Material Handler
Impact: Operational efficiency, Supply chain flow
Organizes and moves materials within a warehouse or production facility, ensuring efficient flow of goods to support production or distribution operations.
In their words
'Every day is a puzzle, making sure everything gets to where it needs to be, on time. It's physically demanding, but there's a real satisfaction in seeing the flow of goods run smoothly. Safety is always top of mind, especially with the forklifts. It's a team effort, and good communication makes all the difference.'
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- 60% Team / 40% Solo
- Client facing
- Rarely
- Impact visibility
- Moderate
- Travel
- Minimal
- Schedule flexibility
- Structured
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40-50 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $42,000
- Entry-level
- $30,000 - $38,000
- Senior
- $55,000+
- Growth by 2033
- 2% (slower than average)
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- Moderate 40-60% growth from entry to senior
- Typical student debt
- Minimal
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Forklift Operation
- Inventory Management
- Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
- Shipping and Receiving
- Safety Procedures
- Material Handling Equipment
Soft skills
- Attention to Detail
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Problem-Solving
Technical complexity: Low
Tools you'll work with
Core tools
- Forklift (hardware): Moving heavy loads and stacking materials
- Pallet Jack (hardware): Transporting pallets over short distances
- Warehouse Management System (WMS) (software): Tracking inventory and managing warehouse operations
Common tools
- Barcode Scanners (hardware): Inventory tracking and data entry
- Safety Harnesses (hardware): Ensuring worker safety at heights
- Conveyor Systems (hardware): Automated movement of goods
- Hand Trucks (hardware): Manual movement of smaller items
How to get there
- Minimum education
- High School Diploma
- Licensing
- Varies by State
- Years to mid-career
- 2-4 years
- Years to senior
- 5-8 years
- Career switching
- Easy
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
- General Laborer: Transitioning from general physical labor to a more specialized role in material movement.
- Retail Stocker: Moving from retail inventory management to industrial material handling.
- Delivery Driver: Shifting from transporting goods externally to managing them internally within a facility.
Where you can go from here
- Warehouse Associate: Advancing to a broader role with more responsibilities in warehouse operations.
- Inventory Clerk: Specializing in inventory accuracy and record-keeping.
- Logistics Assistant: Moving into an administrative role supporting logistics and supply chain functions.
Typical progression
- Material Handler > Lead Material Handler > Warehouse Supervisor > Logistics Coordinator
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 60% moderate to high risk
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 6.8/10
- Meaning
- 5.5/10
- Work-life balance
- 7.2/10
- Prestige
- 3.5/10
- Social perception
- Moderate
Find your community
Professional organisations
- Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA): A leading trade association for the material handling and logistics industry.
Podcasts and media
- Warehouse & Logistics News: Industry news, features, and analysis for warehouse and logistics professionals.
- Supply Chain Management Review: Provides insights and best practices for supply chain and logistics professionals.
Reddit communities
- r/Logistics: A community for discussions on logistics, supply chain, and material handling.