Material Handler Loader Salary in the United States

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

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Material Handler Loader in the United States is $44,692 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $21.

However, a Material Handler Loader's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $55,349
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $41,534 to $50,270
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $38,659
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View as table View as graph 25% $41,534 10% $38,659 90% $55,349 75% $50,270 $44,692 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Material Handler Loader Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $50,270 $4,189 $967 $24
Average $44,692 $3,724 $859 $21
25th Percentile $41,534 $3,461 $799 $20
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Key Factors That Influence Material Handler Loader Salaries

A Material Handler Loader's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Material Handler Loader Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Material Handler Loader's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $43,741
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $44,282
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $46,086
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $46,333
  • Expert (over 8 years): $46,743
Levels Salary
Entry Level Material Handler Loader$43,741
Intermediate Level Material Handler Loader$44,282
Senior Level Material Handler Loader$46,086
Specialist Level Material Handler Loader$46,333
Expert Level Material Handler Loader$46,743
$43,741 0 yr
$44,282 < 2 yrs
$46,086 2-4 yrs
$46,333 5-8 yrs
$46,743 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Material Handler Loader Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Material Handler Loaders. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $49,483.
  • California: $49,295.
  • Massachusetts: $48,638.

Top Paying Cities for Material Handler Loaders

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $56,370
  • San Francisco: $55,816
  • Oakland: $54,578

What Skills Can Increase a Material Handler Loader's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 12.76% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Packaging (Mentioned in 3.24% Job Postings): Preparing products through wrapping or bottling to protect the goods from damages during transportation and storage.
  • Work Ethic (Mentioned in 2.59% Job Postings): A belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. A set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 12.76%
Packaging 3.24%
Work Ethic 2.59%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Material Handler Loader's salary.
  • Scheduling: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Hydraulics: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Scheduling
 $54,077
21%
Hydraulics
 $50,502
13%
Presentation
 $47,820
7%
Packaging
 $47,820
7%
Leadership
 $47,373
6%
Communicates Effectively
 $46,926
5%
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How Education impacts a Material Handler Loader's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Material Handler Loaders enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Material Handler Loader with a No Diploma is between $32,956 and $35,920).

Material Handler Loader Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Material Handler Loader
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 8.0%
High School 74.6%
Associates 7.5%
Bachelors 8.0%
Masters 1.9%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Material Handler Loader Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Material Handler Loader's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on March 01, 2026
$41,534
Average $44,692/year
$50,270
$3,461
Average $3,724/month
$4,189
$799
Average $859/week
$967
$20
Average $21/hour
$24
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $50,270 $4,189 $967 $24
Average $44,692 $3,724 $859 $21
25th Percentile $41,534 $3,461 $799 $20

Salaries of jobs related to Material Handler Loader

Salary Trends for Material Handler Loader

Salaries for a Material Handler Loader can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $47,234 in 2023 to around $47,268 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Material Handler Loader salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Material Handler Loader Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$47,234
2024
$47,448
2025
$47,268
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $47,234
2024 $47,448
2025 $47,268
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Material Handler Loader

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Material Handler Loader

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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