53 Series · SOC 53-7062

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$40,240
Median / year
+3.3%
2024→2025
$55,140
Top 10% earn
+1.5%
Growth '24–'34
2,950,280
Estimated US jobs

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand earn a median of $40,240 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $40,240, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $31,270 (10th percentile) to $55,140 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 2,950,280 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Minnesota ($46,280).

53 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand earn a median of $40,240, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 12% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks #40 of 50 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 1.5% by 2034.

$40,240
Median annual wage
Top 88%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#40 of 50
in Transportation and Material Moving
1.8×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Minnesota at $46,280. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand moved from $29,510 in May 2019 to $40,240 in May 2025 (+36.4%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand sits +11.9 pp ahead of that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand (SOC 53-7062) has a national median of $40,240 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $31,270 to $55,140, and the published mean is $42,260. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 2,950,280 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 54 state or territory areas and 527 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $38,940 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $40,240 in May 2025, a rise of $1,300 (+3.3%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +1.5% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 384,300 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns No formal educational credential as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as short-term on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) publish an occupation-specific rate that produces a WageDex safety grade of C, with a fatality rate of 16 per 100,000 and injury rate of 6 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Minnesota pays the highest state median at $46,280, which is +15% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Topeka, KS at $49,140. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 2,950,280 jobs Median $40,240/yr

Median Salary

$40,240

per year

Median Hourly

$19.35/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$42,260

average

Employment

2,950,280

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$40,240 Bottom 12% higher than 12% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 (this entry) 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$40,240 · 12th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 53-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 53-series occupations with growth data, Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand sits on the slower-growing side at +1.5% growth and $40,240 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000$250000 -20%-10%0%10%20% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Laborers and Freight… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.5% · Median annual wage: $40240Stockers and Order F… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 8.5% · Median annual wage: $37330Heavy and Tractor-Tr… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4% · Median annual wage: $58640Light Truck Drivers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 7.3% · Median annual wage: $44860Industrial Truck and… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.1% · Median annual wage: $46420First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.7% · Median annual wage: $62890Packers and Packager… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -5.4% · Median annual wage: $36280Driver/Sales Workers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 8.8% · Median annual wage: $38770Bus Drivers, School - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.2% · Median annual wage: $47920Cleaners of Vehicles… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.9% · Median annual wage: $35830Shuttle Drivers and … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.7% · Median annual wage: $37290Bus Drivers, Transit… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.3% · Median annual wage: $59050Refuse and Recyclabl… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.9% · Median annual wage: $49690Parking Attendants - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3% · Median annual wage: $35150Flight Attendants - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 9.2% · Median annual wage: $63580Airline Pilots, Copi… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.9% · Median annual wage: $232140Automotive and Water… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -1% · Median annual wage: $35670Commercial Pilots - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.1% · Median annual wage: $123220Motor Vehicle Operat… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6% · Median annual wage: $37180Railroad Conductors … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.1% · Median annual wage: $78000Crane and Tower Oper… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3% · Median annual wage: $68080Machine Feeders and … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -13% · Median annual wage: $41220Taxi Drivers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 11.1% · Median annual wage: $42100Captains, Mates, and… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.5% · Median annual wage: $92460
Among 24 53-series occupations with growth data, Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand sits on the slower-growing side at +1.5% growth and $40,240 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Laborers and Freight…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.5%, Median annual wage $40240
  • Stockers and Order F…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.5%, Median annual wage $37330
  • Heavy and Tractor-Tr…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4%, Median annual wage $58640
  • Light Truck Drivers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.3%, Median annual wage $44860
  • Industrial Truck and…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.1%, Median annual wage $46420
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.7%, Median annual wage $62890
  • Packers and Packager…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.4%, Median annual wage $36280
  • Driver/Sales Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.8%, Median annual wage $38770
  • Bus Drivers, School: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.2%, Median annual wage $47920
  • Cleaners of Vehicles…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.9%, Median annual wage $35830
  • Shuttle Drivers and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.7%, Median annual wage $37290
  • Bus Drivers, Transit…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.3%, Median annual wage $59050
  • Refuse and Recyclabl…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.9%, Median annual wage $49690
  • Parking Attendants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $35150
  • Flight Attendants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.2%, Median annual wage $63580
  • Airline Pilots, Copi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.9%, Median annual wage $232140
  • Automotive and Water…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1%, Median annual wage $35670
  • Commercial Pilots: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $123220
  • Motor Vehicle Operat…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6%, Median annual wage $37180
  • Railroad Conductors …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.1%, Median annual wage $78000
  • Crane and Tower Oper…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $68080
  • Machine Feeders and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -13%, Median annual wage $41220
  • Taxi Drivers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 11.1%, Median annual wage $42100
  • Captains, Mates, and…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.5%, Median annual wage $92460

