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The differences between warehouse associates and package handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a warehouse associate has an average salary of $32,863, which is higher than the $32,785 average annual salary of a package handler.
The top three skills for a warehouse associate include pallets, work ethic and customer service. The most important skills for a package handler are warehouse environment, load trailers, and delivery truck.
| Warehouse Associate | Package Handler | |
| Yearly salary | $32,863 | $32,785 |
| Hourly rate | $15.80 | $15.76 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 215,910 | 93,831 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| 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.
A package handler's primary duty is to place and load correct packages to delivery vehicles and review inventory upon shipments. Package handlers are responsible for analyzing product labels to make sure that the items are accurately processed. A package handler should also have basic knowledge on running warehouse equipment and loading tools to finish the task more efficiently. Package handlers must be able to communicate with other personnel for any concerns that might affect the parcel condition and customer's satisfaction.
Warehouse associates and package handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Warehouse Associate | Package Handler | |
| Average salary | $32,863 | $32,785 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $40,000 | Between $26,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, OR | Saint Paul, MN |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Minnesota |
| Best paying company | Uline | ALDI USA |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Retail |
There are a few differences between a warehouse associate and a package handler in terms of educational background:
| Warehouse Associate | Package Handler | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between warehouse associates' and package handlers' demographics:
| Warehouse Associate | Package Handler | |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.7% Female, 26.3% | Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6% |
| 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, 13.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 5.6% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |