Materials handler
Also known as: storage worker
About this occupation
Materials handlers execute the handling and storage of materials through activities such as loading, unloading and moving articles in a warehouse or storage room. They work according to orders to inspect materials and provide documentation for the handling of items. Materials handlers also manage inventory and ensure the safe disposal of waste.
Essential skills and knowledge
- process incoming construction supplies
- products coding system
- inventory management rules
- secure goods according to work orders
- use warehouse marking tools
- pick orders for dispatching
- use different communication channels
- load heavy items on pallets
- maintain stock control systems
- dispatch order processing
- follow health and safety procedures in construction
- implement efficiency plans for logistics operations
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand (O*NET 53-7062.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Maintain equipment storage areas to ensure that inventory is protected.
- Read work orders or receive oral instructions to determine work assignments or material or equipment needs.
- Move freight, stock, or other materials to and from storage or production areas, loading docks, delivery vehicles, ships, or containers, by hand or using trucks, tractors, or other equipment.
- Install protective devices, such as bracing, padding, or strapping, to prevent shifting or damage to items being transported.
- Sort cargo before loading and unloading.
- Attach identifying tags to containers or mark them with identifying information.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Enterprising
Top skills: Coordination, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Monitoring, Operations Monitoring
US median pay: US$40,240 a year (2025), 2,950,280 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.4)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
- Packers and Packagers, Hand
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
- Conveyor Operators and Tenders
- Hoist and Winch Operators
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
- Helpers--Production Workers
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery
- Recycling and Reclamation Workers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.