What Does it Take to Be a Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover?

Job Description: Manually move freight, stock, or other materials or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.

Life as a Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover: What Do They Do?

• Carry needed tools or supplies from storage or trucks and return them after use.
• Sort cargo before loading and unloading.
• Read work orders or receive oral instructions to determine work assignments or material or equipment needs.
• Shovel material, such as gravel, ice, or spilled concrete, into containers or bins or onto conveyors.
• Wash out cargo containers or storage areas.
• Connect electrical equipment to power sources so that it can be tested before use.

Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover Skills

Hand Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

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.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

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 Jobs

• Truck Dock Material Mover
• Sand Drier
• Bag Worker
• Floorperson
• Dock Worker

Is There Going to be Demand for Hand Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers?

In the United States, there were 2,628,400 jobs for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in 2016.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.6% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 199,700 new jobs for Hand Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers by 2026. The BLS estimates 388,400 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand are California, Texas, and Florida.

Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Vermont, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover Salary

The average yearly salary of a Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover ranges between $20,700 and $45,700. A Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover median salary is $28,260.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
District of Columbia	$50,560
Alaska	$38,950
Hawaii	$37,210
Wyoming	$35,990
Minnesota	$35,080
Washington	$34,940
North Dakota	$34,470
Massachusetts	$34,020
New York	$33,940
Wisconsin	$33,360
Rhode Island	$32,690
Maryland	$32,630
Connecticut	$32,600
Iowa	$32,530
Nebraska	$32,500
California	$32,380
Oregon	$32,170
Colorado	$32,010
Kansas	$31,800
Pennsylvania	$31,590
Nevada	$31,550
Arizona	$31,460
Missouri	$31,360
Idaho	$31,080
Michigan	$31,060
Indiana	$30,590
Texas	$30,530
Utah	$30,450
Vermont	$30,440
Montana	$30,430
New Jersey	$30,280
Illinois	$30,140
New Hampshire	$30,110
Ohio	$30,100
Kentucky	$29,720
West Virginia	$29,470
Virginia	$29,370
Florida	$29,370
Oklahoma	$29,320
Tennessee	$29,300
New Mexico	$29,260
South Carolina	$29,010
Delaware	$28,560
Maine	$28,330
Georgia	$28,140
South Dakota	$28,080
North Carolina	$27,860
Louisiana	$27,680
Alabama	$27,140
Arkansas	$26,770
Mississippi	$25,500

What Tools & Technology do Hand Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Hand Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers:

• SAP
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Microsoft Office
• Data entry software
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• IBM Notes
• Handheld computer device software
• Microsoft Outlook

How do I Become a Hand Laborer or Freight, Stock, and Material Mover?

Education 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?

Who Employs Hand Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers?

Related Careers

Those thinking about becoming Hand Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers might also be interested in the following careers:

• Food Preparation Workers

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons