What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in the U.S. earn more than $40,240 a year — the middle 80% land between $31,270 and $55,140. About 3.0 million people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Plant and machine operators and assemblers earn about ₹17,329 a month on average — around ₹2.1 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$40,240typical pay / year
3.0 millionpeople in this work
$55,140+top 10% earn
₹2.1 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Move3
Manually move freight, stock, or materials
+Move the pallet of office chairs from bay C3 to truck 7, use the pallet jack and straps, stack no more than…
Manually move freight, stock, or materials
+Move the pallet of office chairs from bay C3 to truck 7, use the pallet jack and straps, stack no more than two high, radio dispatch if a hand-off is needed, and mark the load as moved on today’s manifest before break.
The tools that do the workSAPESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Secure objects in trucks and transports
+Secure the mattresses and boxed dressers in truck 4 using corner protectors and ratchet straps, place heavier…
Secure objects in trucks and transports
+Secure the mattresses and boxed dressers in truck 4 using corner protectors and ratchet straps, place heavier items on the floor, log the load securement on the transport checklist, and call Leah if the strap inventory is short.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Sort cargo before loading and unloading
+Sort the inbound mixed pallet into furniture, electronics, and loose boxes at the staging lane, label each…
Sort cargo before loading and unloading
+Sort the inbound mixed pallet into furniture, electronics, and loose boxes at the staging lane, label each pile with its destination dock number, flag fragile pieces for hand-unload, and notify Sam on radio if any item is oversized.
The tools that do the workData entryjob descriptionsO*NET
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Keeping the record2
Keep records of the materials moved
+Update the daily movement log with quantities and locations for the three loads moved this morning, include…
Keep records of the materials moved
+Update the daily movement log with quantities and locations for the three loads moved this morning, include any damaged items with photos and short notes, and send the updated sheet to inventory control before finishing the shift.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptionsO*NET
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Maintain equipment and storage areas
+Inspect the forklift, pallet jacks, and strap rollers on the morning checklist, replace any worn straps or…
Maintain equipment and storage areas
+Inspect the forklift, pallet jacks, and strap rollers on the morning checklist, replace any worn straps or torn gloves from the maintenance bin, sweep the storage aisle A and log completed maintenance tasks to prevent delays on the afternoon run.
The tools that do the workSAPjob descriptionsO*NET
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Analysing1
Read work orders or instructions for work assignments
+Read today’s work orders on the shipping board, prioritize the three urgent deliveries to Main Street that…
Read work orders or instructions for work assignments
+Read today’s work orders on the shipping board, prioritize the three urgent deliveries to Main Street that leave at 2pm, note special handling for glass tables, confirm team assignments via radio, and acknowledge the orders on the manifest.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work14
Attach identifying tags to containers or mark them with identifying information.
+Attach durable printed tags to each pallet and stack container, include SKU, destination row B, and handling…
Attach identifying tags to containers or mark them with identifying information.
+Attach durable printed tags to each pallet and stack container, include SKU, destination row B, and handling notes, photograph tag on each load and log tag numbers in the inventory sheet before moving to outbound staging by 15:30.
The tools that do the workData entryO*NET
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Pack containers and re-pack damaged containers.
+Repack damaged cartons and pack new orders using required cushioning and corner protectors, consolidate loose…
Pack containers and re-pack damaged containers.
+Repack damaged cartons and pack new orders using required cushioning and corner protectors, consolidate loose items by SKU into marked boxes, seal and label each box, then update the pick ticket and notify dispatch if any shortages remain.
The tools that do the workSAPO*NET
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Adjust controls to guide, position, or move equipment, such as cranes, booms, or cameras.
+Slowly position the load to aisle C4, fine-adjust the boom and winch until the pallet aligns with the rack,…
Adjust controls to guide, position, or move equipment, such as cranes, booms, or cameras.
+Slowly position the load to aisle C4, fine-adjust the boom and winch until the pallet aligns with the rack, keep the spotter informed by radio and confirm their hold before releasing the sling.
The tools that do the workData entryO*NET
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Connect electrical equipment to power sources so that it can be tested before use.
+Inspect the power leads and plug the test unit into the designated outlet, confirm the circuit is live with…
Connect electrical equipment to power sources so that it can be tested before use.
