Material Handler: career path and pay in the US
Where a Material Handler goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 4 steps, from Material Handler to Warehouse Supervisor / Warehouse Manager.
Also for the United Kingdom: Material Handler in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 0 to 2 years
Material Handler
$30K to $50K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Material Handling Certification (optional) - Global, Warehouse Safety Certification (required) - Global, Health & Safety Certification (required) - Global.
Step 2 · 2 to 5 years
Senior Material Handler / Lead Handler
$35K to $50K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Material Handling Certification - Global, Warehouse Safety Certification - Global, Health & Safety Certification - Global, Forklift Certification (optional) - Global.
Step 3 · 5 to 8 years
Material Handler Supervisor / Warehouse Supervisor
$40K to $60K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Material Handling Certification - Global, Warehouse Safety Certification - Global, Health & Safety Certification - Global, Forklift Certification - Global.
Step 4 · 8+ years
Warehouse Supervisor / Warehouse Manager
$55K to $80K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Material Handling Certification - Global, Warehouse Safety Certification - Global, Health & Safety Certification - Global, Forklift Certification - Global.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
76% → 24%
Falls 52 points. Each step is harder to automate than the last. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$30K to $50K → $55K to $80K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US. Indeed publishes a hourly average for Material Handler ($19.18); this band converts it at 40 hours a week. Indeed publishes a hourly average for Senior Material Handler ($20.88); this band converts it at 40 hours a week.
What the work involves
Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge areas
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
- Transportation
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
Education people bring
- Some College Courses: 1%
- Post-Secondary Certificate: 0%
- Post-Master's Certificate: 0%
Job Zone 2, job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. 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.
Other paths from here
More Manufacturing/Warehouse paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Machine Feeders and Offbearers, Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators, Packers and Packagers, Hand, Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders, Conveyor Operators and Tenders.
Your own role
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
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. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.