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The differences between stage hands and material handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a stage hand has an average salary of $35,686, which is higher than the $33,215 average annual salary of a material handler.
The top three skills for a stage hand include venues, audio systems and stage equipment. The most important skills for a material handler are pallets, basic math, and forklifts.
| Stage Hand | Material Handler | |
| Yearly salary | $35,686 | $33,215 |
| Hourly rate | $17.16 | $15.97 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 10,766 | 174,068 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 51% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Stagehands are skilled employees who work in the television, film, or theatre to assist other crew members set up the sound, lighting, and other equipment as well as helping performers change into their costumes. These employees are required to hang banners, update marquees, and handle other signage within the venue as it is important for any production. They must keep the venue clean by removing any trash in waste containers and sweeping the stage floor in between shows. Stagehands must also perform any adjustments on the set and run errands when necessary.
Material handlers are responsible for moving products, storing items, and managing supplies to proper shelf categories. A material handler also documents deliveries and ensures that all items for shipment are correct and free of any damage. Material handlers must also be a fast-learner to operate various warehouse equipment that would make the task more efficient and less time-consuming. A material handler must also check all the incoming deliveries to validate all purchases made. Material handlers must be able to analyze sheet orders and prepare the correct merchandise the client needs.
Stage hands and material handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Stage Hand | Material Handler | |
| Average salary | $35,686 | $33,215 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $49,000 | Between $26,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | - | Minnesota |
| Best paying company | - | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | - | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a stage hand and a material handler in terms of educational background:
| Stage Hand | Material Handler | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between stage hands' and material handlers' demographics:
| Stage Hand | Material Handler | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.9% Female, 20.1% | Male, 77.6% Female, 22.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 5.8% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% | Black or African American, 13.9% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 5.6% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |