How much does a material handler make?
a year · about $20 an hour
A typical material handler in the United States makes $41,800 a year, about $20 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
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.
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.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $34,330 and $62,820How do you become one?
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.
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.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($71,640), lowest in Ohio ($33,420).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
In Japan, a general laborer averages $23,575. Material handler salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $71,640 | about 50 |
| New Jersey | $64,870 | about 390 |
| Colorado | $61,240 | about 580 |
| New York | $60,960 | — |
| New Hampshire | $57,720 | — |
Official definition: All material moving workers not listed separately.
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