Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
SOC 53-7062BLS OEWS May 2025
Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified. Excludes “Construction Laborers” (47-2061) and “Helpers, Construction Trades” (47-3011 through 47-3019). Excludes “Material Moving Workers” (53-7011 through 53-7199) who use power equipment.
National median · BLS
$40,240
▲ +3.34%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$42,260
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
2,950,280
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$31,270
25th
$36,090
Median (50th)
$40,240
75th
$46,920
90th — top pay
$55,140
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
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Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
BLS projects employment of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 340,500 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
2,940,300 → 2,991,900
+51,600 jobs
Projected change
+1.8%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
340,500
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
1.2% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: 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.
About the job
What laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand do
Maintain equipment storage areas to ensure that inventory is protected.
Read work orders or receive oral instructions to determine work assignments or material or equipment needs.
Move freight, stock, or other materials to and from storage or production areas, loading docks, delivery vehicles, ships, or containers, by hand or using trucks, tractors, or other equipment.
Install protective devices, such as bracing, padding, or strapping, to prevent shifting or damage to items being transported.
Sort cargo before loading and unloading.
Attach identifying tags to containers or mark them with identifying information.
Record numbers of units handled or moved, using daily production sheets or work tickets.
Attach slings, hooks, or other devices to lift cargo and guide loads.
Also called
LaborerLoaderMaterial HandlerWarehouse WorkerMerchandise Pick Up AssociateMerchandise Receiving AssociateReceiverReceiving AssociateShipping and Receiving Materials Handler
Specialties within this occupation
Recycling and Reclamation Workers
More job titles for this occupation (80)
Air and Water FillerAirport Maintenance LaborerAluminum Can CollectorAsh CollectorAsh HandlerAsh Pit WorkerAsh WorkerAssorterBag TurnerBag WorkerBaggagemanBaggerBagger HelperBale OpenerBale PilerBale StackerBanana CarrierBanana HandlerBanana LoaderBandoleer Straightener StamperBarge Shore HandBarrel HandlerBarrel LoaderBarrow WorkerBasin CleanerBattery StackerBeef SelectorBellows AssemblerBillet StraightenerBillet WorkerBleederBlender LaborerBlock PilerBlock StackerBolt LoaderBottomerBox Car BracerBox Car LoaderBox WorkerBoxerBridge and Building Gang Worker (B and B Gang Worker)Bridge Gang WorkerBridge MaintainerBuggymanBulk LoaderBull Gang WorkerBundle CollectorBundle HelperBundlerCable PullerCaddyCagerCanvas ShrinkerCar BlockerCar BracerCar Dumper Operator HelperCar IcerCar KnockerCar LoaderCar PackerCar PincherCar PrecoolerCar StorerCar StowerCar UnloaderCar WorkerCarboy FillerCargo BracerCargo HandlerCargo Station WorkerCargo TrimmerCargo WorkerCart AttendantCart PusherCasting ChipperCasting House LaborerChainerChute LoaderCircus HandCircus Laborer
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $40,240.
