How To Become A Can Handler: What It Is and Career Path

What is a can handler and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A can handler, also known as a material handler, package handler or warehouse associate, performs manual and administrative duties related to shipping, inspecting, storing, issuing, and delivering warehouse material. They are involved in receiving and processing new shipments of materials and goods. They also maintain an inventory and keep a database of the locations of all materials.

Further duties include filing client orders and maintaining accurate documentation for all materials shipped, using computerized scales to count and weigh goods, safely operating machine tools including clamp trucks, manual jacks, lift trucks, and dollies, ensuring equipment is inspected, and facilitating repairs if necessary, loading and unloading all inbound and outbound shipments and following work orders and instructions from floor managers.

Skills required for this position include; being a great team player and having excellent verbal and written communication skills, operating a forklift, pallet jack, and dolly and understanding regulations, and putting safety first. They should also have physical stamina, strength and coordination, and customer service skills. To work as a can handler, a high school diploma or GED is sufficient. They earn an average salary of $29,672 per year, which translates to $14.27 per hour.

ScoreCan HandlerUS Average

Salary

2.5

Avg. Salary $32,465

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.4

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

9.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.16%

Asian 5.54%

Black or African American 13.65%

Hispanic or Latino 18.31%

Unknown 5.34%

White 56.00%

Gender

female 32.63%

male 67.37%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress Level

6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

4.7

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.4

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a can handler

Explore can handler education requirements

Most common can handler degrees

High School Diploma

42.5 %

Bachelor's

24.4 %

Associate

15.4 %

Start to develop specific can handler skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	25.74%
Patients	13.65%
Supply Support	10.60%
Safety Procedures	7.74%
Safety Regulations	5.42%

Complete relevant can handler training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New can handlers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a can handler based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real can handler resumes.

Research can handler duties and responsibilities

Manage temporary staff doing warehouse work and train and test them in order to receive forklift certification per OSHA.
Provide cargo handling services, load and off-load cargo from aircraft using forklifts and dollies.
Help keep up with inventory, cleanliness of store and provide customer service to customers.
Pick and transport merchandise to various isles and scan with a mount RF gun using 3D system.

Prepare your can handler resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your can handler resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a can handler resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Can Handler Resume templates

Build a professional Can Handler resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Can Handler resume.

Apply for can handler jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a can handler job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do can handlers rate their job?

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Can Handler reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019

Pros

Learning where the parts are for such as the refinery. Nuts and bolts are used for. Washers, flanges and pipes are connected to.

Cons

Not being able to learn where every part goes to. For instance parts that go to a furnace, train, or a converter.