Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.

Also called: Laborer, Loader, Material Handler, Merchandise Pick Up Associate, Merchandise Receiving Associate, Receiver, Receiving Associate, Shipping and Receiving Materials Handler, Warehouse Worker, Air and Water Filler, Airport Maintenance Laborer, Aluminum Can Collector, Ash Collector, Ash Handler, Ash Pit Worker, Ash Worker, Assorter, Bag Turner, Bag Worker, Baggageman, Bagger, Bagger Helper, Bale Opener, Bale Piler, Bale Stacker, Banana Carrier, Banana Handler, Banana Loader, Bandoleer Straightener Stamper, Barge Shore Hand, Barrel Handler, Barrel Loader, Barrow Worker, Basin Cleaner, Battery Stacker, Beef Selector, Bellows Assembler, Billet Straightener, Billet Worker, Bleeder, Blender Laborer, Block Piler, Block Stacker, Bolt Loader, Bottomer, Box Car Bracer, Box Car Loader, Box Worker, Boxer, Bridge and Building Gang Worker (B and B Gang Worker), Bridge Gang Worker, Bridge Maintainer, Buggyman, Bulk Loader, Bull Gang Worker, Bundle Collector, Bundle Helper, Bundler, Cable Puller, Caddy, Cager, Canvas Shrinker, Car Blocker, Car Bracer, Car Dumper Operator Helper, Car Icer, Car Knocker, Car Loader, Car Packer, Car Pincher, Car Precooler, Car Storer, Car Stower, Car Unloader, Car Worker, Carboy Filler, Cargo Bracer, Cargo Handler, Cargo Station Worker, Cargo Trimmer, Cargo Worker, Cart Attendant, Cart Pusher, Casting Chipper, Casting House Laborer, Chainer, Chute Loader, Circus Hand, Circus Laborer, Circus Roustabout, Clay Carrier, Coal Bagger, Coal Carrier, Coal Chute Worker, Coal Hiker, Coal Loader, Coal Passer, Coal Shoveler, Coal Trimmer, Coal Wheeler, Coke Worker, Commissary Assistant, Concrete Mixing Plant Laborer, Container Maker, Cooler Man, Cooler Worker, Core Finisher, Corn Detasseler, Cotton Baler, Cotton Jammer, Cream Dumper, Dairy Hand, Dairy Worker, Defroster, Delivery Clerk, Delivery Helper, Detasseler, Disassembler, Dismantler, Distillery Laborer, Distillery Worker, Ditch Cleaner, Ditch Worker, Dock Hand, Dock Laborer, Dock Worker, Dolly Pusher, Dollyman, Dredge Hand, Driver Helper, Dry Kiln Worker, Dumper, Electroplating Laborer, Engine Monitor, Engine Watchman, Feed Handler, Ferryboat Operator Helper, Fertilizer Loader, Filling Carrier, Filling Hand, Filling Hauler, Film Loader, Firewood Cutter, Flapper, Flask Carrier, Flask Handler, Flask Pusher, Fleet Service Agent, Floor Helper, Floorhand, Floorperson, Fly Worker, Flyer, Food Selector, Foundry Hand, Freezer Unloader, Freezer Worker, Freezing Room Worker, Freight Car Loader, Freight Handler, Freight Hustler, Freight Loader, Freight Sorter, Freight Unloader, Fringer, Frozen Food Selector, Furniture Mover, Furniture Mover Helper, Gaggerman, Gandy Dancer, Gang Plank Workman, Glass Carrier, Glass Handler, Glaze Carrier, Globe Changer, Glove Former, Glove Turner, Gold Leaf Laborer, Grain Handler, Grain Scooper, Grain Shoveler, Grain Trimmer, Grave Digger, Grip, Grocery Bagger, Grocery Caddy, Grocery Carrier, Grocery Sacker, Guideman, Gum Puller, Hangar Attendant, Hatch Tender, Hide Selector, Hide Shaker, Hoisting Laborer, Hold Worker, Hooker, Hookman, Hostler, Hot Box Operator, Hot Plate Plywood Press Laborer, Houseman, Iceman, Icer, Iron Carrier, Iron Handler, Iron Piler, Jacket Changer, Jackman, Kiln Hand, Laundry Laborer, Leaf Tier, Leather Roller, Lifter, Line Palletizer, Line Service Attendant, Line Tender, Lines Tender, Linseed Oil Order Filler, Load Puller, Loader Helper, Loader Operator (Loader Op), Loading Dock Hand, Locker Attendant, Locker Plant Attendant, Log Pond Worker, Log Roller, Longshoreman, Lot Associate, Lugger, Lumber Carrier, Lumber Handler, Lumber Material Handler, Lumber Mover, Lumber Piler, Lumber Stacker, Lumber Yard Worker, Lumberman, Lumper, Manufacturing Laborer, Material Carrier, Material Chaser, Material Handler Floorperson, Material Loader, Material Mover, Materials Handler, Meat Selector, Merchandise Carrier, Merchandise Collector, Metal Grader, Metal Handler, Metal Loader, Metal Sorter, Microphone Boom Operator (Microphone Boom Op), Milk Handler, Mold Breaker, Mold Swabber, Motion Picture Set Grip, Motion Picture Set-Up Worker, Motion Picture Sets, Studios, and Stages Set-Up Worker, Motor Power Connector, Mover, Mover Helper, Moving Worker, Mucker, Munitions Handler, Newspaper Stuffer, Odd Job Laborer, Oil Extractor, Ore