Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

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

What you'd actually 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.
• Sort materials, such as metals, glass, wood, paper or plastics, into appropriate containers for recycling.
• Clean recycling yard by sweeping, raking, picking up broken glass and loose paper debris, or moving barrels and bins.
• Operate forklifts, pallet jacks, power lifts, or front-end loaders to load bales, bundles, or other heavy items onto trucks for shipping to smelters or other recycled materials processing facilities.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Less than high school. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the work happens outdoors; much of the day is spent working solo. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 1.3% of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.

Related careers

• Flight Attendants
• Crane and Tower Operators
• Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
• Locomotive Engineers
• Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
• Commercial Pilots

Quick questions

How much does a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make?

The median pay is $19.35 per hour — roughly $40,000 a year, with the real range running from about $15.03/hr (10th percentile) to $26.51/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand?

The typical entry-level education is: Less than high school. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand actually do all day?

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.