How to Become a Hand Laborer or Material Mover
Generally, hand laborers and material movers need no work experience or minimum level of education. Employers require only that applicants be physically able to do the work.
Pay
The median annual wage of hand laborers and material movers was $22,560 in May 2010.
Job Outlook
Employment of hand laborers and material movers is projected to grow 14 percent from 2010 to 2020, as fast as the average for all occupations. Job prospects should be good because the need to replace workers who leave the occupations should create a large number of job openings.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of hand laborers and material movers with similar occupations.
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What Hand Laborers and Material Movers Do
Some laborers work as baggers at grocery stores.
Hand laborers and material movers transport objects without using machines. Some workers move freight, stock, or other materials around storage facilities; others clean vehicles; some pick up unwanted household goods; and still others pack materials for moving.
Duties
Hand laborers and material movers typically do the following:
Manually move material from one place to another
Pack or wrap material by hand
Keep a record of the material they move
Use signals to assist machine operators who are moving larger pieces of material, when necessary
In warehouses and wholesale and retail operations, hand material movers work closely with material-moving machine operators and material recording clerks. Automatic sensors and tags are increasingly being used to track items that allow these employees to work faster. Some workers are employed in manufacturing industries in which they load material onto conveyor belts or other machines.
The following are some examples of hand laborers and material movers:
Laborers and hand freight, stock, and material movers move materials to and from storage and production areas, loading docks, delivery trucks, ships, and containers. Most of these movers work in warehouses, although their specific duties vary. Some workers, called pickers, find products in storage and transport them to the loading area. Other workers load and unload cargo from a truck. Sometimes they open containers and sort the material.
Hand packers and packagers package a variety of materials by hand. They may label cartons, inspect items for defects, and record items packed. Some of these workers pack materials for shipment and transport them to a loading dock. Others work in retail as gift wrappers. Many hand packers are employed by grocery stores, where they bag groceries for customers at checkout.
Machine feeders and offbearers process materials by feeding them into equipment or by removing materials from equipment. This equipment is generally operated by other workers, such as material-moving machine operators. Machine feeders and offbearers might help the operator if the machine becomes jammed or needs minor repairs. Machine feeders track the amount of material they process during a shift.
Cleaners of vehicles and equipment clean automobiles and other vehicles, as well as storage tanks, pipelines, and related machinery. They use cleaning products, vacuums, hoses, and brushes. Most of these workers clean cars at a carwash, automobile dealership, or rental agency. Some clean industrial equipment at manufacturing firms.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors gather garbage and recyclables from homes and businesses to transport to a dump, landfill, or recycling center. Many collectors lift garbage cans by hand and empty them into their truck. Some collectors drive the garbage or recycling truck along a scheduled route. When collecting materials from a dumpster, drivers use a hydraulic lift to empty contents of the dumpster into their truck.
Work Environment
Many refuse and recyclable material collectors work for local governments.
The work of hand laborers and material movers is usually repetitive and physically demanding. Workers may lift and carry heavy objects. They bend, kneel, crouch, or crawl in awkward positions.
Hand laborers and material movers held 3,315,400 jobs in 2010. They work in a variety of industries.
Laborers and hand, freight, stock, and material movers work in the following industries:
Transportation and warehousing 21%
Wholesale trade 17
Retail trade 16
Employment services 15
Manufacturing 13
Hand packers and packagers work in the following industries:
Grocery stores 24%
Employment services 17
Food manufacturing 9
Machine feeders and offbearers work in the following industries:
Food manufacturing 12%
Wood product manufacturing 10
Paper manufacturing 8
Plastics and rubber products manufacturing 7
Cleaners of vehicles and equipment work in the following industries:
Automotive repair and maintenance 37%
Automobile dealers 21
Automotive equipment rental and leasing 5
Refuse and recyclable material collectors work in the following industries:
Waste collection 37%
Local government, excluding education and hospitals 35
Waste treatment and disposal 13
Injuries
Some material moving jobs can be dangerous. Hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, as well as refuse and recyclable material collectors, have some of the highest rates of injury and illness of all occupations. When hand laborers and freight, stock and material movers move heavy objects around a warehouse or onto trucks, accidents can happen, which could cause injury. Because refuse and recyclable material collectors drive so much to complete their rounds, they are vulnerable to traffic accidents.
Some vehicle and equipment cleaners work with heavy machinery, which also can lead to injury. However, these jobs have become less dangerous as safety equipment and regulations have improved. For protection, many workers wear safety equipment, such as gloves or hard hats.
Work Schedules
Most hand laborers and material movers work full time. In addition, most work 8-hour shifts, although longer shifts and overtime are common. Because materials are shipped around the clock, some workers, especially those in warehousing, work overnight shifts.
How to Become a Hand Laborer or Material Mover
Some laborers and material movers work at car washes.