How to become a 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.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
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.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
Is laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand a good career?
On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 21% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- Minnesota $46,280
- Washington $46,190
- District of Columbia $45,740
- North Dakota $45,690
- Colorado $45,370
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.