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The differences between store workers and material handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a material handler has an average salary of $33,215, which is higher than the $26,528 average annual salary of a store worker.
The top three skills for a store worker include safety rules, strong work ethic and customer service. The most important skills for a material handler are pallets, basic math, and forklifts.
| Store Worker | Material Handler | |
| Yearly salary | $26,528 | $33,215 |
| Hourly rate | $12.75 | $15.97 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 60,185 | 174,068 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | High School Diploma, 51% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A store worker maintains the daily material concerns of a store. They show hospitality to customers and provide assistance in finding products. They also maintain their store by stocking the shelves, maintaining organization, and cleaning. They may also be responsible for ringing up purchases.
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.
Store workers and material handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Store Worker | Material Handler | |
| Average salary | $26,528 | $33,215 |
| Salary range | Between $17,000 And $39,000 | Between $26,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Minnesota |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a store worker and a material handler in terms of educational background:
| Store Worker | Material Handler | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | High School Diploma, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between store workers' and material handlers' demographics:
| Store Worker | Material Handler | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.3% Female, 40.7% | Male, 77.6% Female, 22.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 5.9% White, 53.2% 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% |