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  1. Career Hub
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  4. Material Handler
Industrial & Warehouse
Temp & Flexible

Material Handler: Duties, Pay & Jobs Near You

What does a material handler do? Material Handlers move raw materials, supplies, and finished goods within manufacturing plants, warehouses, and distribution centers using various equipment.. Find material handler jobs near you with average pay $16-$24/hr, required skills, and career path.

Find Material Handler Shifts
Hourly Pay
$16-$24
Physical
high
Flexibility
medium
Experience
Entry
Growth
4 Levels
Schedule
Flexible
ByIndeed Flex Career Hub
Updated 2025-01-15
Table of Contents
  • Job Description
  • Key Facts
  • Job Duties
  • Skills & Qualifications
  • Career Growth
  • A Day in the Life
  • Resources & Guides
  • FAQs

What does a Material Handler do?

A material handler is responsible for Material Handlers move raw materials, supplies, and finished goods within manufacturing plants, warehouses, and distribution centers using various equipment. Material Handlers move raw materials, supplies, and finished goods within manufacturing plants, warehouses, and distribution centers using various equipment.

As a material handler, you can expect to earn between $16 and $24 per hour depending on experience and location. According to BLS OEWS, May 2024, this role is entry-level friendly. It is generally a high job with medium scheduling.

Key duties of a Material Handler include:

  • Move materials between work areas using equipment
  • Operate forklifts, pallet jacks, and hand trucks
  • Load and unload trucks and containers
  • Maintain accurate inventory records
  • Keep work areas clean and organized
Top skills:Equipment operationPhysical fitnessSafety awarenessTeamworkOrganization
How to become a Material Handler Material Handler interview questions Calculate annual salary

Key Facts: Material Handler

  • Average Hourly Rate$16-$24 / hour
  • Industryindustrial
  • Experience NeededEntry-level available
  • Key SkillsEquipment operation, Physical fitness, Safety awareness

Market rates for a material handler range from $16 to $24/hr. A typical material handler is responsible for Material Handlers move raw materials, supplies, and finished goods within manufacturing plants, warehouses, and distribution centers using various equipment. Calculate your exact take-home pay or find current material handler openings on Indeed Flex.

What are the job duties?

  • Move materials between work areas using equipment
  • Operate forklifts, pallet jacks, and hand trucks
  • Load and unload trucks and containers
  • Maintain accurate inventory records
  • Keep work areas clean and organized

What skills do you need?

To succeed as a Material Handler, you'll need a mix of hard skills and soft skills. Here are the most important ones:

Equipment operationPhysical fitnessSafety awarenessTeamworkOrganization

What are the requirements?

  • Physical ability to lift 50+ lbs
  • Forklift certification (or willingness to obtain)
  • Basic math and reading skills
  • Safety-conscious mindset

Career Growth & Path

Here is a typical career progression for a Material Handler:

1
Material Handler
0-2 years
2
Lead Material Handler
2-4 years
3
Warehouse Supervisor
4-6 years
4
Operations Manager
6+ years

Want to see more paths? Check out our Career Path Explorer tool.

Start Earning Today

Average Pay
$16-$24/hr
Industry
industrial
Career Growth
4 advancement levels

Find flexible material handler shifts

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How to Start

1
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2
Complete Profile

Add your skills and verify your right to work

3
Book Your Shift

Choose when and where you want to work

Related Roles

  • Delivery Driver$16-$24/hr
  • Picker Packer$15-$21/hr
  • Warehouse Operative$15-$22/hr
  • Forklift Driver$17-$25/hr

What is it really like being a Material Handler?

The Good

  • Higher pay than entry pick/pack at many sites ($16-22/hr, BLS OEWS May 2024)
  • Operate pallet jacks or forklifts after certification
  • Central role in receiving, staging, and shipping
  • Overtime during inbound peaks and month-end pushes

The Challenging

  • Safety-critical: collisions and load shifts are real risks
  • Physical loading and unloading in all weather at some docks
  • Targets for truck turn times can feel relentless

Best For: People who want hands-on logistics with equipment operation, not just walking picks all day.

