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The differences between unloaders 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 $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 material handler are pallets, basic math, and forklifts.
| Unloader | Material Handler | |
| Yearly salary | $32,885 | $33,215 |
| Hourly rate | $15.81 | $15.97 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 63,202 | 174,068 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 59% | High School Diploma, 51% |
| 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.
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.
Unloaders and material handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Unloader | Material Handler | |
| Average salary | $32,885 | $33,215 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $40,000 | Between $26,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Meridian, ID | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Minnesota |
| Best paying company | Land O'Lakes | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an unloader and a material handler in terms of educational background:
| Unloader | Material Handler | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 59% | High School Diploma, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between unloaders' and material handlers' demographics:
| Unloader | Material Handler | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7% | Male, 77.6% Female, 22.4% |
| 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, 13.9% 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% |