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What is a truck unloader and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a truck unloader. For example, did you know that they make an average of $15.65 an hour? That's $32,543 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 358,300 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreTruck UnloaderUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $32,543

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.4

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.06%

Asian 6.03%

Black or African American 13.25%

Hispanic or Latino 18.06%

Unknown 5.14%

White 56.45%

Gender

female 14.89%

male 85.11%

Age - 39
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39
Stress level
6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
4.7

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Truck unloader career paths

Key steps to become a truck unloader

  1. Explore truck unloader education requirements

    Most common truck unloader degrees

    High School Diploma

    62.5 %

    Diploma

    15.1 %

    Associate

    10.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific truck unloader skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Electric Pallet Jack23.99%
    Pallets18.74%
    Sales Floor16.05%
    Customer Service8.90%
    Stock Shelves8.15%
  3. Complete relevant truck unloader training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New truck unloaders learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a truck unloader based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real truck unloader resumes.
  4. Research truck unloader duties and responsibilities

    • Used jigs, torches, jacks, wedges, tumbuckles, hoists, cranes, drift pins, pry bars.
    • Stock floor according to current store map, utilize RF scanner for inventory database.
    • Replenish stock on floor and back-stock material (using RF device to record location).
    • Secure newly organize pallets utilizing shrink wrap.
  5. Prepare your truck unloader resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your truck unloader resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a truck unloader resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable truck unloader resume templates

    Build a professional truck unloader resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your truck unloader resume.
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    Truck Unloader Resume
  6. Apply for truck unloader jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a truck unloader job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first truck unloader job

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Average truck unloader salary

The average truck unloader salary in the United States is $32,543 per year or $16 per hour. Truck unloader salaries range between $26,000 and $40,000 per year.

Average truck unloader salary
$32,543 Yearly
$15.65 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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