Packers and Packagers, Hand
Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials.
Is packers and packagers, hand a good career?
It scores 15/100 and ranks #530 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- High volume of openings — about 74,000 a year
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- Pays below the U.S. median wage ($36,280 vs $61,390)
- Employment is projected to decline (-5.4% through 2034)
What packers and packagers, hand earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. packers and packagers, hand earn between $32,220 and $43,060 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live packers and packagers, hand jobs
No live packers and packagers, hand openings yet
When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified packers and packagers, hand openings will appear here — each shown against the $36,280 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.
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- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow as fast as average through 2034.
Education
There are no formal educational requirements to become a hand laborer or material mover.
Training
Hand laborers and material movers usually receive on-the-job training. Some workers might need only a few days of training, while others may need up to 1 month. New employees may shadow an experienced worker as they learn basic job duties and how to safely use equipment. Workers learn safety rules as part of their training. Many of these rules are standardized through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Some hand laborers and material movers need a state-issued license. For example, refuse and recyclable material collectors who drive trucks that exceed a certain capacity must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Obtaining a CDL requires passing written, skill, and vision tests.
Important qualities
Customer-service skills. Hand laborers and material movers who work with the public, such as grocery baggers or carwash attendants, must be pleasant and courteous to customers.
Detail oriented. Hand laborers and material movers must pay attention to detail when packing orders, tracking goods moved, and cleaning vehicles or equipment.
Hand–eye coordination. Most hand laborers and material movers use their arms and hands to manipulate objects or move objects into specific positions.
Listening skills. Hand laborers and material movers follow instructions that a supervisor gives them.
Physical stamina. Hand laborers and material movers need the endurance to perform strenuous tasks, such as moving or cleaning objects, throughout the day.
Physical strength. Some hand laborers and material movers must be able to lift and carry heavy objects.
Related occupations
How much do packers and packagers, hand make?
The national median wage is $36,280 a year, with the middle half earning between $32,220 and $43,060 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is packers and packagers, hand a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 15 of 100 and ranks #530 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -5.4% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a packers and packagers, hand?
The typical entry-level education is no formal educational credential.
Where do packers and packagers, hand earn the most?
Among states, Kansas pays the highest median ($44,460). Local pay for every state and metro is below.