Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Salary in Washington, DC
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $42,590 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,012 take-home, or $2,918 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,931
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,641
- Medicare (1.45%)$618
- District of Columbia income tax$1,389
- Take-home pay$35,012
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
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 Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,290 | $16.97 | $29,584 | $2,465 |
| 25th percentile | $37,490 | $18.02 | $31,220 | $2,602 |
| Median (50th) | $42,590 | $20.48 | $35,012 | $2,918 |
| 75th percentile | $47,430 | $22.80 | $38,610 | $3,218 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,190 | $26.53 | $44,380 | $3,698 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,590 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand's $35,012 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,155 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand jobs are less concentrated in Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.48), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #147 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 |
| 147 | Washington, DC | $42,590 | $35,012 | $32,155 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make in Washington, DC?
The median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $42,590 a year, or about $20.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,490 and $47,430.
What is a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $42,590 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $35,012 a year ($2,918 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,389 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $40,240. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,155 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #147 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 Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 68% 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%.
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