How to become a material handler
Official title: Material handlers
Also called: Ash handler, Coal handler, Grain handler, Material handler, Munitions handler, Explosives handler, Recycled paper handler, Bulk materials unloader, Heavy materials handler, Light materials handler, Piler - material handling, Dumper - material handling
Material handlers handle, move, load and unload materials by hand or using a variety of material handling equipment. They are employed by transportation, storage and moving companies, and by a variety of manufacturing and processing companies and retail and wholesale warehouses.
Main tasks
- Load, unload and move products and materials by hand or using basic material handling equipment
- Move household appliances and furniture onto and off moving trucks or vans
- Perform other material handling activities such as counting, weighing, sorting, packing and unpacking
- Operate winches and other loading devices to load and unload materials onto and off trucks, railway cars and loading docks of warehouses and industrial establishments
- Operate industrial trucks, tractors, loaders and other equipment to transport materials to and from transportation vehicles and loading docks and to store and retrieve materials in warehouses
- Connect hoses or pipes and operate equipment to load and unload liquid petroleum, chemical or other products into or from tank cars, tank trucks or storage tanks
- Operate equipment to dump materials such as coal, ore and grain into or to remove materials from railway cars, trucks or other vehicles
- Operate conveyors and equipment to transfer grain or other materials from transportation vehicles to elevators, bins or other storage areas
How to become one
Some secondary school education may be required. Physical strength is required for manual material handlers who work with heavy materials.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $42,900 a year The middle half earn $37,050 to $49,920.
- About 229,400 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 254,700 are projected by 2033. (+11%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become a material handler?
Some secondary school education may be required. Physical strength is required for manual material handlers who work with heavy materials.
How much does a material handler earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $42,900 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $37,050 to $49,920.
Is a material handler a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 11% by 2033, from about 229,400 to about 254,700 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a material handler?
Usually not. Only 14% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03