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+1.5%

About as fast as average

Annual Openings

384,300

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+44,300

2,988,900 (2024) → 3,033,100 (2034)

Typical Education

No formal educational credential

On-the-Job Training

Short-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
C

Moderate Risk

WageDex derived grade from BLS CFOI/SOII 2023, not an official BLS rating

Fatality Rate

16/100K

Injury Rate

6/100

Danger Index

32/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Coordination 3.0
Active Listening 2.9
Reading Comprehension 2.8
Speaking 2.8
Monitoring 2.8
Operations Monitoring 2.6
Operation and Control 2.6
Time Management 2.6
Critical Thinking 2.5
Social Perceptiveness 2.4

Knowledge Areas

Administration and Management 3.4
Customer and Personal Service 3.4
Public Safety and Security 3.2
Transportation 3.1
Production and Processing 3.1
Mathematics 3.0
English Language 2.9
Personnel and Human Resources 2.8
Administrative 2.7
Education and Training 2.7

Key Tasks

  • Install protective devices, such as bracing, padding, or strapping, to prevent shifting or damage to items being transported.
  • Maintain equipment storage areas to ensure that inventory is protected.
  • Sort cargo before loading and unloading.
  • Attach identifying tags to containers or mark them with identifying information.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Carry needed tools or supplies from storage or trucks and return them after use.
  • Pack containers and re-pack damaged containers.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$31,270
25th$36,090
Median$40,240
75th$46,920
90th$55,140

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$15.03
25th$17.35
Median$19.35
75th$22.56
90th$26.51

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$20,000$25,000$30,000$35,000$40,000$45,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $25,010National median - 2016: $25,980National median - 2017: $27,040National median - 2018: $28,260National median - 2019: $29,510National median - 2020: $31,120National median - 2021: $31,230National median - 2022: $36,110National median - 2023: $37,660National median - 2024: $38,940National median - 2025: $40,240$40,240
National median annual wage for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $25,010
2016 $25,980
2017 $27,040
2018 $28,260
2019 $29,510
2020 $31,120
2021 $31,230
2022 $36,110
2023 $37,660
2024 $38,940
2025 $40,240

2015 median

$25,010

2025 median

$40,240

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$10,730 (+36.4%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+5.3%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $25,010 First banked release 2,487,680
May 2016 $25,980 +3.9% 2,587,900
May 2017 $27,040 +4.1% 2,711,320
May 2018 $28,260 +4.5% 2,893,180
May 2019 $29,510 Classification break 2,953,170
May 2020 $31,120 +5.5% 2,805,200
May 2021 $31,230 +0.4% 2,729,010
May 2022 $36,110 +15.6% 2,934,050
May 2023 $37,660 +4.3% 3,008,300
May 2024 $38,940 +3.4% 2,982,530
May 2025 $40,240 +3.3% 2,950,280

