Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary in California
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in California earn a median of $44,710 a year ($21.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 355,500 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,700 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $40,240. California ranks 8th of 51 states for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand pay. There are 20 laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $45,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,060 | $17.34 |
| 25th percentile | $37,890 | $18.21 |
| Median | $44,710 | $21.50 |
| 75th percentile | $48,950 | $23.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Average (mean) | $45,590 | $21.92 |
Half of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,725.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,862.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,719.62 |
| Weekly | $859.81 |
| Hourly | $21.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,710 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $48,420 | 790 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $48,400 | 30,710 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $47,330 | 15,030 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $47,060 | 11,830 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $46,890 | 8,440 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $46,640 | 2,810 |
| Modesto, CA | $46,630 | 4,810 |
| Napa, CA | $46,230 | 1,020 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46,060 | 69,820 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $45,930 | 18,560 |
| Vallejo, CA | $45,660 | 2,520 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $44,050 | 860 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $43,320 | 21,950 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $42,560 | 2,100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $42,390 | 120,720 |
| Yuba City, CA | $42,050 | 650 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $41,920 | 5,600 |
| Merced, CA | $41,890 | 1,130 |
| Chico, CA | $41,080 | 990 |
| Visalia, CA | $39,960 | 4,070 |
| Fresno, CA | $39,310 | 8,050 |
| Salinas, CA | $39,110 | 3,890 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $38,730 | 1,360 |
| Redding, CA | $37,620 | 1,220 |
| El Centro, CA | $37,350 | 930 |
Highest-paying states for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $46,280 |
| Washington | $46,190 |
| District of Columbia | $45,740 |
| North Dakota | $45,690 |
| Colorado | $45,370 |
| Massachusetts | $44,920 |
| Oregon | $44,750 |
| California | $44,710 |
| New York | $44,630 |
| Wisconsin | $44,610 |
See Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $42,870 | $20.61 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $64,890 | $31.20 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $38,410 | $18.46 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $40,380 | $19.41 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $43,150 | $20.74 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $79,570 | $38.25 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $57,660 | $27.72 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $64,430 | $30.98 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $68,600 | $32.98 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,790 | $22.50 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-7062. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make in California?
The median salary for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in California is $44,710 a year, or $21.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make in California?
The top 10% of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in California earn at least $57,700 a year. The top 25% earn $48,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,060 a year, and a quarter of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand earn $37,890 or less.
How many laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand work in California?
About 355,500 laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.