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Goodwill Material Handler Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Goodwill Industries

Material Handler

Louisville, KY · On-site

$13/hr

Material Handler Goodwill Industries of Kentucky is looking for a high energy, positive attitude, team-minded Material Handler to join our team! This position is essential for the success of our ...

Goodwill Industries

Material Handler

Nicholasville, KY · On-site

$13/hr

Material Handler Goodwill Industries of Kentucky is looking for a high energy, positive attitude, team-minded Material Handler to join our team! This position is essential for the success of our ...

Goodwill Industries

Material Handler

Lexington, KY · On-site

$13/hr

Material Handler Goodwill Industries of Kentucky is looking for a high energy, positive attitude, team-minded Material Handler to join our team! This position is essential for the success of our ...

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Goodwill Material Handler information

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How much do goodwill material handler jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for goodwill material handler in the United States is $18.21, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.11 and $19.47 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Goodwill Material Handlers?

Goodwill Material Handlers are employees responsible for receiving, sorting, and organizing donated goods at Goodwill locations. They unload donations, inspect items for quality, and prepare merchandise for the sales floor or recycling. Material Handlers play a key role in ensuring donations are processed efficiently and safely, helping to support Goodwill's mission of providing job training and employment services through store proceeds.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Goodwill Material Handler, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Goodwill Material Handler, you need physical stamina, attention to detail, and basic organizational skills, often with a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with warehouse equipment, inventory tracking systems, and safety procedures is typically required. Strong teamwork, reliability, and communication skills help you excel in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment. These abilities ensure efficient donation processing, maintain workplace safety, and provide positive experiences for both donors and coworkers.

What are some typical challenges Goodwill Material Handlers face, and how can they be managed effectively?

Goodwill Material Handlers often encounter challenges such as handling heavy, bulky, or irregularly shaped donations, maintaining safety and efficiency in a fast-paced environment, and sorting large volumes of items quickly. To manage these challenges, handlers are encouraged to use proper lifting techniques, collaborate closely with team members, and stay organized to ensure smooth workflow. Open communication with supervisors and ongoing training in safety procedures also help create a supportive work environment and reduce the risk of injury.

What is the difference between Goodwill Material Handler vs Goodwill Warehouse Associate?

AspectGoodwill Material HandlerGoodwill Warehouse Associate
Primary ResponsibilitiesLoading, unloading, and moving donations and inventoryAssisting with inventory management and order fulfillment
Required SkillsPhysical stamina, basic forklift or equipment operationOrganizational skills, attention to detail
Work EnvironmentWarehouse, donation centersWarehouse, retail stores
CertificationsForklift certification often preferredNone typically required

The Goodwill Material Handler primarily focuses on physically moving donations and inventory within warehouse settings, often requiring equipment operation skills. In contrast, the Goodwill Warehouse Associate may handle inventory organization and assist with store operations. Both roles are essential in the donation and retail process, but they differ in specific duties and skill requirements.

More about Goodwill Material Handler jobs
What cities are hiring for Goodwill Material Handler jobs? Cities with the most Goodwill Material Handler job openings:
What states have the most Goodwill Material Handler jobs? States with the most job openings for Goodwill Material Handler jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Goodwill Material Handler jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Goodwill Material Handler jobs are:
Goodwill Material Handler jobs near you
Infographic showing various Goodwill Material Handler job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 72% Full Time, 27% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 75% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 24% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $37,886 per year, or $18.2 per hour.

