$ PaycheckDecoded

Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Salary

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand earn a median $40,240 a year nationally. Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

U.S. median
$40,240
$19.35 per hour
Range
$31,270 – $55,140
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
2,950,280
across the U.S.
▲3.3%
Pay trend: The median for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in the U.S. rose from $38,940 (May 2024) to $40,240 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 0.9%.

What laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand do

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)
Openings per year
340,500
Self-employed
1%

Employment of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand is projected to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 340,500 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$34,513
per year · effective tax rate 14.2%
$2,876Monthly
$1,438Twice a month
$1,327Every 2 weeks
$16.59Hourly
  • Federal income tax$2,649
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,495
  • Medicare (1.45%)$583
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$34,513

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$31,270$15.03$27,305
25th percentile$36,090$17.35$31,178
Median (50th)$40,240$19.35$34,513
75th percentile$46,920$22.56$39,880
90th percentile (top earners)$55,140$26.51$46,485

Best cities for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Waterloo, IA$47,440$39,147$44,9672,920
2Fargo, ND$45,690$38,892$42,7993,810
3Des Moines, IA$46,370$38,328$41,7977,000
4Louisville, KY$46,830$38,286$41,13529,400
5Chambersburg, PA$47,540$38,919$41,1223,130
6Cedar Rapids, IA$43,300$35,978$40,4412,730
7Youngstown, OH$41,540$35,197$40,2744,040
8Tyler, TX$43,390$37,044$40,1972,800
9Davenport, IA$42,980$35,733$40,1144,370
10Roanoke, VA$46,180$37,444$39,9973,100
11Toledo, OH$42,640$36,051$39,4198,120
12Green Bay, WI$44,010$36,387$39,0893,650
13Appleton, WI$43,610$36,083$39,0432,610
14Reading, PA$46,040$37,760$38,9035,280
15Burlington, NC$43,750$36,096$38,7322,660
16Rockford, IL$44,200$35,652$38,6875,940
17Omaha, NE$42,550$35,312$38,4206,870
18Kenosha, WI$46,990$38,650$38,2235,420
19Milwaukee, WI$44,840$37,017$38,18719,810
20Kalamazoo, MI$44,350$36,181$38,1503,030
21Evansville, IN$42,170$34,849$38,0753,980
22Bakersfield, CA$46,890$38,382$38,0458,440
23Indianapolis, IN$44,180$36,405$38,04248,100
24Syracuse, NY$44,660$36,250$37,8626,390
25Spokane, WA$44,510$37,944$37,8134,050

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Minnesota $46,280+1.8%$37,709 $35,750 – $61,14054,480
Washington $46,190+0.7%$39,294 $37,350 – $60,28049,450
District of Columbia $45,740+1.3%$37,354 $37,550 – $62,3901,200
North Dakota $45,690+2.4%$38,892 $34,940 – $59,0209,990
Colorado $45,370+0.4%$37,347 $36,730 – $57,18031,140
Massachusetts $44,920−0.3%$36,247 $36,470 – $58,27034,700
Oregon $44,750+3.8%$35,051 $34,820 – $58,01027,720
California $44,710+4.8%$36,746 $36,060 – $57,700355,500
New York $44,630+2.2%$36,227 $35,360 – $59,330100,950
Wisconsin $44,610+5.5%$36,842 $33,260 – $57,36070,520
Alaska $44,510−2.6%$37,944 $34,790 – $75,2804,250
Arizona $44,290+13.1%$36,869 $34,620 – $57,81071,090
Hawaii $44,120+0.2%$35,770 $34,090 – $61,1109,490
Montana $43,840+7.4%$36,102 $32,400 – $53,1603,870
Connecticut $43,640+8.6%$36,206 $35,440 – $54,49023,970
Iowa $43,490+0.3%$36,123 $32,790 – $53,62030,890
Nebraska $42,910+5.6%$35,585 $33,320 – $53,16013,870
Kentucky $42,770+2.4%$35,166 $30,890 – $49,75057,930
Maine $42,640+6.4%$34,745 $32,550 – $55,2306,120
Pennsylvania $42,480+3.2%$35,009 $32,240 – $56,280131,050
Utah $42,370+7.1%$35,284 $33,360 – $54,79029,670
New Hampshire $42,110+7.2%$36,015 $33,960 – $53,5608,340
Rhode Island $41,690+4.7%$34,731 $31,700 – $58,6906,760
Maryland $41,600+3.4%$33,993 $34,280 – $55,71047,710
Indiana $41,340+3.8%$34,207 $31,040 – $52,590103,200
Illinois $40,550+1.8%$32,899 $31,780 – $55,840195,390
Kansas $40,250+0.7%$33,075 $30,830 – $51,03023,270
Idaho $39,900+4.3%$33,233 $29,550 – $49,25015,610
New Jersey $39,540+1.3%$33,284 $33,350 – $55,94097,230
Ohio $39,460+1.2%$33,583 $30,650 – $50,760108,830
Vermont $39,390−2.7%$32,944 $30,350 – $49,1703,060
Virginia $39,380+0.4%$32,372 $31,050 – $53,70058,000
Nevada $39,350+2.4%$33,798 $33,380 – $56,69040,850
Missouri $39,080+3.0%$32,681 $30,380 – $52,52043,050
South Dakota $38,980+4.6%$33,500 $31,340 – $50,4203,820
Michigan $38,860+0.0%$32,003 $30,220 – $52,08079,410
Georgia $38,480+3.9%$31,724 $30,100 – $50,770137,580
Wyoming $38,330+0.3%$32,978 $31,130 – $53,2702,700
North Carolina $38,230+6.0%$31,881 $30,010 – $47,590116,720
Florida $38,160+3.2%$32,842 $29,960 – $48,870164,400
Tennessee $38,160+0.7%$32,842 $30,230 – $48,420105,870
Texas $37,540+1.4%$32,343 $29,250 – $50,140216,970
South Carolina $37,530+0.9%$31,241 $29,830 – $48,23056,700
Delaware $37,320−2.6%$30,772 $31,200 – $47,9205,220
New Mexico $37,230+0.6%$31,461 $28,510 – $50,62010,200
Oklahoma $36,990+2.0%$30,782 $28,840 – $47,60038,210
West Virginia $36,990+2.8%$30,903 $27,270 – $50,24011,300
Alabama $36,670+2.5%$30,076 $26,850 – $47,91036,140
Mississippi $36,400+1.3%$30,703 $27,740 – $47,28030,750
Arkansas $35,920+2.4%$29,854 $28,090 – $45,92021,430
Louisiana $35,340+6.0%$29,902 $24,150 – $46,89043,730

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Machine Feeder and Offbearer$41,220No formal educational credential-13.1%
Stocker and Order Filler$37,330No formal educational credential+8.9%
Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,280No formal educational credential-5.0%
Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment$35,830No formal educational credential+3.9%
Material Moving Workers, All Other$41,800No formal educational credential+2.7%
Conveyor Operator and Tender$42,420No formal educational credential-2.6%
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator$46,420No formal educational credential+1.5%
Dredge Operator$49,640High school diploma or equivalent+0.7%
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$49,690No formal educational credential+2.1%
Hoist and Winch Operator$56,450No formal educational credential+0.2%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make?

The national median salary for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand is $40,240 a year ($19.35 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $31,270 and the top 10% earn over $55,140. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand the most?

Minnesota has the highest median pay at $46,280. After taxes and local prices, Waterloo, IA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand are there in the U.S.?

About 2,950,280 people work as laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand nationwide.

All 164 cities