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $25,010 in May 2015 to $40,240 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +5.3% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 2,953,170 in May 2019 to 2,950,280 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 54 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Minnesota $46,280 +15% above national
2 Washington $46,190 +15% above national
3 District of Columbia $45,740 +14% above national
4 North Dakota $45,690 +14% above national
5 Colorado $45,370 +13% above national
6 Massachusetts $44,920 +12% above national
7 Oregon $44,750 +11% above national
8 California $44,710 +11% above national
9 New York $44,630 +11% above national
10 Wisconsin $44,610 +11% above national
11 Alaska $44,510 +11% above national
12 Arizona $44,290 +10% above national
13 Hawaii $44,120 +10% above national
14 Montana $43,840 +9% above national
15 Connecticut $43,640 +8% above national
16 Iowa $43,490 +8% above national
17 Nebraska $42,910 +7% above national
18 Kentucky $42,770 +6% above national
19 Maine $42,640 +6% above national
20 Pennsylvania $42,480 +6% above national
21 Utah $42,370 +5% above national
22 New Hampshire $42,110 +5% above national
23 Rhode Island $41,690 +4% above national
24 Maryland $41,600 +3% above national
25 Indiana $41,340 +3% above national
26 Illinois $40,550 +1% above national
27 Kansas $40,250 same as national
28 Idaho $39,900 1% below national
29 New Jersey $39,540 2% below national
30 Ohio $39,460 2% below national
31 Vermont $39,390 2% below national
32 Virginia $39,380 2% below national
33 Nevada $39,350 2% below national
34 Missouri $39,080 3% below national
35 South Dakota $38,980 3% below national
36 Michigan $38,860 3% below national
37 Georgia $38,480 4% below national
38 Wyoming $38,330 5% below national
39 North Carolina $38,230 5% below national
40 Florida $38,160 5% below national
41 Tennessee $38,160 5% below national
42 Guam $37,670 6% below national
43 Texas $37,540 7% below national
44 South Carolina $37,530 7% below national
45 Delaware $37,320 7% below national
46 New Mexico $37,230 7% below national
47 Oklahoma $36,990 8% below national
48 West Virginia $36,990 8% below national
49 Alabama $36,670 9% below national
50 Mississippi $36,400 10% below national
51 Arkansas $35,920 11% below national
52 Louisiana $35,340 12% below national
53 Virgin Islands $31,810 21% below national
54 Puerto Rico $24,560 39% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 392 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Topeka, KS $49,140 +22% above national
2 Hanford-Corcoran, CA $48,420 +20% above national
3 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $48,400 +20% above national
4 Sheboygan, WI $48,150 +20% above national
5 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $47,740 +19% above national
6 Chambersburg, PA $47,540 +18% above national
7 Kahului-Wailuku, HI $47,490 +18% above national
8 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $47,440 +18% above national
9 Stockton-Lodi, CA $47,330 +18% above national
10 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $47,320 +18% above national
11 Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA $47,310 +18% above national
12 Albany, OR $47,150 +17% above national
13 Warner Robins, GA $47,130 +17% above national
14 Pueblo, CO $47,100 +17% above national
15 Bozeman, MT $47,070 +17% above national
16 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $47,060 +17% above national
17 Kenosha, WI $46,990 +17% above national
18 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $46,890 +17% above national
19 Barnstable Town, MA $46,860 +16% above national
20 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $46,830 +16% above national
21 Boulder, CO $46,730 +16% above national
22 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $46,640 +16% above national
23 Modesto, CA $46,630 +16% above national
24 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $46,440 +15% above national
25 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $46,370 +15% above national
26 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $46,370 +15% above national
27 Rochester, MN $46,360 +15% above national
28 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $46,290 +15% above national
29 Napa, CA $46,230 +15% above national
30 Roanoke, VA $46,180 +15% above national
31 Fond du Lac, WI $46,140 +15% above national
32 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $46,100 +15% above national
33 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $46,060 +14% above national
34 Reading, PA $46,040 +14% above national
35 Decatur, IL $46,010 +14% above national
36 Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $45,970 +14% above national
37 Dubuque, IA $45,960 +14% above national
38 Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $45,960 +14% above national
39 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $45,930 +14% above national
40 Fargo, ND-MN $45,690 +14% above national
41 Vallejo, CA $45,660 +13% above national
42 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $45,600 +13% above national
43 Bellingham, WA $45,570 +13% above national
44 Bend, OR $45,520 +13% above national
45 St. Cloud, MN $45,480 +13% above national
46 Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $45,430 +13% above national
47 New Haven, CT $45,420 +13% above national
