Material Moving Workers earn $39,000 median – pay, requirements, and outlook for 7.8 million jobs
Material Moving Workers earn a median annual salary of $39,000, with a mean of $41,810, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That works out to roughly $19 per hour. The lowest 10% take home about $30,520, while the top 10% earn up to $56,400. With 7,823,240 people employed in this occupation, it's one of the largest in the U.S. economy.
How much Material Moving Workers earn
The median wage for Material Moving Workers is $39,000 per year. Half of workers earn less than that, half more. The typical range runs from $30,520 at the 10th percentile to $56,400 at the 90th percentile. Mean hourly pay is $19, though actual rates vary by industry and location.
Pay tends to be higher in unionized settings like warehouses or transportation hubs. Overtime is common in this line of work, so actual take-home can exceed the base figures for those putting in extra hours.
Pay by state
State-level pay data for Material Moving Workers is limited. The BLS does not publish specific highest- and lowest-paying states for this occupation. That said, wages generally align with regional cost of living and local industry demand. States with large logistics hubs, such as California, Texas, and Florida, employ the most workers.
How to become a Material Moving Worker
Most material moving positions require no formal education beyond a high school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training is the norm, lasting from a few days to a month depending on the complexity of equipment. Workers who operate powered industrial trucks, like forklifts, need OSHA-compliant certification, often provided by employers.
- Get a high school diploma or GED
- Apply for entry-level positions: hand packers, laborers, or material handlers
- Complete employer-provided safety training and, if needed, forklift certification
- Consider earning a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) to move up to higher-paying driving roles
Job outlook
The BLS does not publish a specific growth projection for Material Moving Workers for the 2024-2034 period. However, because the occupation is so large and spans many industries—warehousing, manufacturing, retail, and construction—demand is generally steady. Turnover is high, so job openings are frequent. Automation may affect some manual roles, but human workers remain essential for complex handling and supervision.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest-paying state for Material Moving Workers?
The BLS does not publish state-level pay rankings for this occupation. Wages tend to be higher in states with strong logistics sectors, like California or New Jersey.
What education do you need to become a Material Moving Worker?
Most jobs require a high school diploma or equivalent. Training is provided on the job. For equipment like forklifts, you'll need OSHA certification, often paid for by the employer.
How many Material Moving Workers are there in the U.S.?
As of the latest BLS data, there are about 7.8 million Material Moving Workers, making it one of the largest occupations.
Salary figures are U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates (OEWS / Employment Projections). For informational purposes only; not career or financial advice. See the full Material Moving Workers data.