Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Salary in Reading, PA
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median $46,040 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,760 take-home, or $3,147 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in Reading, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,345
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,854
- Medicare (1.45%)$668
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,413
- Take-home pay$37,760
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay by experience in Reading, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,410 | $17.02 | $29,545 | $2,462 |
| 25th percentile | $37,960 | $18.25 | $31,515 | $2,626 |
| Median (50th) | $46,040 | $22.13 | $37,760 | $3,147 |
| 75th percentile | $50,510 | $24.28 | $41,214 | $3,435 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,370 | $26.62 | $44,970 | $3,747 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,040 buys in Reading, PA
Prices in Reading, PA are 2.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 15% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand's $37,760 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,903 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Reading, PA has 1.6× the national concentration of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand, adjusted for cost of living
Reading, PA ranks #14 of 164 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waterloo, IA | $47,440 | $39,147 | $44,967 |
| 2 | Fargo, ND | $45,690 | $38,892 | $42,799 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $46,370 | $38,328 | $41,797 |
| 4 | Louisville, KY | $46,830 | $38,286 | $41,135 |
| 5 | Chambersburg, PA | $47,540 | $38,919 | $41,122 |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $43,300 | $35,978 | $40,441 |
| 7 | Youngstown, OH | $41,540 | $35,197 | $40,274 |
| 8 | Tyler, TX | $43,390 | $37,044 | $40,197 |
| 14 | Reading, PA | $46,040 | $37,760 | $38,903 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 164 metros →
About the job: laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.8% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salaries elsewhere in Pennsylvania
- Chambersburg, PA — $47,540
- Scranton, PA — $42,900
- York, PA — $43,380
- Pittsburgh, PA — $41,830
- Harrisburg, PA — $43,640
- Lancaster, PA — $42,440
- Allentown, PA — $42,380
- Philadelphia, PA — $43,460
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make in Reading, PA?
The median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in the Reading, PA metro area is $46,040 a year, or about $22.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,960 and $50,510.
What is a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s take-home pay in Reading, PA?
On the median $46,040 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $37,760 a year ($3,147 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,413 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Reading, PA a good place to work as a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $40,240. Local prices are 2.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,903 would in a typical U.S. city. Reading, PA ranks #14 of 164 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand afford rent in Reading, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Reading, PA is $1,237 a month ($1,575 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Reading, PA
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,480
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,990