Occupations · Transportation and Material Moving
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.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 53-7062.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 95% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $40,030 | 146,710 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $39,200 | 128,800 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $41,270 | 122,030 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $38,290 | 80,360 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $37,700 | 78,350 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $44,970 | 75,620 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $39,630 | 57,320 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $37,600 | 52,970 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $42,300 | 52,930 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $37,290 | 49,710 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | $41,680 | 46,530 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $36,720 | 41,320 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: No formal educational credential · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- 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.
- Assemble product containers or crates, using hand tools and precut lumber.
- Adjust controls to guide, position, or move equipment, such as cranes, booms, or cameras.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2024-08
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2024-08
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
Tasks O*NET flags as emerging
- Inspect products for damage or leaks.
O*NET 30.3 emerging tasks
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning.
Now listed 12
No longer listed 2
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| stevedore | 9333.6 | broader |
| materials handler | 9333.3 | broader |
| mover | 9333.4 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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