How much does a material handler make?
Answer: A typical material handler in the United States makes $41,800 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 23,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Material handler pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $34,330 | $41,800 | $62,820 | about 23,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $61,240 | about 580 |
| Minnesota | $53,160 | about 780 |
| Texas | $40,780 | about 2,000 |
| California | $38,410 | about 9,000 |
| Florida | $37,580 | about 1,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience, safety training, and harder tasks or extra responsibility can raise pay. The employer's industry and location matter too, while work hours and schedules can change total earnings.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a material handler do?
All material moving workers not listed separately.
What's a typical day like?
A material handler checks delivery lists, unloads boxes with a pallet jack or, if trained, a forklift, then scans or counts them. They store goods in marked spots, prepare orders for shipping, and keep aisles clear.
How to get this job
Most entry jobs need no formal schooling or experience; new hires learn through short on-the-job training. Forklift operators must be 18 or older and complete employer-led lessons, hands-on practice, and a workplace skills check.
Did you know?
US forklift operators need hands-on practice—not just a video—and employers must check their skills at work at least every three years.
What about Japan?
Nearly the same jobThe US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.
Earn more in the same field
Transportation and Material Moving jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/emp/tables/education-and-training-by-occupation.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.178
- www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/43-child-labor-non-agriculture
- www.aerotek.com/en/insights/what-is-a-material-handler
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY