Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between warehouse machine operators and warehouse pickers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a warehouse machine operator has an average salary of $33,796, which is higher than the $32,263 average annual salary of a warehouse picker.
The top three skills for a warehouse machine operator include basic math, safety regulations and electric pallet jack. The most important skills for a warehouse picker are pallets, electric pallet jack, and customer orders.
| Warehouse Machine Operator | Warehouse Picker | |
| Yearly salary | $33,796 | $32,263 |
| Hourly rate | $16.25 | $15.51 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 229,051 | 122,248 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 56% | High School Diploma, 51% |
| Average age | 43 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
Warehouse machine operators perform various tasks for their employers. These include setting up, operating, monitoring, and troubleshooting machinery, inspecting parts for specifications and any potential damage, and reading and interpreting diagrams and blueprints to position and secure the machines. They are expected to communicate with other team members and provide support for continuous production. Most employers are looking to hire someone with knowledge of production and safety procedures, previous experience as a machine operator, and analytical skills.
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 machine operators and warehouse pickers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Warehouse Machine Operator | Warehouse Picker | |
| Average salary | $33,796 | $32,263 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $41,000 | Between $26,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fridley, MN | Portland, OR |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Oregon |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | Chewy |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a warehouse machine operator and a warehouse picker in terms of educational background:
| Warehouse Machine Operator | Warehouse Picker | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 56% | High School Diploma, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between warehouse machine operators' and warehouse pickers' demographics:
| Warehouse Machine Operator | Warehouse Picker | |
| Average age | 43 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.3% Female, 14.7% | Male, 70.9% Female, 29.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 2.7% White, 56.4% 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 Percentage | 4% | 6% |