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The differences between unloaders and freight handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a freight handler has an average salary of $35,944, which is higher than the $32,885 average annual salary of an unloader.
The top three skills for an unloader include pallets, work ethic and customer service. The most important skills for a freight handler are basic math, pallets, and math.
| Unloader | Freight Handler | |
| Yearly salary | $32,885 | $35,944 |
| Hourly rate | $15.81 | $17.28 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 63,202 | 67,422 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 59% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
An unloader is responsible for monitoring truck deliveries and managing all goods and merchandise to the store. Unloaders verify the deliveries' correct quantity by checking the receipts and ensuring its quality for customers' purchase. They respond to the customers' inquiries and concerns, facilitate the shelf arrangement of the products, sort items, and help with the store's organization and cleanliness. An unloader must have excellent time-management skills and the ability to multitask to perform various tasks in the fast-paced industry.
A freight handler is responsible for monitoring the distribution and delivery of the freight, unloading and storing materials, and verifying the accurate information of the freight records. Freight handlers inspect the condition and quality of the goods and materials before loading into the distribution trucks for shipment. They also operate various warehouse tools and equipment to transport merchandise from the vehicle to different parts of the facility. A freight handler must be highly organized, especially in checking the correct tagging of items and conducting safety checks.
Unloaders and freight handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Unloader | Freight Handler | |
| Average salary | $32,885 | $35,944 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $40,000 | Between $28,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Meridian, ID | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Land O'Lakes | R+L Carriers |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between an unloader and a freight handler in terms of educational background:
| Unloader | Freight Handler | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 59% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between unloaders' and freight handlers' demographics:
| Unloader | Freight Handler | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7% | Male, 88.2% Female, 11.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 5.3% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 13.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 5.2% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |