Quick answer: Movers in the US (counted by the BLS within hand laborers and material movers) earn a median of about $37,680 a year (BLS, May 2024), or roughly $18 an hour for full-time work. The lowest 10 percent earn under about $29,780 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $50,970. Tips, overtime, and long-distance work can push real take-home well above the base wage.
"How much do movers make" is a fair question to ask before you take a job that is physical, fast-paced, and often busiest in summer. The base wage is only part of the picture, because moving is one of the few hourly jobs where tips can add up to a meaningful share of your pay.
This guide breaks down what movers actually earn in 2026, why two movers doing the same job can take home very different amounts, and how to find steady moving work without paying a fee to apply.
About the numbers: the figures below are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), May 2024, the most recent full release, for hand laborers and material movers, the category that includes movers. "Median" means half of workers earn more and half earn less. Your real pay depends on tips, overtime, the type of moves, and your region.
The short answer: mover pay in 2026
- Median: about $37,680 a year (roughly $18 an hour for full-time work).
- Lower end (about the bottom 10 percent): under about $29,780 a year, typically newer or part-time movers.
- Top end (about the top 10 percent): more than $50,970 a year, before counting tips.
- For context: the median wage for all US jobs was $49,500 in May 2024, so the base mover wage sits below the all-jobs median, with tips, overtime, and long-distance work doing a lot to close that gap.
The number that surprises people is the gap between the base wage and real take-home. Cash tips on residential moves, busy-season overtime, and multi-day long-distance jobs can lift a mover's actual earnings well above the median figure on paper.
What moves a mover's pay up
1. Tips (the lever people underestimate)
Residential moving is one of the more tipped manual jobs out there. Customers often tip the crew at the end of a move, especially when the team is fast, careful, and friendly. Over a busy week, tips can add a real amount on top of your hourly wage, and they go straight to the crew.
2. Overtime and busy season
Moving demand spikes in the warmer months and around month-end, when most leases turn over. Long days and weekend jobs during peak season mean overtime hours, and at an hourly rate, more hours is more money. Many movers earn the bulk of their annual income in the busy stretch.
3. Long-distance and specialty moves
Local moves pay the base rate. Long-distance jobs, which can run multiple days with travel, pay more in total. Specialty work, like moving pianos, safes, or fragile high-value items, takes more skill and care and pays better than standard loading and carrying.
4. Driving and a CDL
A mover who can also drive the truck is more valuable to the crew, and a commercial driver's license opens larger trucks and longer routes. Adding a CDL is a clear way to move into better-paid roles.
5. Reliability and crew lead roles
The mover who shows up on time, handles items carefully, and can run a crew gets the better jobs and the path to lead or foreman, which pays more. Reliability is rewarded fast in this work.
Mover pay by stage
| Stage | Typical pay direction | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New / part-time mover | Near the bottom 10 percent (under ~$29,780) | Learning the work; fewer hours |
| Experienced mover | Around the median (~$37,680), plus tips | Steady hours, tips add up |
| Driver / CDL / specialty | Above the median | Driving and specialty moves pay more |
| Crew lead / foreman | Toward the top 10 percent (>$50,970) | Runs the crew, before tips |
All figures use the BLS hand laborers and material movers data (median $37,680; bottom 10% under $29,780; top 10% over $50,970; May 2024). These are reference points before tips, not guarantees; local pay varies.
Is moving work worth it financially?
For the right person, especially someone who does not mind physical work and wants to start fast, yes:
- No degree, no debt, quick to start. You can begin as a mover with no tuition and little or no experience. You earn from your first shift.
- Tips and overtime add up. The base wage understates real take-home once you factor in customer tips and busy-season overtime.
- Steady demand. Overall employment of hand laborers and material movers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average job, with roughly 1,008,300 openings a year across the broad category. People and businesses always need to move.
If you want to compare moving work with other local jobs and gigs, browse what is open on Qiggz.
How to earn more as a mover
- Earn your tips. Be fast, careful, and easy to work with. A crew that protects the customer's stuff and finishes clean gets tipped, and tips are real money on top of your wage.
- Work the busy season hard. Summer and month-end bring overtime. Stack hours when the work is there, because that is when most movers make the bulk of their income.
- Take long-distance and specialty jobs. Multi-day and specialty moves pay more than standard local runs. Say yes to them when you can.
- Get a CDL. Driving the truck makes you more valuable and opens larger, better-paid roles. It is one of the clearest raises available in this field.
- Keep your schedule full. Idle days are lost income, especially in peak season. A free platform like Qiggz helps you find local moving jobs and gigs so you stay booked. Browse moving jobs or create your free profile.
The bottom line
Movers earn a median of about $37,680 a year in 2026 (BLS, May 2024), with the top 10 percent over $50,970 before tips. But the paper number understates the job, because tips, busy-season overtime, long-distance work, and driving can lift real take-home well past the median. Moving is one of the easiest fields to enter with no degree and no debt, and one where being fast, careful, and reliable pays off quickly.
When you are ready to get on a crew, Qiggz helps movers find local jobs and gigs for free, with no fees to apply. Find moving work near you.
Frequently asked questions
How much do movers make per hour in 2026?
Movers earn a median of roughly $18 an hour, based on a median annual wage of about $37,680 (BLS, May 2024). That is before tips, which are common in residential moving and can add a meaningful amount to a mover's take-home pay.
Do movers make good money with tips?
Tips can make a real difference. Residential moving is one of the more tipped manual jobs, and customers often tip a crew that is fast, careful, and friendly. On a busy week, tips can add a significant amount on top of the hourly wage, and they go to the crew doing the work.
What is the highest movers can earn?
The top 10 percent of hand laborers and material movers earn more than $50,970 a year before tips (BLS, May 2024). Movers who drive with a CDL, take long-distance and specialty jobs, and move into crew lead roles tend to reach the upper end, and tips push real earnings higher still.
Do you need experience or a license to be a mover?
No degree and usually no experience are required to start as a mover. A commercial driver's license is not needed to load and carry, but getting one lets you drive the truck and reach better-paid roles, so many movers add a CDL as they advance.
Where can I find moving jobs near me?
Qiggz lists local moving and hauling jobs and gigs, and it is free to apply with no lead fees or commissions. Browse moving jobs or create a free profile to get matched with work in your area.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hand Laborers and Material Movers, Occupational Outlook Handbook (median annual wage $37,680; lowest 10% under $29,780; highest 10% over $50,970; projected 4% growth 2024 to 2034; about 1,008,300 annual openings; all May 2024).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, all-occupations median wage ($49,500, May 2024), OEWS overview.
