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The differences between warehouse loaders and material handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a warehouse loader has an average salary of $33,496, which is higher than the $33,215 average annual salary of a material handler.
The top three skills for a warehouse loader include pallets, loaders and electric pallet jack. The most important skills for a material handler are pallets, basic math, and forklifts.
| Warehouse Loader | Material Handler | |
| Yearly salary | $33,496 | $33,215 |
| Hourly rate | $16.10 | $15.97 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 103,232 | 174,068 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 59% | High School Diploma, 51% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
This individual works as part of a team to ensure all the loading processes are carried out efficiently. Their responsibility is to maintain the inventory of the warehouse or shipping operation they work with. They are primarily expected to load and unload trucks and to operate machinery such as forklifts or shrink-wrap machines. Furthermore, they may have to keep records of items loaded and unloaded in the warehouse and process items. In some cases, they are also responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the warehouse.
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 loaders and material handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Warehouse Loader | Material Handler | |
| Average salary | $33,496 | $33,215 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $40,000 | Between $26,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Saint Cloud, MN | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Minnesota |
| Best paying company | DeWitt LLP Law Firm | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | Education | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a warehouse loader and a material handler in terms of educational background:
| Warehouse Loader | 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 warehouse loaders' and material handlers' demographics:
| Warehouse Loader | Material Handler | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.5% Female, 7.5% | Male, 77.6% Female, 22.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.3% Asian, 5.2% White, 53.2% 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% |