48 Portland-South Portland, ME $45,350 +13% above national
49 Eau Claire, WI $45,320 +13% above national
50 Greeley, CO $44,980 +12% above national
51 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $44,950 +12% above national
52 Walla Walla, WA $44,920 +12% above national
53 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $44,840 +11% above national
54 Fairbanks-College, AK $44,820 +11% above national
55 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $44,760 +11% above national
56 Syracuse, NY $44,660 +11% above national
57 Janesville-Beloit, WI $44,590 +11% above national
58 Minot, ND $44,560 +11% above national
59 Anchorage, AK $44,510 +11% above national
60 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $44,510 +11% above national
61 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $44,510 +11% above national
62 Mankato, MN $44,500 +11% above national
63 Boise City, ID $44,480 +11% above national
64 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $44,420 +10% above national
65 Kennewick-Richland, WA $44,380 +10% above national
66 Grand Island, NE $44,370 +10% above national
67 Billings, MT $44,350 +10% above national
68 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $44,350 +10% above national
69 Rockford, IL $44,200 +10% above national
70 Madison, WI $44,190 +10% above national
71 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $44,190 +10% above national
72 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $44,180 +10% above national
73 Urban Honolulu, HI $44,120 +10% above national
74 St. Joseph, MO-KS $44,100 +10% above national
75 Duluth, MN-WI $44,080 +10% above national
76 Worcester, MA $44,080 +10% above national
77 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $44,050 +9% above national
78 Green Bay, WI $44,010 +9% above national
79 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $44,000 +9% above national
80 Reno, NV $43,990 +9% above national
81 Lewiston-Auburn, ME $43,780 +9% above national
82 Burlington, NC $43,750 +9% above national
83 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $43,640 +8% above national
84 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $43,640 +8% above national
85 Appleton, WI $43,610 +8% above national
86 Grand Forks, ND-MN $43,580 +8% above national
87 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $43,550 +8% above national
88 Ann Arbor, MI $43,470 +8% above national
89 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $43,460 +8% above national
90 Wausau, WI $43,460 +8% above national
91 Tyler, TX $43,390 +8% above national
92 York-Hanover, PA $43,380 +8% above national
93 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $43,320 +8% above national
94 Cedar Rapids, IA $43,300 +8% above national
95 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $43,290 +8% above national
96 Bismarck, ND $43,260 +8% above national
97 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $43,250 +7% above national
98 Lawrence, KS $43,190 +7% above national
99 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $43,130 +7% above national
100 Springfield, MA $43,010 +7% above national
101 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $42,980 +7% above national
102 Tucson, AZ $42,940 +7% above national
103 Missoula, MT $42,900 +7% above national
104 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $42,900 +7% above national
105 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $42,800 +6% above national
106 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $42,800 +6% above national
107 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $42,790 +6% above national
108 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $42,790 +6% above national
109 Toledo, OH $42,640 +6% above national
110 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $42,590 +6% above national
111 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $42,560 +6% above national
112 Omaha, NE-IA $42,550 +6% above national
113 Lancaster, PA $42,440 +5% above national
114 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $42,390 +5% above national
115 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $42,380 +5% above national
116 Ogden, UT $42,200 +5% above national
117 Evansville, IN $42,170 +5% above national
118 Coeur d'Alene, ID $42,130 +5% above national
119 Yuba City, CA $42,050 +4% above national
120 Champaign-Urbana, IL $41,970 +4% above national
121 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $41,920 +4% above national
122 Lexington-Fayette, KY $41,910 +4% above national
123 Midland, TX $41,910 +4% above national
124 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $41,910 +4% above national
125 Winchester, VA-WV $41,910 +4% above national
126 Merced, CA $41,890 +4% above national
127 Pittsburgh, PA $41,830 +4% above national
128 St. Louis, MO-IL $41,780 +4% above national
129 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA $41,710 +4% above national
130 Kansas City, MO-KS $41,700 +4% above national
131 Utica-Rome, NY $41,650 +4% above national
132 Bangor, ME $41,600 +3% above national
133 Flagstaff, AZ $41,560 +3% above national
134 Youngstown-Warren, OH $41,540 +3% above national
135 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $41,400 +3% above national
136 Columbus, OH $41,200 +2% above national
137 Chico, CA $41,080 +2% above national
138 Colorado Springs, CO $41,080 +2% above national
139 Jacksonville, FL $41,040 +2% above national
140 Helena, MT $40,980 +2% above national
141 Ocala, FL $40,830 +1% above national
142 Elkhart-Goshen, IN $40,820 +1% above national
143 Sherman-Denison, TX $40,770 +1% above national
144 Battle Creek, MI $40,760 +1% above national
145 Ithaca, NY $40,590 +1% above national
146 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $40,550 +1% above national
147 Longview-Kelso, WA $40,510 +1% above national
148 Lincoln, NE $40,450 +1% above national
149 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $40,370 same as national
150 Salem, OR $40,360 same as national
151 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $40,330 same as national
152 Ames, IA $40,280 same as national
153 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $40,280 same as national
154 Richmond, VA $40,270 same as national
155 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $40,240 same as national
156 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $40,240 same as national
157 Santa Fe, NM $40,090 same as national
158 Logan, UT-ID $40,080 same as national
159 Manchester-Nashua, NH $40,080 same as national
160 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $40,060 same as national
161 Rochester, NY $40,050 same as national
162 Visalia, CA $39,960 1% below national
163 Salisbury, MD $39,910 1% below national
164 Great Falls, MT $39,810 1% below national
165 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $39,790 1% below national
166 Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $39,790 1% below national
167 Casper, WY $39,760 1% below national
168 Sandusky, OH $39,760 1% below national
169 St. George, UT $39,750 1% below national
170 Yakima, WA $39,710 1% below national
171 Odessa, TX $39,600 2% below national
172 Morristown, TN $39,550 2% below national
173 Monroe, MI $39,520 2% below national
174 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $39,510 2% below national
175 Huntsville, AL $39,500 2% below national
176 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $39,500 2% below national
177 Pittsfield, MA $39,450 2% below national
178 Kingston, NY $39,420 2% below national
179 Naples-Marco Island, FL $39,410 2% below national
180 Joplin, MO-KS $39,400 2% below national
181 Owensboro, KY $39,380 2% below national
182 Fresno, CA $39,310 2% below national
183 Glens Falls, NY $39,170 3% below national
184 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $39,160 3% below national
185 Salinas, CA $39,110 3% below national
186 Akron, OH $39,100 3% below national
187 Lewiston, ID-WA $39,080 3% below national
188 Kokomo, IN $39,040 3% below national
189 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $39,020 3% below national
190 Gainesville, FL $38,980 3% below national
191 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $38,940 3% below national
192 Gainesville, GA $38,930 3% below national
193 Eugene-Springfield, OR $38,920 3% below national
194 Canton-Massillon, OH $38,900 3% below national
195 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $38,850 3% below national
196 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $38,830 4% below national
197 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $38,790 4% below national
198 Lebanon, PA $38,750 4% below national
199 Traverse City, MI $38,750 4% below national
200 Binghamton, NY $38,740 4% below national
201 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $38,730 4% below national
202 Anniston-Oxford, AL $38,710 4% below national
203 Twin Falls, ID $38,690 4% below national
204 Cleveland, OH $38,680 4% below national
205 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $38,630 4% below national
206 Bay City, MI $38,610 4% below national
207 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $38,580 4% below national
208 Williamsport, PA $38,570 4% below national
209 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $38,530 4% below national
210 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $38,520 4% below national
211 Columbus, IN $38,510 4% below national
212 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $38,510 4% below national
213 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $38,490 4% below national
214 Raleigh-Cary, NC $38,470 4% below national
215 Cleveland, TN $38,460 4% below national
216 Asheville, NC $38,440 4% below national
217 Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ $38,410 5% below national
218 Gettysburg, PA $38,390 5% below national
219 Springfield, MO $38,360 5% below national
220 Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI $38,330 5% below national
221 Harrisonburg, VA $38,320 5% below national
222 Punta Gorda, FL $38,300 5% below national
223 Savannah, GA $38,250 5% below national
224 Athens-Clarke County, GA $38,210 5% below national
225 Grand Junction, CO $38,180 5% below national
226 Springfield, IL $38,160 5% below national
227 Wheeling, WV-OH $38,150 5% below national
228 Bloomington, IN $38,130 5% below national
229 Paducah, KY-IL $38,110 5% below national
230 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $38,100 5% below national
231 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $38,090 5% below national
232 Columbia, MO $38,070 5% below national
233 Iowa City, IA $38,060 5% below national
234 Rapid City, SD $38,050 5% below national
235 Bowling Green, KY $38,040 5% below national
236 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $38,000 6% below national
