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Salary comparison

Conveyor Operators and Tenders vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand: Who Earns More?

Conveyor Operators and Tenders out-earn Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by $2K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Conveyor Operators and Tenders land at $42,420 and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand at $40,240. The education gap is real: conveyor operators and tender programs typically require no formal educational credential, while laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Conveyor Operators and Tenders is West Virginia ($62,830); for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand it's Minnesota ($46,280).

Conveyor Operators and Tenders
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Median salary
$42,420
$40,240
Hourly rate
$20.39/hr
$19.35/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$36,180
$31,270
Senior level (90th %)
$59,470
$55,140
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
22,930
2,950,280
Job growth (10-year)
-3.4%
1.5%
Category
Transportation
Transportation
Top-paying state
West Virginia
Minnesota

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Conveyor Operators and Tenders median pay.

State
Conveyor Operators and Tenders
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Iowa
$56,900
$43,490
North Dakota
$47,770
$45,690
Kentucky
$44,800
$42,770
Washington
$43,480
$46,190
Oregon
$43,410
$44,750
Nebraska
$43,360
$42,910
Massachusetts
$43,150
$44,920
California
$43,150
$44,710
Minnesota
$43,000
$46,280
Hawaii
$42,880
$44,120
New York
$42,670
$44,630
Colorado
$40,480
$45,370
Wisconsin
$39,550
$44,610
Arizona
$39,260
$44,290
Montana
$38,760
$43,840

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Conveyor Operators and Tenders or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Conveyor Operators and Tenders earn more nationally. The median is $42,420 for Conveyor Operators and Tenders versus $40,240 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand, a difference of $2K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Conveyor Operators and Tenders or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand has the better 10-year outlook at 1.5% projected growth, compared to -3.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Conveyor Operators and Tenders or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Conveyor Operators and Tenders typically requires no formal educational credential. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Conveyor Operators and Tenders get paid the most?

West Virginia is the top-paying state for Conveyor Operators and Tenders at $62,830/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Conveyor Operators and Tenders vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Iowa, Conveyor Operators and Tenders earn $56,900 vs. $43,490 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Conveyor Operators and Tenders salary breakdownView →Full Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary breakdownView →Best cities for Conveyor Operators and Tenders by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by take-home payExplore →How to become a conveyor operators and tendersGuide →How to become a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, handGuide →