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The differences between truck loaders and material handler/forklift operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a material handler/forklift operator has an average salary of $36,453, which is higher than the $34,749 average annual salary of a truck loader.
The top three skills for a truck loader include pallets, load trucks and electric pallet jack. The most important skills for a material handler/forklift operator are pallets, safety procedures, and electric pallet jack.
| Truck Loader | Material Handler/Forklift Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $34,749 | $36,453 |
| Hourly rate | $16.71 | $17.53 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 100,059 | 168,379 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 60% | High School Diploma, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
Truck loaders provide the necessary workforce in loading items for delivery and logistics. The truck loader focuses on ensuring all items are loaded safely into transport vehicles and on time. This position requires a license to operate heavy equipment such as forklifts and cargo handling machines. It is the responsibility of the truck loader that all materials are safe before delivery and after. There are instances where the loader accompanies the truck driver to the destination to help unload the items.
A material handler and forklift operator is responsible for transporting and storing various kinds of goods, even including fragile or hazardous shipments. The duties and location will vary depending on the line of work or industry involved. However, most of the tasks will require efficiency in operating machinery, communication skills, and great attention to detail. Furthermore, a material handler and forklift operator must monitor products and keep an accurate record of overall activities, transport materials within allotted time and schedule, and maintain communication and coordination with co-workers and supervisors.
Truck loaders and material handler/forklift operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Truck Loader | Material Handler/Forklift Operator | |
| Average salary | $34,749 | $36,453 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $42,000 | Between $29,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Lakeville, MN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Kemps | Nestlé |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a truck loader and a material handler/forklift operator in terms of educational background:
| Truck Loader | Material Handler/Forklift Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 60% | High School Diploma, 59% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between truck loaders' and material handler/forklift operators' demographics:
| Truck Loader | Material Handler/Forklift Operator | |
| Average age | 41 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 4.3% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% | Black or African American, 16.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 2.4% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 4% |