237 Medford, OR $37,980 6% below national
238 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $37,920 6% below national
239 Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL $37,880 6% below national
240 Killeen-Temple, TX $37,870 6% below national
241 Fort Wayne, IN $37,860 6% below national
242 Farmington, NM $37,850 6% below national
243 Chattanooga, TN-GA $37,830 6% below national
244 Johnstown, PA $37,830 6% below national
245 Michigan City-La Porte, IN $37,820 6% below national
246 Niles, MI $37,790 6% below national
247 Grants Pass, OR $37,780 6% below national
248 Corvallis, OR $37,760 6% below national
249 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $37,750 6% below national
250 Wichita, KS $37,750 6% below national
251 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $37,680 6% below national
252 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $37,660 6% below national
253 Redding, CA $37,620 7% below national
254 Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA $37,610 7% below national
255 Midland, MI $37,600 7% below national
256 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $37,600 7% below national
257 Longview, TX $37,590 7% below national
258 Saginaw, MI $37,590 7% below national
259 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $37,570 7% below national
260 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $37,560 7% below national
261 Spartanburg, SC $37,540 7% below national
262 Columbia, SC $37,530 7% below national
263 Birmingham, AL $37,500 7% below national
264 Fayetteville, NC $37,500 7% below national
265 Jonesboro, AR $37,500 7% below national
266 Muncie, IN $37,490 7% below national
267 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $37,470 7% below national
268 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $37,440 7% below national
269 Peoria, IL $37,420 7% below national
270 Terre Haute, IN $37,420 7% below national
271 Knoxville, TN $37,400 7% below national
272 Flint, MI $37,390 7% below national
273 Montgomery, AL $37,370 7% below national
274 El Centro, CA $37,350 7% below national
275 Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL $37,350 7% below national
276 Charleston, WV $37,340 7% below national
277 Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH $37,330 7% below national
278 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL $37,310 7% below national
279 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $37,310 7% below national
280 Elmira, NY $37,280 7% below national
281 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY $37,280 7% below national
282 Cheyenne, WY $37,260 7% below national
283 Albuquerque, NM $37,230 7% below national
284 Mobile, AL $37,230 7% below national
285 Charlottesville, VA $37,210 8% below national
286 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $37,210 8% below national
287 Greensboro-High Point, NC $37,190 8% below national
288 Wilmington, NC $37,160 8% below national
289 Winston-Salem, NC $37,160 8% below national
290 Macon-Bibb County, GA $37,140 8% below national
291 Kankakee, IL $37,110 8% below national
292 Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ $37,100 8% below national
293 Clarksville, TN-KY $37,070 8% below national
294 Amarillo, TX $37,060 8% below national
295 Lima, OH $37,050 8% below national
296 Dalton, GA $37,040 8% below national
297 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $37,040 8% below national
298 Oklahoma City, OK $37,010 8% below national
299 Erie, PA $36,980 8% below national
300 Tulsa, OK $36,980 8% below national
301 Altoona, PA $36,970 8% below national
302 State College, PA $36,970 8% below national
303 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $36,930 8% below national
304 Columbus, GA-AL $36,910 8% below national
305 Jackson, MS $36,910 8% below national
306 Morgantown, WV $36,900 8% below national
307 Wildwood-The Villages, FL $36,850 8% below national
308 Elizabethtown, KY $36,780 9% below national
309 Florence, SC $36,720 9% below national
310 Jackson, TN $36,710 9% below national
311 Texarkana, TX-AR $36,710 9% below national
312 Brunswick-St. Simons, GA $36,680 9% below national
313 Port St. Lucie, FL $36,670 9% below national
314 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $36,640 9% below national
315 Jackson, MI $36,620 9% below national
316 Bloomington, IL $36,610 9% below national
317 Rocky Mount, NC $36,550 9% below national
318 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $36,540 9% below national
319 Idaho Falls, ID $36,490 9% below national
320 Tuscaloosa, AL $36,480 9% below national
321 Baton Rouge, LA $36,450 9% below national
322 Vineland, NJ $36,450 9% below national
323 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL $36,430 9% below national
324 Corpus Christi, TX $36,410 10% below national
325 Jefferson City, MO $36,400 10% below national
326 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $36,380 10% below national
327 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $36,370 10% below national
328 Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA $36,360 10% below national
329 Parkersburg-Vienna, WV $36,330 10% below national
330 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $36,230 10% below national
331 Lexington Park, MD $36,220 10% below national
332 Alexandria, LA $36,190 10% below national
