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What does a warehouse packer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
What does a warehouse packer do

A warehouse packer places items in designated boxes with the right packing materials and documentation before they are then labeled and shipped to the customer. Their job is to prepare products for packaging and shipping. They take needed items on the invoice from the inventory, ensure they are in good condition, and wrap and package them appropriately for shipping. They are expected to update the inventory, noting down items that have been removed.

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Warehouse packer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real warehouse packer resumes:

  • Pack shipments for customers and send out through FedEx.
  • Utilize FedEx shipping software by creating and editing shipping labels for each customer.
  • Work as a team player with fellow employees to ensure the operation run smoothly.
  • Pile boxes onto pallets and have the pallets send off to the workers with forklift to arrange for shipping
  • Downstock products from upper-level storage when customer-accessible items run low.
  • Maximize efficiency by critically evaluating resources by utilizing on-the-spot math and visualizing complete orders to minimize error before building a pallet.
  • Replace defective see blades, drills, and hole punches using hand tools, hoists, and cranes.
  • Dismantle devices to gain proper access and remove defective parts, using hoists, cranes, hand tools and power tools.
  • Operate tools/machinery such as/but not limit to, pallet jack, dollies, storage carts and hand carts.
  • Pull orders using a scanner, drive forklift and used dollies to transfer parts onto semi trailer for delivery, forklift
  • Ensure accurate transactions utilizing the WMS to maintain inventory accuracy.

Warehouse packer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 54% of Warehouse Packers are proficient in Pallets, Pallet Jack, and Customer Orders. They’re also known for soft skills such as Hand-eye coordination, Listening skills, and Physical strength.

We break down the percentage of Warehouse Packers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Pallets, 54%

    Warehouse Packer: Wrapped the packed merchandise on wooden pallets with shrink wrap to be shipped out.

  • Pallet Jack, 9%

    Transport materials and items from receiving dock to storage or other designated areas by hand, dolly or pallet jack.

  • Customer Orders, 7%

    Pulled and packaged customer orders from warehouse and completed quality control

  • Dollies, 5%

    Use material moving equipment such as pallet jacks and dollies to bring products and materials to appropriate location.

  • Assembly Line, 3%

    Assisted others in a team packing company boxes with healthy snacks on an assembly line.

  • Safety Rules, 3%

    Place product into outgoing boxes Maintain and observe any and all safety rules Clean and maintain work area.

Common skills that a warehouse packer uses to do their job include "pallets," "pallet jack," and "customer orders." You can find details on the most important warehouse packer responsibilities below.

Hand-eye coordination. One of the key soft skills for a warehouse packer to have is hand-eye coordination. You can see how this relates to what warehouse packers do because "most hand laborers and material movers use their arms and hands to manipulate objects or move objects into specific positions." Additionally, a warehouse packer resume shows how warehouse packers use hand-eye coordination: "manage warehouse inventory, local shipping/courier coordination as well as international import/export shipping and receiving. "

Listening skills. Many warehouse packer duties rely on listening skills. "hand laborers and material movers follow instructions that a supervisor gives them.," so a warehouse packer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways warehouse packer responsibilities rely on listening skills: "provided excellent customer service by answering questions, listening to problems, and making suggestions. "

Physical strength. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of warehouse packers is physical strength. This skill is critical to many everyday warehouse packer duties, as "some hand laborers and material movers must be able to lift and carry heavy objects." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "verify inventory computations by comparing them to physical counts of stock, and investigate discrepancies or adjust errors. "

Customer-service skills. warehouse packer responsibilities often require "customer-service skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "hand laborers and material movers who work with the public, such as grocery baggers or carwash attendants, must be pleasant and courteous to customers." This resume example shows what warehouse packers do with customer-service skills on a typical day: "receive and process orders from customer pick and organize medical supplies into totes correctly ship out totes to the hospitals before deadline"

Most common warehouse packer skills

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Warehouse Packer Resume
Warehouse Packer Resume
Warehouse Packer Resume
Warehouse Packer Resume
Warehouse Packer Resume
Warehouse Packer Resume
Warehouse Packer Resume
Warehouse Packer Resume
Warehouse Packer Resume
Warehouse Packer Resume
Warehouse Packer Resume
Warehouse Packer Resume
Warehouse Packer Resume
Warehouse Packer Resume
Warehouse Packer Resume
Warehouse Packer Resume

Compare different warehouse packers

Warehouse packer vs. Packer/shipper

The role of packers/shippers is to prepare products for shipping. They are responsible for labeling, packing, cleaning, and maintaining shipping containers. Also, they are accountable for preventing things from being damaged. A few skills packers/shippers should have to accomplish these responsibilities include hand-eye coordination, customer service skills, and attention to detail. One should also have a college degree to become a successful packer/shipper.

The annual salary of packer/shippers is $1,212 higher than the average salary of warehouse packers.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between warehouse packers and packer/shippers are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like customer orders, assembly line, and package processing equipment.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between warehouse packers and packer/shipper. For instance, warehouse packer responsibilities require skills such as "pallets," "pallet jack," "dollies," and "safety rules." Whereas a packer/shipper is skilled in "package orders," "electric pallet jack," "safety procedures," and "ex." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Packer/shippers tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $33,844. In contrast, warehouse packers make the biggest average salary, $33,048, in the technology industry.The education levels that packer/shippers earn slightly differ from warehouse packers. In particular, packer/shippers are 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a warehouse packer. Additionally, they're 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Warehouse packer vs. Material handler/warehouse

A warehouse material handler is responsible for assisting warehouse operations, moving merchandise from one place to another, labeling products, performing quality check procedures, packaging goods, and loading and unloading items from distribution vehicles. Warehouse material handlers operate warehouse tools and equipment for production, as well as ensuring the adequacy of stock inventory needed for orders and deliveries. A warehouse material handler also updates product information on the database and do administrative tasks, such as writing reports and responding to customers' inquiries and concerns.

On average, material handler/warehouses earn a $2,000 higher salary than warehouse packers a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both warehouse packers and material handler/warehouses have skills such as "pallets," "customer orders," and "dollies. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, warehouse packer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "pallet jack," "safety rules," "package processing equipment," and "defective products." Meanwhile, a material handler/warehouse has duties that require skills in areas such as "work ethic," "warehouse environment," "supply support," and "ladders." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Material handler/warehouses may earn a higher salary than warehouse packers, but material handler/warehouses earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $34,722. On the other hand, warehouse packers receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $33,048.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Material handler/warehouses tend to reach similar levels of education than warehouse packers. In fact, they're 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Warehouse packer vs. Assembler/packer

In the manufacturing industry, an assembler/packer is primarily responsible for assembling components and packing products according to guidelines and protocols. They are responsible for understanding assembly instructions and schematics, operating tools and equipment, and developing safe and efficient strategies to accomplish production goals according to schedules. There are also times when they must attend meetings, produce progress reports, perform maintenance checks on machines, and clean work areas. Moreover, as an assembler/packer, it is essential to adhere to the facility's safety standards and policies for a safe and effective workflow.

On average scale, assembler/packers bring in lower salaries than warehouse packers. In fact, they earn a $2,269 lower salary per year.By looking over several warehouse packers and assembler/packers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "pallet jack," "customer orders," and "assembly line." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from warehouse packer resumes include skills like "pallets," "dollies," "safety rules," and "rf scanner," whereas an assembler/packer is more likely to list skills in "part numbers," "hand tools," "safety procedures," and "quality checks. "

Assembler/packers earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $30,029. Comparatively, warehouse packers have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $33,048.Most assembler/packers achieve a similar degree level compared to warehouse packers. For example, they're 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Warehouse packer vs. Packer

Packers are employees in the warehouse who are responsible for managing company products and ensuring that the products are ready for transporting or delivering. Packers should have in-depth knowledge of the layout of the company warehouse and the products stored in specific areas of the warehouse. Once purchase orders are received, packers check the inventory and ensure that the orders can be fulfilled. They then get the requested products, check if they are working well, and then proceed to pack them securely. Once the products are securely packed, packers give them to delivery personnel.

Packers tend to earn a lower pay than warehouse packers by an average of $266 per year.While both warehouse packers and packers complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like pallets, customer orders, and assembly line, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between warehouse packers and packers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a warehouse packer might have more use for skills like "pallet jack," "dollies," "storage yards," and "route materials." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of packers require skills like "electric pallet jack," "machine operators," "quality checks," and "gmp. "

Packers enjoy the best pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $33,075. For comparison, warehouse packers earn the highest salary in the technology industry.In general, packers hold similar degree levels compared to warehouse packers. Packers are 0.1% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of warehouse packer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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