Calculate Your Material Handler Earnings

Estimate your potential weekly and monthly earnings as a Material Handler on the app.

Calculate Your Material Handler Earnings
$20/hr
$16/hr$24/hr
25 hrs
5 hrs (Part-time)50 hrs (Full-time+)
Weekly
$500
Monthly
$2,165
Yearly
$26,000
Open Full Pay Calculator

A Day in the Life of a Material Handler

Typical Shift Schedule
6:00 AM

Clock in, complete pre-operation forklift or pallet jack inspection

6:15 AM

Attend safety briefing, get truck assignments and dock schedule

6:30 AM

Begin unloading inbound trucks - stage pallets in receiving area

9:00 AM

Break - 15 minutes

9:15 AM

Move pallets to storage racks or production areas, update WMS scan

12:00 PM

Lunch break - 30 minutes

12:30 PM

Afternoon outbound - stage pallets at the dock, load delivery trucks

2:30 PM

End of shift - park equipment, complete inspection log, clock out

Pro Tips from Experienced Workers
  • •Pre-trip inspection takes 5 minutes and prevents costly equipment downtime
  • •Honk at every blind corner - it's the single best safety habit
  • •Stage pallets in trailer-loading order - it speeds up the loader's job
  • •Communicate dock door status with drivers and dispatchers via radio
What to Bring
  • Steel-toe boots
  • Hi-vis safety vest
  • Work gloves
  • Forklift certification card (if certified)
Dress Code:

Hi-vis vest required, steel-toe boots, comfortable durable work clothes, hard hat in some facilities. No loose clothing near equipment.

Common Challenges & How to Handle Them
Safety-critical work with collision and fall risks
Solution: Go slow at intersections, use spotters when reversing, never lift loads above eye level when traveling.
Outdoor docks expose you to weather year-round
Solution: Layer clothing, keep waterproof gear in your locker, wear traction-soled boots in winter.
Dock turn-time targets feel relentless during peaks
Solution: Stage incoming pallets efficiently, communicate delays to dispatch immediately, and never sacrifice safety for speed.

Compare Material Handler Pay

See how Material Handler pay compares across roles and locations

industrial Role Salaries
Other roles
Current

Different roles offer varying pay based on skill requirements and demand.

Pay by Location
Other locations
Current

Pay rates vary by location based on cost of living and local demand.

FAQs: Material Handler

Resources & Guides

Everything you need to advance your career.

Earnings & Pay

  • Take-Home Pay Calculator

Career Path

  • How to Become a Material Handler

Interviews

  • Material Handler Interview Questions

Related Roles

  • Delivery Driver
  • Picker Packer
  • Warehouse Operative

Top Cities

  • Charlotte Jobs
  • Las Vegas Jobs
  • Dallas Jobs

Data Sources & Methodology

The information on this page is compiled from the following sources:

  1. [1]
    BLS OEWS — Official federal statistics on employment and wages by occupation and geographic area.Visit
  2. [2]
    BLS CES — Monthly survey of ~670,000 worksites providing industry-level employment and earnings data.Visit
  3. [3]
    BLS OOH — Career information including job outlook, education requirements, and median pay.Visit
  4. [4]
    Indeed Hiring Lab — Monthly posted-wage data by job title from Indeed job listings.Visit
  5. [5]
    Toast 2025 Report — Annual industry report on restaurant wages, tips, and employment trends.Visit

Data Freshness

CategoryWage Data
Last Updated2026-01-20
Next Update2026-04-20

We strive to keep all data accurate and up-to-date. Pay rates may vary based on location, experience, and employer.

About this data

Figures on this page are compiled from the public sources cited above and may be out of date. They are provided for general informational purposes only and do not constitute professional career, legal, tax, or financial advice. For the most current pay rates, verify with the original source, a qualified professional, or check the Indeed Flex app directly for real-time shift availability and compensation.

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