333 Dover, DE $36,180 10% below national
334 Lawton, OK $36,170 10% below national
335 Decatur, AL $36,160 10% below national
336 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $36,130 10% below national
337 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $36,120 10% below national
338 Pocatello, ID $36,090 10% below national
339 Sumter, SC $36,090 10% below national
340 Beckley, WV $36,080 10% below national
341 Lynchburg, VA $36,080 10% below national
342 Manhattan, KS $36,070 10% below national
343 Dothan, AL $35,960 11% below national
344 Johnson City, TN $35,930 11% below national
345 Greenville, NC $35,910 11% below national
346 Mansfield, OH $35,840 11% below national
347 Abilene, TX $35,810 11% below national
348 Lake Charles, LA $35,740 11% below national
349 Enid, OK $35,630 11% below national
350 Tallahassee, FL $35,610 12% below national
351 Yuma, AZ $35,580 12% below national
352 El Paso, TX $35,550 12% below national
353 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $35,530 12% below national
354 Hammond, LA $35,480 12% below national
355 Albany, GA $35,360 12% below national
356 College Station-Bryan, TX $35,350 12% below national
357 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $35,300 12% below national
358 Waco, TX $35,270 12% below national
359 Monroe, LA $35,260 12% below national
360 Victoria, TX $35,180 13% below national
361 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $35,160 13% below national
362 Lubbock, TX $35,130 13% below national
363 Springfield, OH $35,130 13% below national
364 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $34,970 13% below national
365 Fort Smith, AR-OK $34,810 13% below national
366 San Angelo, TX $34,790 14% below national
367 Valdosta, GA $34,770 14% below national
368 Goldsboro, NC $34,730 14% below national
369 Homosassa Springs, FL $34,680 14% below national
370 Jacksonville, NC $34,620 14% below national
371 Wichita Falls, TX $34,420 14% below national
372 Hattiesburg, MS $34,260 15% below national
373 Sebring, FL $33,690 16% below national
374 Rome, GA $33,590 17% below national
375 Las Cruces, NM $33,350 17% below national
376 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA $33,310 17% below national
377 Auburn-Opelika, AL $33,090 18% below national
378 Lafayette, LA $32,600 19% below national
379 Laredo, TX $32,480 19% below national
380 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $32,300 20% below national
381 Hot Springs, AR $32,190 20% below national
382 Gadsden, AL $31,960 21% below national
383 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $31,610 21% below national
384 Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC $31,210 22% below national
385 Eagle Pass, TX $30,690 24% below national
386 Carson City, NV $28,790 28% below national
387 Guayama, PR $25,990 35% below national
388 Arecibo, PR $25,890 36% below national
389 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $24,560 39% below national
390 Aguadilla, PR $24,540 39% below national
391 Ponce, PR $24,500 39% below national
392 Mayaguez, PR $23,570 41% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 53 (Transportation and Material Moving Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 49 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Transportation and Material Moving Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($40,240 here) and reported employment (2,950,280 jobs here).

Similar employment scale

Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand make?
The median annual salary for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand is $40,240 ($19.35/hour). The salary range spans from $31,270 at the 10th percentile to $55,140 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $40,240, Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay is higher than 12% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand the most?
Minnesota pays the highest median salary for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand at $46,280/year, which is +15% above the national median.
What education do Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand need?
BLS assigns Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand to No formal educational credential for typical education needed for entry. Typical on-the-job training assignment: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is the work for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand has a safety grade of C (Moderate Risk) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 16 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 6 per 100 workers.
Is Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand a good career?
Employment for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand is projected to grow 1.5% from 2024 to 2034, which is about as fast as average. About 384,300 openings are projected each year.
How does Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay vary by state?
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Minnesota at $46,280/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $24,560/year. BLS data covers 54 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Topeka, KS at $49,140/year. BLS reports a median for 392 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $46,920/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Minnesota leads at $46,280/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.