Material Handler Associate - E-Commerce

My Goodwill

Colorado Springs, CO • On-site

$16.85/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

Please Note: This position will be posted through 6/8/2026
Goodwill's Material Handlers are an integral part of our production team! Material Handlers keep our production moving by using electric forklifts and/or pallet jacks to stage portions of our production flow (i.e., gaylords, pallets, tubs, etc.) matching them with the members of the production team to maximize efficiency.
This position will be full-time.
Prior experience with a forklift is a plus! The minimum age for this position is 18.
Pay: $16.85 Hr. This position is eligible for Daily Pay! Work today, get paid today! We've partnered with DailyPay, a voluntary benefit to offer employees access to their pay on their own schedule. Full-Time employees in our Retail and Sales/Operations Division are eligible for Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability, Life/Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Flexible Spending Accounts, Long Term Disability, and several voluntary supplemental benefit offerings. In addition, these positions are eligible for paid time off in the form of vacation, sick, holiday, floating holiday, jury duty, and bereavement leave. All employees may also make pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) contributions to our retirement plan - must be 18 years of age to participate.Goodwill of Colorado is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) eligible employer.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Material Handler, Retail will primarily work in a production environment moving, storing, and retrieving donated products following Goodwill's warehousing and material handling procedures and guidelines.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
  • Meets or exceeds minimum productivity standards and expectations/Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for assigned duties.
  • Uses and becomes certified on pallet jack, walkie stacker, forklift, hand dolly or other equipment or tools to effectively move and store donated product.
  • Ensures that all areas of production have sufficient materials to work with so that there is no lapse of work to minimize down time.
  • Be proactive in preparing materials or storage containers to anticipate the needs of the production team.
  • Ensures that the warehouse and trailers are well organized, stocked, and clean to ensure items are stored in an efficient manner.
  • Prepares items for shipment and track products that are both shipped as well as received by the Retail Center docks.
  • Ensures work areas are clear and organized and adhere to continuous improvement and safety requirements.
  • Duties are completed accurately, safely, and timely to ensure that items are handled appropriately and not damaged throughout the product flow process.
  • Promotes and demonstrates positive teamwork and cooperation.
  • Adapts and uses technology as it becomes available to operate efficiently. This includes but is not limited to process automation.
  • Maintains a clean and organized work area to provide a safe and efficient workflow for employees and customers.
  • Follows all company and department policies and procedures.
  • Cross-trains and works in other areas as assigned by any member of management.
  • Your job duties may extend beyond the tasks listed and may include additional responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education:
  • A High school diploma or equivalent is preferred.

Experience:
  • Previous storage, moving or shipping/receiving experience is helpful.

Other:
  • Able to obtain walkie stacker and/or forklift certification to safely operate equipment.
  • Have a high attention to detail and ability to make decisions.
  • Able to withstand prolonged standing, bending, and lifting up to 8 hours per day.
  • Able to lift up to 75lbs, use a dolly and pallet jack as required.
  • Able to work a varied schedule to include weekends, evenings, and holidays with occasional overtime as necessary.
  • Able to communicate effectively with customers, managers, supervisors, staff, and peers.

Goodwill is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to employing qualified individuals including those with disabilities, protected veterans and military spouses. Goodwill participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please contact DHS: 888-897-7781 or www.dhs.gov/E-Verify We promote a Safe & Drug-free Workplace.
Candidates offered this position will be required to successfully complete pre-employment screening, which could include: a background check, drug test, reference check, employment verification, education verification, fingerprinting, and/or MVR (if applicable, based on position). In addition, certain positions will require repeated screening processes, and your employment with Goodwill of Colorado will remain contingent upon the results of any continued screening processes.
Physical Requirements
Attachment to Job Description
Job Title: 538 - Material Handler, Retail Dept Number: Varies - Retail
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Guide to Physical Requirements:
  • Continuously (5-8 hours)
  • Frequently (3-4 hours)
  • Occasionally (1-2 hours)
  • Never

LIFTING: (as defined by ADA)
Heavy: 45 lbs & over - FREQUENTLY
Moderate: 15-44 lbs - CONTINUOUSLY
Light: 14 lbs & under - FREQUENTLY
CARRYING:
Heavy: 45 lbs & over - FREQUENTLY
Moderate: 15-44 lbs - FREQUENTLY
Light: 14 lbs & under - FREQUENTLY
PUSHING/PULLING - CONTINUOUSLY
REACHING:
Above Shoulder - CONTINUOUSLY
At Shoulder - FREQUENTLY
Below Shoulder - FREQUENTLY
TWISTING - FREQUENTLY
BENDING - FREQUENTLY
KNEELING/CRAWLING - OCCASIONALLY
SQUAT - OCCASIONALLY
CLIMBING:
Use of legs only (stairs) - OCCASIONALLY
Use of arms & legs (ladders) - OCCASIONALLY
HEARING - FREQUENTLY
VISION:
Visual, close - FREQUENTLY
Visual, distant - FREQUENTLY
Visual, depth perception - FREQUENTLY
HANDS/FINGERS:
Simple grasping - FREQUENTLY
Fine Manipulation - FREQUENTLY
Repetitive Movements - FREQUENTLY
WALKING - CONTINUOUSLY
STANDING - FREQUENTLY
SITTING - OCCASIONALLY
SPEAKING - OCCASIONALLY
OTHER, please describe -
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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