Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Also called: Air and Water Filler, Airport Maintenance Laborer, Aluminum Can Collector, Ash Collector, Ash Handler, Ash Pit Worker, Ash Worker, Assorter
Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor.
What laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand do
Typical tasks
- Maintain equipment storage areas to ensure that inventory is protected.
- 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.
- Install protective devices, such as bracing, padding, or strapping, to prevent shifting or damage to items being transported.
- Sort cargo before loading and unloading.
- Attach identifying tags to containers or mark them with identifying information.
- 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.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary
The median annual wage for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand is $40,240 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $31,270 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $55,140. The mean annual wage is $42,260.
The mean hourly wage of $20.00 is 2.8× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $40,240 → in 3 years $44,000 → in 5 years $46,700 → in 10 years $54,200 (10-year range $46,600–$62,900). The model assumes pay growth of +3.0% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand United States | 積卸作業員 Japan | 引越作業員 Japan | 倉庫作業員 Japan | 港湾荷役作業員 Japan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $40,240 | ¥4.07M ≈ $25,852 | ¥4.07M ≈ $25,852 | ¥4.07M ≈ $25,852 | ¥6.01M ≈ $38,234 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $54,200 | ¥5.14M | ¥5.21M | ¥5.12M | ¥7.57M |
| Outlook score | 45 | 50 | 53 | 48 | 54 |
| AI replacement risk | 33% Low | 25% Low | 6% Very low | 31% Low | 30% Low |
| Workers | 3.0M | — | — | — | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★☆☆☆☆ Easy to enter (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.