Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary in the U.S.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in the U.S. earn a median of $40,240 a year ($19.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,950,280 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,140 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $42,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,270 | $15.03 |
| 25th percentile | $36,090 | $17.35 |
| Median | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| 75th percentile | $46,920 | $22.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,140 | $26.51 |
| Average (mean) | $42,260 | $20.32 |
Half of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,353.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,676.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,547.69 |
| Weekly | $773.85 |
| Hourly | $19.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Guam | $37,670 | 460 |
| 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 |
| Virgin Islands | $31,810 | 520 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,560 | 10,410 |
Best-paying metro areas for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KS | $49,140 | 2,140 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $48,420 | 790 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $48,400 | 30,710 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $48,150 | 1,550 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $47,740 | 29,490 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $47,540 | 3,130 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $47,490 | 1,040 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $47,440 | 2,920 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $47,330 | 15,030 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $47,320 | 36,700 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $47,310 | 1,880 |
| Albany, OR | $47,150 | 1,590 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $47,130 | 1,650 |
| Pueblo, CO | $47,100 | 1,410 |
| Bozeman, MT | $47,070 | 400 |
Metro areas with the most laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 157,920 | $40,550 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 120,720 | $42,390 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 118,290 | $43,290 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 81,940 | $38,510 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 78,460 | $39,020 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 69,820 | $46,060 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 56,420 | $44,950 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 52,520 | $38,000 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 51,100 | $43,460 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 48,860 | $38,580 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 48,100 | $44,180 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 40,540 | $38,850 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 37,750 | $39,510 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 36,700 | $47,320 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 34,030 | $40,330 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,830 | $17.23 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $49,690 | $23.89 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $68,080 | $32.73 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $41,220 | $19.82 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $41,800 | $20.10 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $42,420 | $20.39 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $69,960 | $33.63 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $58,870 | $28.30 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $61,770 | $29.70 |
| Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | $77,320 | $37.17 |
| Hoist and Winch Operators | $56,450 | $27.14 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-7062. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make in the U.S.?
The median salary for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in the U.S. is $40,240 a year, or $19.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in the U.S. earn at least $55,140 a year. The top 25% earn $46,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,270 a year, and a quarter of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand earn $36,090 or less.
How many laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand work in the U.S.?
About 2,950,280 laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.