Puncher, Oven Loader, Package Collector, Package Handler, Package Sorter, Package Worker, Packing Floor Worker, Packing House Laborer, Paper Handler, Paper Stacker, Paper Stripper, Parcel Carrier, Parts Runner, Pattern Carrier, Piano Mover, Pier Laborer, Pig Handler, Piler, Pipe Stripper, Pipelines Laborer, Pipeman, Pit Shoveler, Pitcher, Platform Loader, Platform Worker, Potato Loader, Poultry Offal Icer, Poultry Offal Worker, Pourer, Powerhouse Laborer, Priming Mixture Carrier, Produce Clerk, Produce Runner, Prop Attendant, Prop Worker, Property Worker, Puller, Puncher, Rag Cutter, Rag Grader, Rag Sorter, Ragman, Ramp Agent, Recording Studio Setup Worker, Refrigerator Mover, Rod Piler, Rod Straightener, Roll Carrier, Rope Cleaner, Roustabout, Sack Cleaner, Sack Filler, Sack Lifter, Sacker, Salt Lifter, Salvage Worker, Sand Car Worker, Sand Carrier, Sand Drier, Sand Mixer, Sand Screener, Sand Shoveler, Sand Wheeler, Scavenger, Scene Shifter, Scrap Carrier, Scrap Collector, Scrap Iron Loader, Scrap Picker, Screener, Seed Trucker, Selector, Service Attendant, Setter Helper, Shackler, Shaver, Sheep Sorter, Shelf Stocker, Shellfish Processing Laborer, Shingle Carrier, Ship Fastener, Shipping and Receiving Material Handler, Shoveler, Sign Poster, Skating Rink Ice Maker, Skid Strapper, Skid Wrapper, Skin Piler, Slag Dumper, Slag Worker, Slip Box Changer, Snow Shoveler, Snubber, Sorter, Spike Driver, Spiker, Spreader, Stabber, Stacker, Stage Hand, Stage Set-Up Worker, Stagehand, Steel Handler, Steel Pickler, Steel Unloader, Stevedore, Stevedores, Stock Clerk, Stock Counter, Stock Driver, Stock Handler, Stock Handler Floorperson, Stock Handler Helper, Stock Mover, Stock Puller, Stock Replenisher, Stocker, Stockroom Helper, Storeroom Clerk, Street Cleaner, Street Light Cleaner, Street Light Lamp Cleaner, Street Sweeper, Striker, Studio Grip, Studio Set-Up Worker, Stuffer, Supplies Packer, Tandem Mill Sticker, Tar Worker, Tent Worker, Terminal Worker, Theater Technician (Theater Tech), Tie Layer, Tie Loader, Tie Tamper, Timber Cutter, Tin Stacker, Tissue Packer, Tombstone Erector, Tombstone Setter, Tool Carrier, Tool Chaser, Track Fitter, Track Greaser, Track Sweeper, Track Walker, Track Worker, Tractor Trailer Moving Van Driver Helper, Tree Girdler, Trestle Maintenance Laborer, Trestleman, Trimmer, Trimmer Loader, Truck Bracer, Truck Dock Material Mover, Truck Driver Helper, Truck Loader and Unloader, Truck Packer, Truck Striker, Trucker, Truckman, Unloader, Unloading and Loading Line Service Attendant, Van Driver Helper, Van Loader, Vat House Laborer, Vault Person, Vegetable Handler, Warehouse Assistant, Warehouse Associate, Warehouse Attendant, Warehouse Clerk, Warehouse Hand, Warehouse Helper, Warehouse Laborer, Warehouse Loader, Warehouse Material Handler, Warehouse Package Handler, Warehouse Selector, Warehouse Shift Manager, Warehouseman, Water Attendant, Water Carrier, Waxer, Weight Shifter, Wharf Laborer, Wharf Tender, Wharf Worker, Wheel Roller, Wheeler, Wood Chopper, Wood Cutter, Wood Sawyer, Wrecker, Yard Cleaner, Yard Laborer, Yard Person, Yardman, Yeast Pusher

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

Maintain equipment storage areas to ensure that inventory is protected.
Read work orders or receive oral instructions to determine work assignments or material or equipment needs.
Move freight, stock, or other materials to and from storage or production areas, loading docks, delivery vehicles, ships, or containers, by hand or using trucks, tractors, or other equipment.

Skills, machines and equipment

Coordination
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Monitoring
Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control
Time Management
Critical Thinking
Social Perceptiveness
Judgment and Decision Making
Writing

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Some College Courses (0.58% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

36,090–46,920 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 53-7062.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop inventory, scheduling, planning, and supply-chain analysis experience; explore coordinator, planner, or logistics-lead responsibilities.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Some College Courses (0.58% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand