Freight Handler demographics and statistics in the US
Freight handler demographics research summary. Zippia estimates freight handler demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our freight handler estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about freight handlers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 819,863 freight handlers currently employed in the United States.
- 11.8% of all freight handlers are women, while 88.2% are men.
- The average freight handler age is 39 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of freight handlers is White (55.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (19.8%), Black or African American (13.6%) and Unknown (5.3%).
- Freight handlers are most in-demand in Aurora, CO.
- Billerica, MA pays an annual average wage of $46,176, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women freight handlers earned 96% of what men earned.
- Wisconsin is the best state for freight handlers to live.
- Freight handlers are 70% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On This Page
Freight Handler demographics by:
Freight Handler gender statistics
11.8% of freight handlers are women and 88.2% of freight handlers are men.
- Male, 88.2%
- Female, 11.8%
Freight Handler gender ratio
Gender  | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 88.2% |
| Female | 11.8% |
Freight Handler gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male Income
$36,456
Female Income
$34,849
Freight Handler gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in freight handler positions over time. Currently, 11.8% of freight handlers are female.
Freight Handler gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 90.54% | 9.46% |
| 2011 | 90.80% | 9.20% |
| 2012 | 90.87% | 9.13% |
| 2013 | 90.50% | 9.50% |
| 2014 | 90.47% | 9.53% |
| 2015 | 90.57% | 9.43% |
| 2016 | 89.75% | 10.25% |
| 2017 | 90.01% | 9.99% |
| 2018 | 89.46% | 10.54% |
| 2019 | 88.68% | 11.32% |
| 2020 | 88.55% | 11.45% |
| 2021 | 88.21% | 11.79% |
Freight Handler related jobs gender ratio
We compared freight handlers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, dredge operator and tower crane operator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Gift Wrapper | 12% | 88% |
| Gift Packer | 18% | 82% |
| Pill Packer | 19% | 81% |
| Freight Handler | 88% | 12% |
| Green Chain Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Tower Crane Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Dredge Operator | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Freight Handler demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among freight handlers is White, which makes up 55.0% of all freight handlers. Comparatively, 19.8% of freight handlers are Hispanic or Latino and 13.6% of freight handlers are Black or African American.
- White, 55.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 19.8%
- Black or African American, 13.6%
- Unknown, 5.3%
- Asian, 5.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
Freight Handler Race
| Freight Handler Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 55.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 19.8% |
| Black or African American | 13.6% |
| Unknown | 5.3% |
| Asian | 5.2% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.1% |
Freight Handler race and ethnicity over time
See how freight handler racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Freight Handler race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 64.43% | 13.03% | 3.53% | 16.09% |
| 2011 | 62.56% | 14.47% | 3.56% | 16.14% |
| 2012 | 63.44% | 13.78% | 3.50% | 16.10% |
| 2013 | 63.72% | 13.23% | 3.63% | 16.09% |
| 2014 | 62.38% | 13.91% | 3.67% | 16.77% |
| 2015 | 61.83% | 13.45% | 3.66% | 17.62% |
| 2016 | 61.98% | 13.24% | 3.75% | 17.58% |
| 2017 | 61.62% | 13.04% | 4.18% | 17.64% |
| 2018 | 62.72% | 12.85% | 3.90% | 16.99% |
| 2019 | 61.28% | 13.10% | 4.11% | 17.95% |
| 2020 | 57.53% | 14.06% | 4.69% | 17.98% |
| 2021 | 55.03% | 13.58% | 5.15% | 19.85% |
Freight Handler wage gap by race
According to our data, white freight handlers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american freight handlers have the lowest average salary at $36,019.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $36,368 |
| White | $36,870 |
| Black or African American | $36,019 |
| Asian | $36,481 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $36,548 |
Freight Handler JOBS
Average freight handler age
See how the average age of freight handlers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Freight Handler age by race and gender
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 38 | 37 |
| Unknown | 33 | 39 |
| Asian | 41.5 | 42 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 35 | 39 |
| White | 39 | 45 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 34.5 | 32 |
Freight Handler age breakdown
The average age of freight handlers is 40+ years years old, representing 48% of the freight handler population.
Freight Handler age breakdown
| Freight Handler Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 48% |
| 30-40 years | 22% |
| 20-30 years | 27% |
Freight Handler educational attainment
The most common degree for freight handlers is high school diploma, with 54% of freight handlers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 15% and associate degree degree at 13%.
- High School Diploma, 54%
- Associate, 15%
- Diploma, 13%
- Bachelor's, 12%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Freight Handlers by degree level
| Freight Handler Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 54% |
| Associate | 15% |
| Diploma | 13% |
| Bachelor's | 12% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Freight Handler Jobs You Might Like
Freight Handler wage gap by degree level
According to the data, freight handlers with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $36,936 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, freight handlers earn a median annual income of $36,705 compared to $36,279 for freight handlers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $36,279 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $36,705 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $36,936 |
Freight Handler employment statistics
Most freight handlers work for a private in the retail industry.
Company size where freight handlers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where freight handlers work.
Freight Handler jobs by employer size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 11% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 17% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 26% |
| > 10,000 employees | 30% |
Freight Handler jobs by company type
Employees with the freight handler job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most freight handlers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Freight Handler jobs by sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Public | 29% |
| Private | 70% |
| Government | 1% |
Freight Handler jobs by industry
The most common industries for freight handlers are retail, transportation and professional.
Freight Handler industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Retail | 24% |
| Transportation | 23% |
| Fortune 500 | 13% |
| Professional | 9% |
| Manufacturing | 7% |
| Health Care | 4% |
| Internet | 3% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Freight Handler turnover and employment statistics
Freight Handler unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for freight handlers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Unemployment rate
Freight Handler unemployment rate by year
| Year | Freight Handler Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 16.75% |
| 2011 | 16.09% |
| 2012 | 14.47% |
| 2013 | 13.53% |
| 2014 | 11.22% |
| 2015 | 10.22% |
| 2016 | 9.47% |
| 2017 | 9.08% |
| 2018 | 7.89% |
| 2019 | 7.90% |
| 2020 | 9.98% |
| 2021 | 10.05% |
Average freight handler tenure
The average freight handler stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 3,637 freight handlers resumes in Zippia's database.
Freight Handler tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 38% |
| 1-2 years | 27% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 3% |
| 11+ years | 5% |
Freight Handler LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of freight handlers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Logging Crane Operator | 1.94% | 30,084 |
| Industrial Truck Driver | 3.85% | 735,051 |
| Solid Waste Collector | 4.13% | 4,034 |
| Body Cleaner | 4.59% | 42,156 |
| Freight Handler | 4.67% | - |
| Meat Packager | 6.68% | 12,416 |
| Packing Machine Can Feeder | 10.43% | 31,425 |
Similar freight handler jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Logging Crane Operator | 1.94% | 30,084 |
| Industrial Truck Driver | 3.85% | 735,051 |
| Solid Waste Collector | 4.13% | 4,034 |
| Body Cleaner | 4.59% | 42,156 |
| Meat Packager | 6.68% | 12,416 |
| Packing Machine Can Feeder | 10.43% | 31,425 |
Foreign languages spoken by freight handlers
The most common foreign language among freight handlers is Spanish at 78.1%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 7.8% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 6.3%.
- Spanish, 78.1%
- French, 7.8%
- Portuguese, 6.3%
- Arabic, 3.1%
- Samoan, 1.6%
- Other, 3.1%
Freight Handler languages spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 78.1% |
| French | 7.8% |
| Portuguese | 6.3% |
| Arabic | 3.1% |
| Samoan | 1.6% |
| Other | 3.1% |
