Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Paying close attention to accuracy, quality, instructions, and small but important details.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Using precise hand and finger movements to control tools, equipment, or materials.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Hand Laborer or Material Mover Hand laborers and material movers learn on the job. There are usually no formal
Education
al requirements to become a hand laborer or material mover. They typically learn through on-the-job
Training
that lasts 1 month or less. Education There are no formal educational requirements to become a hand laborer or material mover. Training Hand laborers and material movers usually receive on-the-job training. Some workers might need only a few days of training, while others may need up to 1 month. New employees may shadow an experienced worker as they learn basic job duties and how to safely use equipment. Workers learn safety rules as part of their training. Many of these rules are standardized through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Some hand laborers and material movers need a state-issued license. For example, refuse and recyclable material collectors who drive trucks that exceed a certain capacity must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Obtaining a CDL requires passing written, skill, and vision tests. Information on state licensing board requirements is available from CareerOneStop.
Your Next Step
Review training, certifications, apprenticeships, or employer-based preparation that may support entry into this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Overall employment of hand laborers and material movers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 904,200 openings for hand laborers and material movers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Projected employment of hand laborers and material movers varies by occupation (see table). Hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers will still be needed to move materials in many sectors of the economy. However, some warehouses have installed equipment, such as high-speed conveyors and sorting systems, to increase efficiency. Machine feeders and offbearers’ tasks are likely to continue to be automated. The increasing ability of technology to feed and lift materials to machines is expected to lead to a decline in employment for machine feeders. Packers and packagers have fewer manual tasks as technology in warehouses and packaging facilities continues to evolve. Grocery stores, which employ many of these workers to bag groceries, may need fewer baggers as a growing number of stores implement self-checkout, order pickup, and delivery. Demand for stockers and order fillers will be supported by an increased need for workers to prepare orders for pickup or delivery. The consumer preference to buy online and pickup in-store is expected to accelerate demand for these workers who will be needed to fill a growing number of online orders. Refuse and recyclable material collectors may experience some growth as the amount of trash and recycling generated by the growing population increases. However, this growth may be constrained by efficiencies from automation and improvements to routing. Employment growth of cleaners of vehicles and equipment is expected to be tied to demand for automotive repair and maintenance services. Hand Laborers and Material Movers Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Material moving workers 4% Hand laborers and material movers 4% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Hand Laborers and Material Movers Do
Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Some of these workers feed or remove material to or from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.
Duties
Hand laborers and material movers typically do the following:
- Manually move or sort goods according to plan or schedule
- Pack or wrap products by hand
- Keep a record of the goods they move, package, or sort
- Signal machine operators to help move goods
- Clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment
In warehouses and in wholesale and retail operations, hand laborers and material movers work closely with material moving machine operators and material recording clerks. Some workers are employed in manufacturing industries, loading material onto conveyor belts or other machines.
The following are examples of types of hand laborers and material movers:
Cleaners of vehicles and equipment wash automobiles and other vehicles, as well as storage tanks, pipelines, and related machinery. They use cleaning products, hoses, and brushes. Most of these workers clean cars at a carwash, an automobile dealership, or a rental agency, so they often interact with customers. Some clean industrial equipment at manufacturing firms.
Hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers move materials to and from storage and production areas, loading docks, delivery trucks, ships, and containers. Some workers retrieve products from storage and move them to loading areas. Other workers load and unload cargo from a truck. When moving a package, these workers keep track of the package number, sometimes with a hand-held scanner, to ensure proper delivery.
Hand packers and packagers package a variety of products and materials by hand. They may label cartons, inspect items for defects, and keep records of items packed. Some of these workers pack items for shipment and move them to a loading dock. Others work in stores, bagging groceries or other purchases for customers.
Machine feeders and offbearers process materials by feeding them into equipment or by removing them from equipment. The equipment is generally operated by other workers, such as material moving machine operators. Machine feeders and offbearers help the operator if the machine becomes jammed or needs minor repairs. Machine feeders also track the amount of material they process during a shift.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors gather garbage and recyclables from homes and businesses to transport to a dump, landfill, or recycling center. Many collectors lift garbage cans by hand and empty them into their truck. Some collectors drive the garbage or recycling truck along a scheduled route and may use a hydraulic lift to empty the contents of a dumpster into the truck.
Stockers and order fillers receive, unpack, and track merchandise. Stockers move products from a stockroom or warehouse to fill shelves, racks, tables, or customers’ orders. They keep a record of items that enter or leave their location and inspect for damaged goods. Order fillers retrieve customer orders and prepare them to be shipped.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Hand laborers and material movers held about 6.9 million jobs in 2025. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up hand laborers and material movers was distributed as follows:
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand | 2,940,300 |
| Stockers and order fillers | 2,804,300 |
| Packers and packagers, hand | 555,500 |
| Cleaners of vehicles and equipment | 419,500 |
| Refuse and recyclable material collectors | 156,400 |
| Machine feeders and offbearers | 41,800 |
The largest employers of hand laborers and material movers were as follows:
| Retail trade | 35% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 22 |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 11 |
| Wholesale trade | 11 |
| Manufacturing | 10 |
Hand laborers and material movers work in stockrooms, warehouses, manufacturing plants, and other settings. They lift and carry heavy objects, and their work is usually repetitive and physically demanding. They also might need to bend, kneel, crouch, or crawl in awkward positions.
Injuries and Illnesses
Hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers and refuse and recyclable material collectors have some of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Moving heavy objects around warehouses or onto trucks, or bending while cleaning a vehicle, may lead to sprains, strains, or overexertion.
Work Schedules
Most hand laborers and material movers work full time, although part-time work is common. Work schedules vary and may include nights and weekends.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Customer-service skills. Hand laborers and material movers who work with the public, such as grocery baggers or carwash attendants, must be pleasant and courteous to customers. Detail oriented. Hand laborers and material movers must pay attention to detail when packing orders, tracking goods moved, and cleaning vehicles or equipment. Hand–eye coordination. Most hand laborers and material movers use their arms and hands to manipulate objects or move objects into specific positions. Listening skills. Hand laborers and material movers follow instructions that a supervisor gives them. Physical stamina. Hand laborers and material movers need the endurance to perform strenuous tasks, such as moving or cleaning objects, throughout the day. Physical strength. Some hand laborers and material movers must be able to lift and carry heavy objects.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about hand laborers and material movers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.