10 | Amazon | $35,229 | $16.94 |
| 11 | Kaplan Early Learning | $34,884 | $16.77 |
| 12 | CrossCountry Freight Solutions | $34,364 | $16.52 |
| 13 | Boscov's Inc. | $34,046 | $16.37 |
| 14 | Freight Handlers Incorporated | $33,799 | $16.25 |
| 15 | Capstone Logistics | $33,503 | $16.11 |
| 16 | DHI Group | $33,185 | $15.95 |
| 17 | BJ's Wholesale Club | $32,913 | $15.82 |
| 18 | Coastal Pacific Food Distributors | $32,844 | $15.79 |
| 19 | Walmart | $32,615 | $15.68 |
| 20 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $31,897 | $15.34 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Freight handler salary trends
The average freight handler salary has risen by $8,513 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average freight handler earned $27,431 annually, but today, they earn $35,944 a year. That works out to a 20% change in pay for freight handlers over the last decade.
Compare freight handler salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average freight handler salary over time
Compare freight handler salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Freight handler salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $35,900 | $17.28 | +5.2% |
| 2025 | $34,100 | $16.39 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $32,600 | $15.69 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $31,200 | $15.02 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | $30,000 | $14.43 | +3.7% |
Recently added freight handler salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roadrunner Transportation Services | Freight Handler | Commerce, CA | 06/29/2025 | $36,063 |
| Universal Logistics Holdings | Freight Handler (2ND Shift) | Memphis, TN | 06/29/2025 | $31,305 |
| Gordon Food Service | Freight Handler | Springfield, OH | 06/29/2025 | $37,691 |
| Fedex | Freight Handler | Farmington, NM | 06/28/2025 | $42,867 |
| Fedex | Freight Handler | East Moline, IL | 06/28/2025 | $42,867 |
| Fedex | Freight Handler | Portland, OR | 06/28/2025 | $45,100 |
| Fedex | Freight Handler | Phoenix, AZ | 06/27/2025 | $42,867 |
| Fedex | Freight Handler | Mason City, IA | 06/27/2025 | $40,822 |
| Fedex | Freight Handler | Annapolis, MD | 06/27/2025 | $45,100 |
| Fedex | Freight Handler | Huber Heights, OH | 06/27/2025 | $42,867 |
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