How much does a laborer and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make?
The median laborer and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in the United States earns $40,240 per year, about $19.35 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 53-7062.
Laborer and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary range
Pay for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $31,270 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $55,140. The average (mean) wage of $42,260 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,270 | $15.03 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $36,090 | $17.35 | |
| Median (50th) | $40,240 | $19.35 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $46,920 | $22.56 | |
| 90th percentile | $55,140 | $26.51 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand (SOC 53-7062), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Laborer and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand earn the most in Minnesota at $46,280 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $35,340. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $46,280 | 54,480 |
| Washington | $46,190 | 49,450 |
| District of Columbia | $45,740 | 1,200 |
| North Dakota | $45,690 | 9,990 |
| Colorado | $45,370 | 31,140 |
| Massachusetts | $44,920 | 34,700 |
| Oregon | $44,750 | 27,720 |
| California | $44,710 | 355,500 |
| New York | $44,630 | 100,950 |
| Wisconsin | $44,610 | 70,520 |
| Alaska | $44,510 | 4,250 |
| Arizona | $44,290 | 71,090 |
| Hawaii | $44,120 | 9,490 |
| Montana | $43,840 | 3,870 |
| Connecticut | $43,640 | 23,970 |
| Iowa | $43,490 | 30,890 |
| Nebraska | $42,910 | 13,870 |
| Kentucky | $42,770 | 57,930 |
| Maine | $42,640 | 6,120 |
| Pennsylvania | $42,480 | 131,050 |
| Utah | $42,370 | 29,670 |
| New Hampshire | $42,110 | 8,340 |
| Rhode Island | $41,690 | 6,760 |
| Maryland | $41,600 | 47,710 |
| Indiana | $41,340 | 103,200 |
| Illinois | $40,550 | 195,390 |
| Kansas | $40,250 | 23,270 |
| Idaho | $39,900 | 15,610 |
| New Jersey | $39,540 | 97,230 |
| Ohio | $39,460 | 108,830 |
| Vermont | $39,390 | 3,060 |
| Virginia | $39,380 | 58,000 |
| Nevada | $39,350 | 40,850 |
| Missouri | $39,080 | 43,050 |
| South Dakota | $38,980 | 3,820 |
| Michigan | $38,860 | 79,410 |
| Georgia | $38,480 | 137,580 |
| Wyoming | $38,330 | 2,700 |
| North Carolina | $38,230 | 116,720 |
| Florida | $38,160 | 164,400 |
| Tennessee | $38,160 | 105,870 |
| Texas | $37,540 | 216,970 |
| South Carolina | $37,530 | 56,700 |
| Delaware | $37,320 | 5,220 |
| New Mexico | $37,230 | 10,200 |
| Oklahoma | $36,990 | 38,210 |
| West Virginia | $36,990 | 11,300 |
| Alabama | $36,670 | 36,140 |
| Mississippi | $36,400 | 30,750 |
| Arkansas | $35,920 | 21,430 |
| Louisiana | $35,340 | 43,730 |
State median wages for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand (SOC 53-7062), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
The BLS projects employment of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035. That is slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 2,940,300 jobs in 2025 moving toward 2,991,900 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 340,500 openings a year for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a laborer and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
The typical entry-level education for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a laborer and freight, stock, and material movers, hand earns
Route type, employer, endorsements, and hours behind the wheel drive pay. Long-haul, specialized freight, and union employers tend to sit at the top of the range, while local and entry-level roles start lower.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Minnesota, $46,280) and the lowest (Louisiana, $35,340) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 2,950,280 people work as laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in the United States. At $40,240 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Laborer and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary FAQ
How much does a laborer and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a laborer and freight, stock, and material movers, hand is $19.35. The middle half of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand earn between $17.35 and $22.56 per hour.
What is the highest laborer and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand earn more than $55,140 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a laborer and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make a year?
The median annual salary for a laborer and freight, stock, and material movers, hand is $40,240. The average (mean) wage of $42,260 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a laborer and freight, stock, and material movers, hand a well paid job?
At $40,240 a year, a laborer and freight, stock, and material movers, hand earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 2,950,280 people work as laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in the United States.
Which state pays laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand the most?
Minnesota has the highest median salary for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand at $46,280 a year. Washington ($46,190) and District of Columbia ($45,740) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a laborer and freight, stock, and material movers, hand a good career?
Employment of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand is projected to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 340,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a laborer and freight, stock, and material movers, hand?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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