+Inspect the power leads and plug the test unit into the designated outlet, confirm the circuit is live with the meter, run the equipment through the startup checklist, record results and any faults in the test log before signing off.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Pack or wrap products by hand
+Hand-wrap each product with stretch film and edge protectors, label fragile items and pack them into assigned…
Pack or wrap products by hand
+Hand-wrap each product with stretch film and edge protectors, label fragile items and pack them into assigned cartons, ensure weight limits are respected and place finished packs on the quality check bench for inspection.
The tools that do the workData entryjob descriptions
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Clean vehicles, equipment, and workplaces
+Clean the loading bay floor, sweep debris from vehicle ramps, wash down pallet trucks and sanitize work…
Clean vehicles, equipment, and workplaces
+Clean the loading bay floor, sweep debris from vehicle ramps, wash down pallet trucks and sanitize work surfaces, log completed cleaning tasks on the daily maintenance sheet and tag any equipment needing repair.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
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Use communication devices
+Check the handheld radio and tablet, confirm assigned pallet jacks and straps for today’s pickups, tell…
Use communication devices
+Check the handheld radio and tablet, confirm assigned pallet jacks and straps for today’s pickups, tell Marley and the dispatch desk my ETA and any weight limits, and log any missing chargers before I start the run.
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Handle delivery of furniture goods
+Load the delivery van with the disassembled sofas first, secure each with straps and corner protectors, note…
Handle delivery of furniture goods
+Load the delivery van with the disassembled sofas first, secure each with straps and corner protectors, note serial numbers and customer access notes, call Priya on arrival to coordinate stairs and parking, and get the recipient’s signature before unloading.
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Lift and carry heavy objects
+Move the two pallet loads of oak tables from bay B3 to the delivery van, use the hydraulic pallet jack and…
Lift and carry heavy objects
+Move the two pallet loads of oak tables from bay B3 to the delivery van, use the hydraulic pallet jack and shoulder straps, team up with Marcos for the heaviest crates, and confirm completion to Lisa by text before 16:30.
The tools that do the workSAPjob descriptions
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Bend, kneel, or crouch in awkward positions
+Retrieve the sofa set from shelf C2, kneel with knee pads and bend from the hips to lower each piece onto the…
Bend, kneel, or crouch in awkward positions
+Retrieve the sofa set from shelf C2, kneel with knee pads and bend from the hips to lower each piece onto the trolley, swap with Janel after two items to avoid strain, and note any soreness on the shift log at the end of the run.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
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Follow safety rules and procedures
+Walk the loading dock checklist before the morning shift, verify aisle clearances, PPE on every team member,…
Follow safety rules and procedures
+Walk the loading dock checklist before the morning shift, verify aisle clearances, PPE on every team member, lockout tags on pallet wrappers, and send the signed checklist to Omar in safety by 09:00 if anything fails.
The tools that do the workGoogle Docsjob descriptions
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Assemble or install goods, machinery or belongings in the new location
+Assemble the bedroom set at 14:00 in apartment 3B using the supplied Allen keys and instruction sheet, secure…
Assemble or install goods, machinery or belongings in the new location
+Assemble the bedroom set at 14:00 in apartment 3B using the supplied Allen keys and instruction sheet, secure wardrobes to the wall studs, test drawers and report any missing hardware to procurement before leaving.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookESCO
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Select equipment required for moving activities
+Inspect the delivery manifest for tomorrow, choose two pallet jacks, one moving dolly and three straps for…
Select equipment required for moving activities
+Inspect the delivery manifest for tomorrow, choose two pallet jacks, one moving dolly and three straps for the route with narrow stair access, brief the crew at 06:30 about equipment allocation and mark spares in the stores bin.
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Follow work procedures
+Follow the standard unloading procedure for fragile goods: paper-wrap each item, place on padded trolley, log…
Follow work procedures
+Follow the standard unloading procedure for fragile goods: paper-wrap each item, place on padded trolley, log serial numbers on the work order, and escalate any breakage to Claire on the supervisor line immediately.
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Says who?
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Activities this job lives in
The human activities behind the tasks — each with its honest AI ceiling.
The logs, files & records this job keeps
Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
The LLOS Work Atlas is the world's largest evidenced task library — a map of human work, with a ready prompt behind every task. 1,774 careers · every task named by the sources that witnessed it — O*NET, ESCO, real job descriptions, Wikipedia — and the deepest tasks by several at once. And it is honest about limits: where AI cannot help, the map says so.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses