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Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $40,240 Median per year · $19.35/hr Most earn $31,270–$55,140

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Adjust controls to guide, position, or move equipment, such as cranes, booms, or cameras.
  • Carry needed tools or supplies from storage or trucks and return them after use.
  • 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.
  • Read work orders or receive oral instructions to determine work assignments or material or equipment needs.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Numerous Job Openings

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 340,500 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Warehousing and storage14.0%
  • Temporary help services12.9%
  • Couriers and express delivery services10.9%
  • Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods5.0%
  • Merchant wholesalers, durable goods4.9%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

Laborer and freight mover is an entry-level job. Most people start with a high school diploma and no prior experience, so you can often begin working right after school.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school and build basic reading, math, and safety habits. This diploma is the education most employers ask for in this field.

  2. Laborer and Freight, Stock, and Material Mover

    1-2 years

    Start moving boxes, stock, and materials at a warehouse, store, or other workplace, usually learning on the job. Good work habits and reliability here can lead to more responsibility.

Where it can lead

  1. Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator

    1-2 years of experience first

    You would run forklifts or other powered equipment instead of moving everything by hand. Employers often provide operator training, and the job usually requires learning to handle heavier loads safely.

  2. Hoist and Winch Operator

    2-4 years of experience first

    You would control equipment that lifts and moves heavy loads, which takes more experience and careful attention to safety. It usually follows several years of hands-on work with materials.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and shop or physical science classesBasic math helps with counting, measuring, and reading labels, and hands-on classes build comfort with tools and equipment.
  • Get a summer or part-time jobWorking in a store, warehouse, or grocery stockroom teaches you how a real workplace runs and what it's like to do physical work.
  • Learn workplace safety basicsLifting correctly and following safety signs protects you on the job, and many schools or local programs offer safety lessons.
  • Join a sports team or physical activity clubStaying active builds the stamina and strength this job needs, and teamwork helps when moving loads with coworkers.

In college

  • Take courses in logistics, supply chain, or business basicsUnderstanding how goods move through warehouses and shipping helps you move into supervisory or equipment roles later.
  • Work a campus job or part-time warehouse jobJobs that involve stocking, delivery, or loading give you real experience that employers value for this type of work.
  • Get certified in equipment or safety training if availableForklift or safety certifications, if your school or local community offers them, can make you a stronger candidate for operator roles.
  • Volunteer for moving or food bank workHelping with community donations or moves builds practical lifting, organizing, and teamwork skills you can list on a résumé.

Tips for getting started

  • Show up on time, follow safety rules, and ask questions. Supervisors notice these habits, and they often decide who gets trained for better jobs.
  • Look for part-time or summer work in warehouses, grocery stores, or moving companies. Even a few months of experience makes you a stronger applicant.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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