Post job

Warehouse employee vs warehouse picker

The differences between warehouse employees and warehouse pickers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a warehouse employee has an average salary of $32,510, which is higher than the $32,263 average annual salary of a warehouse picker.

The top three skills for a warehouse employee include pallets, customer service and cleanliness. The most important skills for a warehouse picker are pallets, electric pallet jack, and customer orders.

Warehouse employee vs warehouse picker overview

Warehouse EmployeeWarehouse Picker
Yearly salary$32,510$32,263
Hourly rate$15.63$15.51
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs186,499122,248
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 42%High School Diploma, 51%
Average age3838
Years of experience--

What does a warehouse employee do?

A warehouse employee is responsible for assisting high-level operations of the warehouse or distribution centers, organizing merchandise inventory, packing and labeling products, operating warehouse tools and equipment, and processing shipment orders efficiently and accurately. Warehouse employees maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities to avoid potential hazards and delay during operations. They assist in loading and unloading items from delivery vehicles to different areas of the warehouse. A warehouse employee may also perform administrative duties, such as responding to customers' inquiries and concerns through calls and e-mails, resolving complaints, and writing reports.

What does a warehouse picker do?

Warehouse pickers are skilled employees who are responsible for pulling selected items from storage or warehouses and prepare them for shipment. These pickers must prepare the orders of customers on a pallet neatly and safely wrapped them with plastic wrap while processing their invoices. They must receive and sort out large orders of inventory delivered daily as well as perform the necessary manual labor such as sweeping, refuse removal, and general janitorial. Warehouse pickers must also follow safety standards according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to clean and maintain the warehouse.

Warehouse employee vs warehouse picker salary

Warehouse employees and warehouse pickers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Warehouse EmployeeWarehouse Picker
Average salary$32,510$32,263
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $40,000Between $26,000 And $39,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CAPortland, OR
Highest paying stateWashingtonOregon
Best paying companyALDI USAChewy
Best paying industryTransportationTransportation

Differences between warehouse employee and warehouse picker education

There are a few differences between a warehouse employee and a warehouse picker in terms of educational background:

Warehouse EmployeeWarehouse Picker
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 42%High School Diploma, 51%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Warehouse employee vs warehouse picker demographics

Here are the differences between warehouse employees' and warehouse pickers' demographics:

Warehouse EmployeeWarehouse Picker
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 82.7% Female, 17.3%Male, 70.9% Female, 29.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 6.8% White, 57.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 6.8% White, 58.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between warehouse employee and warehouse picker duties and responsibilities

Warehouse employee example responsibilities.

  • Manage all FEDEX shipments and advise solutions to shipment issues.
  • Work in direct pack department, utilizing RF scanner to select and pack items for shipping to various stores.
  • Unpack shipment using RF scanner to check in parts, verifying condition and quantity before sending to staging area.
  • Assemble pallets of product according to company standards and specifications.
  • Assemble medical equipment-Deliver medical supplies to patients homes and medical facilities-Prepare supplies and packaging for delivery-Load packages according to borough
  • Operate power equipment including: order pickers, tuggers, reach trucks, and counterbalance forklifts.

Warehouse picker example responsibilities.

  • Used WMS and RF systems to pick and stage customer specify orders and lead a team of employees.
  • Train for safe operation of PIVs and warehouse logistics.
  • Work the night shift as a picker/packer using a pallet jack, stacking, wrapping, and loading pallets onto trucks.
  • Assemble medical equipment-Deliver medical supplies to patients homes and medical facilities-Prepare supplies and packaging for delivery-Load packages according to borough
  • Operate power equipment including: order pickers, tuggers, reach trucks, and counterbalance forklifts.

Warehouse employee vs warehouse picker skills

Common warehouse employee skills
  • Pallets, 21%
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • Cleanliness, 11%
  • Customer Orders, 10%
  • Plumbing, 9%
  • Inventory Management, 5%
Common warehouse picker skills
  • Pallets, 27%
  • Electric Pallet Jack, 19%
  • Customer Orders, 16%
  • Basic Math, 5%
  • Work Ethic, 5%
  • Warehouse Environment, 5%

Browse office and administrative jobs