Occupation · SOC 53-7062
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.
Median wage
$38,940
$30,810–$53,180
Projected growth
+1.5%
Slower than average
Annual openings
4,430
per year
Employed (US)
2,982,530
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
6 mapped
Core skills
CoordinationActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionMonitoringTime ManagementOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessJudgment and Decision MakingWritingInstructingManagement of Personnel ResourcesLearning StrategiesTroubleshootingSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisService OrientationQuality Control AnalysisPersuasionNegotiationMathematicsComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningRepairingManagement of Material ResourcesEquipment MaintenanceEquipment SelectionTechnology DesignManagement of Financial ResourcesOperations AnalysisScienceProgrammingInstallation
Knowledge areas
Administration and ManagementCustomer and Personal ServicePublic Safety and SecurityTransportationProduction and ProcessingMathematicsEnglish LanguagePersonnel and Human ResourcesAdministrativeEducation and TrainingEconomics and AccountingComputers and ElectronicsPhysicsMechanicalSales and MarketingPsychologyLaw and GovernmentEngineering and TechnologyChemistryFood ProductionBuilding and ConstructionGeographyForeign LanguageTelecommunicationsDesignCommunications and MediaBiologyTherapy and CounselingPhilosophy and TheologyMedicine and DentistrySociology and AnthropologyHistory and ArcheologyFine Arts
Technology & tools
Apple SafariAutodesk AutoCADData entry softwareFaceTimeGoogle DocsHandheld computer device softwareIBM NotesInventory management systemsInventory tracking softwareMachine control softwareMicrosoft EdgeMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PublisherMicrosoft WordMozilla FirefoxOracle DatabaseSAP softwareSpreadsheet softwareWarehouse management system WMS
Representative tasks
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsGetting InformationHandling and Moving ObjectsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesTraining and Teaching OthersCoaching and Developing OthersEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsDeveloping and Building TeamsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationAssisting and Caring for OthersOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersProcessing InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleThinking CreativelySelling or Influencing OthersScheduling Work and ActivitiesDocumenting/Recording InformationControlling Machines and ProcessesAnalyzing Data or InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersWorking with ComputersStaffing Organizational UnitsRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentPerforming Administrative ActivitiesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Oral instructions and work orders — read and interpret under direct supervision to identify assigned tasks and material needs on a warehouse floor.Hand trucks and dollies — operate under close guidance to move freight and stock between storage areas and loading docks.Basic storage areas — maintain organization and cleanliness under supervisor direction to protect inventory from damage.Personal protective equipment — select and wear correctly at the start of each shift in compliance with workplace safety protocols.Static and trunk strength — apply safely when lifting and carrying boxes up to posted weight limits on a distribution center floor.Inventory labels and barcodes — scan and verify using handheld devices under supervision to support accurate stock records.Loading dock procedures — follow step-by-step protocols to assist in receiving and staging incoming freight shipments.Near vision and selective attention — use to detect damaged goods or mislabeled packages during routine sorting tasks.Team coordination — participate cooperatively with co-workers when moving large or heavy items that require multi-person handling.Inventory management software — enter basic data under guidance to log received or relocated stock in a warehouse system.
developing
Work orders and oral instructions — interpret and execute independently to determine material assignments and prioritize daily tasks in a busy freight facility.Forklifts and pallet jacks — operate with reduced oversight to transport freight, stock, and materials between production areas, storage, and delivery vehicles.Equipment storage areas — inspect and maintain on a recurring schedule to ensure inventory protection and compliance with organization standards.Multilimb coordination — apply consistently when simultaneously steering material-moving equipment and managing load stability on warehouse ramps.Repetitive lifting and carrying tasks — complete full shift workloads using proper body mechanics to sustain stamina across extended work periods.Damaged or misplaced inventory — identify and report using deductive reasoning when conducting routine stock checks in a storage area.Customer and delivery driver interactions — respond to questions and direct them appropriately, demonstrating basic customer and personal service skills.Inventory management software — update stock movement records routinely and flag discrepancies for supervisor review in a warehouse database.Safety and security protocols — follow and reinforce among peers when loading or unloading vehicles to reduce injury and loss risk.Extent flexibility and manual dexterity — use to repackage, sort, and stack varied freight sizes within confined storage spaces efficiently.
proficient
Complex work orders and multi-stop delivery manifests — interpret and execute autonomously, coordinating material flow across a full shift without supervisory input.Forklifts, tractors, and specialized material-moving equipment — operate across the full range of warehouse and dock environments to meet throughput targets.Equipment storage layout — design and maintain to maximize inventory protection, accessibility, and safety in a high-volume distribution center.Non-routine freight situations — assess and resolve, such as overweight loads, damaged containers, or routing errors, using sound deductive reasoning.Mathematical calculations for load weights and quantities — perform accurately to ensure vehicle load limits and inventory counts are correct.Transportation regulations and public safety standards — apply consistently when staging, loading, and securing freight for over-road or intermodal shipment.Inventory management and industrial control software — use proficiently to track material movements, generate reports, and reconcile stock discrepancies.New team members — guide through safe equipment operation and material handling procedures, modeling dependability and attention to detail on the floor.Stamina and sustained physical performance — maintain across multiple consecutive shifts during peak-volume periods in a freight processing facility.Cross-functional coordination — collaborate with shipping, receiving, and production teams to ensure uninterrupted material flow and on-time order fulfillment.
advanced
Material handling workflows and storage strategies — design and implement at organizational scale to improve throughput and reduce freight damage across a facility.Safety and security policies — develop and enforce for a full distribution operation, ensuring compliance with public safety regulations and reducing incident rates.Team of laborers and material movers — lead, schedule, and mentor to build a high-performing, dependable workforce in a large freight or logistics environment.Inventory management systems and software tools — select, configure, and champion adoption of across a warehouse operation to improve accuracy and efficiency.Production and processing bottlenecks — diagnose and resolve at the operational level by analyzing workflow data and realigning labor and equipment resources.Training programs for safe material handling and equipment operation — develop and deliver to onboard new employees and upskill existing staff facility-wide.Vendor, carrier, and internal stakeholder relationships — manage to optimize freight scheduling, reduce delays, and align transportation resources with business needs.Administration and management principles — apply to budget labor costs, track KPIs, and report operational performance to facility leadership.Emergency response and contingency plans — establish and lead for scenarios such as equipment failure, freight loss, or safety incidents on the dock or floor.Continuous improvement initiatives — champion using performance data and worker feedback to raise standards of coordination, integrity, and operational excellence across the site.
Also known as
469 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Air and Water FillerAirport Maintenance LaborerAluminum Can CollectorAsh CollectorAsh HandlerAsh Pit WorkerAsh WorkerAssorterBag TurnerBag WorkerBaggagemanBaggerBagger HelperBale OpenerBale PilerBale StackerBanana CarrierBanana HandlerBanana LoaderBandoleer Straightener StamperBarge Shore HandBarrel HandlerBarrel LoaderBarrow WorkerBasin CleanerBattery StackerBeef SelectorBellows AssemblerBillet StraightenerBillet WorkerBleederBlender LaborerBlock PilerBlock StackerBolt LoaderBottomerBox Car BracerBox Car LoaderBox WorkerBoxer