What does a Material Handler do?

In a factory, a material handler moves raw materials and semi-finished goods into various production lines until they are processed into final products. In warehouses, material handlers pick products ordered by customers and deliver them to the front office for picking. They also audit the inventory and report any raw materials or finished product shortages to their supervisors.

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Working as a Material Handler

In factories or warehouses, material handlers work on complex tasks that facilitate seamless production or delivery of finished goods to customers. The tasks listed below are some that material handlers do.

Clean and package finished goods after production, audit goods or raw materials in stores and report any shortages.
Monitor finished goods and reporting any visible defect or damage to the supervisor and perform verifications of delivered goods and materials against their invoices.
Ensure customers' products are safely handled as they are moved within the warehouse or storage units, and also retrieve monitoring devices from finished products before their release to customers.
Clean the warehouse and maintain the equipment used there, such as forklifts, hoists and cranes, and report the faulty ones to the supervisor.
Ensure safety is maintained in warehouses or stores and perform periodic job hazard drills.

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How much does a Material Handler make in the United States?

Average base salary

57k salaries reported, updated at June 16, 2021

$15.35

per hour

The average salary for a material handler is $15.35 per hour in the United States and $5,250 overtime per year.

Additional compensation

Overtime

$5,250

per year

Most common benefits

Vision insurance
Referral program
Dental insurance
401(k)
Disability insurance

Find out more about compensation

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Is a material handler considered an in-demand profession?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for material handlers is expected to grow by 4% from 2018 to 2028.

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How can I know if I am being paid fairly as a material handler?

If you’re unsure about what salary is appropriate for a material handler, visit Indeed's Salary Calculator to get a free, personalized pay range based on your location, industry, and experience.

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What other positions are similar to a material handler?

Positions similar to a material handler are:

Material movers: These move materials manually from one location to another and pack and wrap products by hand. Material movers also signal machine operators to move the materials and keep records of them. They also clean the equipment in their place of operation.
Warehouse workers: These workers receive, sort, and stock goods later dispatched from the warehouse to customers. Warehouse workers also inspect consignments for faulty goods and report them to supervisors**.** They keep records of where each of the goods is stored for easier tracing.

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