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Skilled Trades

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.

Median salary (BLS)

$40,240

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$31k – $55k

Job outlook

+2% (about average)

AI exposure

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports one wage for this occupational group, which covers 2 related roles — so read the median as an approximate group figure, and the range as the truer picture for this specific title. BLS source.

Plan a path to Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

    Entry / Junior

    $31,270

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

    Established

    $40,240

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

    Senior

    $47,690

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.