How much does a warehouse laborer make?

In the United States, pay can differ with experience, location, and the employer or industry. BLS says workers’ skills and credentials can matter too, though most hand-moving jobs do not require formal schooling. Some jobs include night or weekend shifts.

Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified. Excludes “Construction Laborers” (47-2061) and “Helpers, Construction Trades” (47-3011 through 47-3019). Excludes “Material Moving Workers” (53-7011 through 53-7199) who use power equipment.

What's a typical day like?

You check a work order, sort boxes, and move them between shelves, loading docks, and trucks by hand or with simple equipment. You label and secure loads, pack damaged boxes, and record what you moved.

In the U.S., these jobs usually need no diploma or prior experience; employers teach the work and safety rules, often in a month or less. Forklift work is a separate step: operators must be at least 18 and trained and certified.

High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)

Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.

Some warehouse laborers build wooden crates from pre-cut lumber, then brace or pad them so cargo won’t shift in transit.

The US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.