All About Hand Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers
Job Description: Manually move freight, stock, or other materials or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.
Daily Life Of a Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover
- Direct spouts and position receptacles, such as bins, carts, or containers, so they can be loaded.
- Carry out general yard duties, such as performing shunting on railway lines.
- Record numbers of units handled or moved, using daily production sheets or work tickets.
- Maintain equipment storage areas to ensure that inventory is protected.
- Shovel material, such as gravel, ice, or spilled concrete, into containers or bins or onto conveyors.
- Adjust or replace equipment parts, such as rollers, belts, plugs, or caps, using hand tools.
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Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover Required Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Hand Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers say are important on the job.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Types of Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover
- Engine Watchman
- Food Selector
- Loader
- Stocker
- Stuffer
Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover Employment Estimates
There were about 2,628,400 jobs for Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 199,700 new jobs for Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover by 2026. There will be an estimated 388,400 positions for Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover per year.

The states with the most job growth for Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover are Utah, Nevada, and South Carolina. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Alaska, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover Make?
The typical yearly salary for Hand Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers is somewhere between $20,700 and $45,700.

Hand Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers who work in District of Columbia, Alaska, or Minnesota, make the highest salaries.
How much do Hand Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $27,140 |
Alaska | $38,950 |
Arizona | $31,460 |
Arkansas | $26,770 |
California | $32,380 |
Colorado | $32,010 |
Connecticut | $32,600 |
Delaware | $28,560 |
District of Columbia | $50,560 |
Florida | $29,370 |
Georgia | $28,140 |
Hawaii | $37,210 |
Idaho | $31,080 |
Illinois | $30,140 |
Indiana | $30,590 |
Iowa | $32,530 |
Kansas | $31,800 |
Kentucky | $29,720 |
Louisiana | $27,680 |
Maine | $28,330 |
Maryland | $32,630 |
Massachusetts | $34,020 |
Michigan | $31,060 |
Minnesota | $35,080 |
Mississippi | $25,500 |
Missouri | $31,360 |
Montana | $30,430 |
Nebraska | $32,500 |
Nevada | $31,550 |
New Hampshire | $30,110 |
New Jersey | $30,280 |
New Mexico | $29,260 |
New York | $33,940 |
North Carolina | $27,860 |
North Dakota | $34,470 |
Ohio | $30,100 |
Oklahoma | $29,320 |
Oregon | $32,170 |
Pennsylvania | $31,590 |
Rhode Island | $32,690 |
South Carolina | $29,010 |
South Dakota | $28,080 |
Tennessee | $29,300 |
Texas | $30,530 |
Utah | $30,450 |
Vermont | $30,440 |
Virginia | $29,370 |
Washington | $34,940 |
West Virginia | $29,470 |
Wisconsin | $33,360 |
Wyoming | $35,990 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Hand Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Hand Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Data entry software
- SAP
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Spreadsheet software
- IBM Notes
- Microsoft Publisher
- Inventory tracking software
- Handheld computer device software
- Palm OS
- Machine control software
- Oracle
How do I Become a Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover?
What education is needed to be a Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover?

What work experience do I need to become a Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover?

Where Hand Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers Are Employed

The table below shows the approximate number of Hand Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers employed by various industries.

Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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