Transportation · SOC 53-7062
Heavy manual labor in variable settings resists automation, though sortation and conveyance are increasingly robotic.
Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
Timeline: Robotic sortation and autonomous mobile robots are displacing roles in structured warehouses now; unstructured outdoor and mixed-freight contexts will take considerably longer.
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$56,750 median pay
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Industry pages show which sectors this occupation feeds and the AI companies driving the shift.
AI job-risk card
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand is resilient on AIFear. Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
AIFear.com
Our AI Fear Score for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand is 28/100 (Resilient). Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
28 out of 100, based on an AI-model review of this occupation's O*NET tasks against what current AI can actually do.
Most exposed: Repetitive material movement on fixed warehouse routes, Basic inventory counting and data entry, Loading standardized containers and pallets. Harder to automate: Handling irregular, fragile, or awkward freight, Rigging and securing diverse cargo for transit, Working in outdoor, construction, or shipyard environments.
Lean into Robotics collaboration and cobot operation, Supply chain fundamentals, Forklift and materials handling certification, Workplace safety (OSHA 10/30). Consider roles such as Shipping and receiving supervisor or Warehouse operations lead or Logistics coordinator.
Tasks, skills and AI-exposure for this role were reviewed by an AI model against its O*NET task profile (curated roles use published research anchors). Pay and employment, where shown, are U.S. BLS OEWS (May 2024) figures. This is an estimate, not a prediction about any individual's job. Compare all occupations.