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Warehousing and Distribution
Amazon, Walmart, Target
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
These workers keep freight, stock, and recycled materials moving through warehouses, docks, production floors, and recycling yards. The work is distinct because it mixes heavy lifting, equipment use, and quick sorting with strict attention to safety and correct handling. The main tradeoff is that the job is easy to enter and has plenty of openings, but pay is modest and the work can be physically punishing.
Also known as Material HandlerWarehouse AssociateFreight HandlerDock WorkerWarehouse Laborer
Median Salary
$38,940
Mean $41,420
U.S. Workforce
~3.0M
384.3K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+1.5%
2988.9K to 3033.1K
Entry Education
No formal educational credential
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~3.0M workers, with a median annual pay of $38,940 and roughly 384.3K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 2988.9 K in 2024 to 3033.1K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with No formal educational credential, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Warehouse Helper and can progress toward Warehouse Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Forklifts, Pallet Jacks & Powered Industrial Trucks, Equipment Inspection & Safety Checks, and Conveyor, Sort Line & Load Monitoring, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Attention to Detail, and Teamwork.
Core Responsibilities
- Read work orders or listen to instructions so you know what needs to be moved and where it should go.
- Carry, push, or move freight, stock, and other materials between storage areas, loading docks, trucks, and production spaces.
- Sort items such as metal, glass, paper, wood, and plastic into the right containers for recycling or shipping.
- Use forklifts, pallet jacks, or other equipment to load heavy items onto trucks or move them across the worksite.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Read work orders or listen to instructions so you know what needs to be moved and where it should go.
02 Carry, push, or move freight, stock, and other materials between storage areas, loading docks, trucks, and production spaces.
03 Sort items such as metal, glass, paper, wood, and plastic into the right containers for recycling or shipping.
04 Use forklifts, pallet jacks, or other equipment to load heavy items onto trucks or move them across the worksite.
05 Keep storage rooms, docks, and recycling yards clean and organized so materials are easy to find and safely handled.
06 Inspect, clean, and do basic upkeep on material-handling equipment to spot problems before they cause delays or accidents.
Industries That Hire
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Manufacturing
Toyota, General Motors, Siemens
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Recycling and Waste Processing
Waste Management, Republic Services, Schnitzer Steel
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Transportation and Logistics
UPS, FedEx, Maersk
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Retail Distribution
Costco, Home Depot, Lowe's
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can get started quickly because BLS says no formal educational credential and no prior experience are typically required, with only short-term on-the-job training.
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There are a lot of openings: the occupation is projected to have 384.3K annual openings, mostly from people leaving the field and jobs turning over.
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The work stays active, which appeals to people who would rather move than sit at a desk all day.
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The same core skills transfer across warehouses, factories, ports, and recycling facilities, so you are not locked into one single setting.
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A reliable worker can move up into lead or supervisor roles, especially by learning forklift operation and basic equipment care.
Challenges
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The pay is not especially strong for the physical effort: the median annual wage is $38,940 and the mean is only $41,420.
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Growth is very modest at 1.5% through 2034, so the field is not expanding fast and many openings are replacements rather than new jobs.
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The work is hard on the body because it often involves repeated lifting, bending, carrying, and long periods on your feet.
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Schedules can be tough, with early mornings, nights, weekends, and peak-season rushes common in warehouses and shipping operations.
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Automation and equipment upgrades can reduce demand for the simplest manual sorting and loading work, so workers often need forklift or equipment skills to stay competitive.
Career Progression
Warehouse Helper
0-1 years
$30K-$34K
New workers learn basic safety, cleanup, and how to move supplies without damaging goods or equipment.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
1-3 years
$35K-$43K
Workers handle the core loading, unloading, sorting, and moving tasks that keep the operation running.
Lead Material Handler THIS ROLE
3-5 years
$44K-$51K
Experienced workers tackle heavier assignments, check work quality, and help train newer team members.
Warehouse Shift Lead
5-8 years
$52K-$61K
Shift leads assign tasks, keep freight moving on schedule, and solve bottlenecks on the floor or dock.
Warehouse Supervisor
8+ years
$62K-$78K
Supervisors manage crews, enforce safety rules, and coordinate workflow with shipping, receiving, or production teams.
Education Paths
No formal educational credential
BLS lists this as the typical entry point, so many workers start without a degree or certificate.
High school diploma or GED
This is the most common background in O*NET, with 74.12% of workers in the role holding a high school diploma.
Associate degree or other two-year degree
A smaller share of workers, 7.28%, have an associate's degree or other two-year degree, which can help for equipment-heavy or lead roles.
Forklift certification or short-term warehouse training
This is a practical alternative for job seekers who want to stand out, especially for jobs that rely on powered industrial trucks and dock equipment.
Key Skills
Technical
Forklifts, Pallet Jacks & Powered Industrial Trucks 60%
Equipment Inspection & Safety Checks 59%
Conveyor, Sort Line & Load Monitoring 59%
Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) & RF Scanners 57%
Material Sorting & Inventory Staging 56%
Basic Equipment Cleaning, Lubrication & Minor Repairs 54%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningAttention to DetailTeamworkClear CommunicationCoordinationFollowing Instructions Job Outlook and Trends
+1.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
384.3K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 2988.9K to 3033.1 K over the next decade, representing 1.5% growth. Around 384.3 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.