Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Salary in District of Columbia
Hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers in District of Columbia earned a median of $45,740 a year ($21.99 an hour) and a mean of $49,250 in May 2025. The median is 13.7% above the U.S. median of $40,240, ranking 3rd of 54 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $45,740
- Median hourly
- $21.99
- Mean annual
- $49,250
- Jobs on record
- 1,200
Grey needle: U.S. median, $40,240 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does District of Columbia compare on pay for hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers?
District of Columbia ranks 3rd of 54 states and territories. Minnesota is highest at $46,280, $540 more than the District of Columbia median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 1 | $46,280 | +15% | 54,480 |
| Washington | 2 | $46,190 | +15% | 49,450 |
| District of Columbia | 3 | $45,740 | +14% | 1,200 |
| North Dakota | 4 | $45,690 | +14% | 9,990 |
| Colorado | 5 | $45,370 | +13% | 31,140 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 54 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does District of Columbia pay go further after prices?
Prices in District of Columbia run 9.9% above the U.S. average, so the $45,740 median buys about what $41,619 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $40,240 U.S. median. On this measure District of Columbia ranks 26th of 51, down from 3rd before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in District of Columbia pay hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers the most?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is highest at $42,590, 6.9% below the District of Columbia median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $42,590 | 28,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in District of Columbia is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers work in District of Columbia?
BLS counts 1,200 jobs in District of Columbia, 0.04% of the 2,950,280 in the U.S. That is the 52nd largest count among the 54 states and territories with a published figure. That is 1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in District of Columbia, a location quotient of 0.09: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.09 times its national share, so it is less concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the District of Columbia minimum wage compare with pay for hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers in District of Columbia was $18.05 in May 2025, $0.35 below the $18.40 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in District of Columbia
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.