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The differences between warehouse associates 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 $32,863 average annual salary of a warehouse associate.
The top three skills for a warehouse associate include pallets, work ethic and customer service. The most important skills for a material handler are pallets, basic math, and forklifts.
| Warehouse Associate | Material Handler | |
| Yearly salary | $32,863 | $33,215 |
| Hourly rate | $15.80 | $15.97 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 215,910 | 174,068 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | High School Diploma, 51% |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Warehouse associates are employees who take on any task needed at the company warehouse. They receive incoming deliveries, store the items in their proper places, scan the items to log them into the company system, manage stocks and inventory, conduct product inspection to check for damages or defects, and maintain the overall cleanliness of the warehouse. Warehouse associates are also responsible for receiving purchase orders, assembling and packing products related to orders, checking the accuracy of the products relative to the order, and ensuring proper shipment of the products.
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.
Warehouse associates and material handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Warehouse Associate | Material Handler | |
| Average salary | $32,863 | $33,215 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $40,000 | Between $26,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, OR | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Minnesota |
| Best paying company | Uline | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a warehouse associate and a material handler in terms of educational background:
| Warehouse Associate | Material Handler | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | High School Diploma, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between warehouse associates' and material handlers' demographics:
| Warehouse Associate | Material Handler | |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.7% Female, 26.3% | Male, 77.6% Female, 22.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | 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 | 6% | 5% |