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The differences between stock unloaders and material handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a stock unloader has an average salary of $43,736, which is higher than the $33,215 average annual salary of a material handler.
The top three skills for a stock unloader include pallets, sales floor and store shelves. The most important skills for a material handler are pallets, basic math, and forklifts.
| Stock Unloader | Material Handler | |
| Yearly salary | $43,736 | $33,215 |
| Hourly rate | $21.03 | $15.97 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 75,994 | 174,068 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 62% | High School Diploma, 51% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Stock unloaders are workers in charge of unloading goods and items from the truck into the store. The unloaders move the products in a warehouse, distribution center, or any industrial facility. They stock the shelves in stores, work with the general merchandise team, and clean the processing center. It is also their responsibility to enforce procedures and policies for departmental operations. The skills necessary to carry out this job include strong communication skills, leadership, and attention to detail.
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.
Stock unloaders and material handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Stock Unloader | Material Handler | |
| Average salary | $43,736 | $33,215 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $54,000 | 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 stock unloader and a material handler in terms of educational background:
| Stock Unloader | Material Handler | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 62% | High School Diploma, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between stock unloaders' and material handlers' demographics:
| Stock Unloader | Material Handler | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.9% Female, 14.1% | Male, 77.6% Female, 22.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.0% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 6.0% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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% |