Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.

Most hand laborers and material movers work full time. Because materials are shipped around the clock, some workers, especially those in warehousing, work overnight shifts.

Formal education is not usually required to become a hand laborer or material mover. Employers typically require only that applicants be physically able to perform the work.

The median annual wage for hand laborers and material movers was $24,090 in May 2015.

Employment of hand laborers and material movers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Job prospects should be very good because of the need to replace workers who leave these occupations.

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for hand laborers and material movers.

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of hand laborers and material movers with similar occupations.

Learn more about hand laborers and material movers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.