What Does a Mover Do?
Careful movers pad first and lift second. Movers pack, carry and load household goods, office furniture and lab equipment for moving companies and for the facilities crews at hospitals, universities and other large employers, usually with a lead mover running the job. Summer is the busiest season.
Also known as: Lead Mover
Mover Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a mover include:
- Wrap furniture in pads and stretch wrap, and protect floors, doorframes and banisters before a move.
- Pack dishes, books, files and lab supplies into labeled boxes that match the room plan.
- Take apart desks, beds and shelving, bag the hardware, and rebuild each piece at the new site.
- Load the truck tightly and tie loads off with straps so nothing shifts in transit.
- Carry heavy items up and down stairs with lifting straps, dollies and a partner.
- Move pianos, safes and filing cabinets with specialty dollies, boards and ramps.
- Walk through with the customer at both ends to agree on what goes where.
- Record damage on the inventory sheet, and get the customer's signature at delivery.
- Direct a small crew as lead mover, assigning rooms and checking the truck before it leaves.
- Clean and stow blankets, dollies and tools so the truck is ready for the next job.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a mover, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Strength, stamina and safe lifting technique
- Packing and padding methods that prevent damage
- Team lifting and clear calls on stairs
- Basic tool use for taking furniture apart
- Truck loading and tie-down skills
- Courtesy with customers during a stressful day
- Driver's license, plus a CDL for larger trucks at some firms
- Reliability for early starts and long days
Education and Training
Crew experience could lead to a crew chief post. Although no diploma is required, most companies train new movers on the job for a few days to a few weeks, covering lifting, padding and truck loading. Firms that run big trucks may pay for drivers to earn a CDL.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $36,090 - $46,920 per year, with a median of $40,240.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand.
According to BLS, employment of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, the hand-moving group that includes movers, is projected to grow about 2 percent from 2025 to 2035. Growth is slow, but the group is so large that BLS still expects about 340,500 openings a year. Summer is the rush, as families try to settle in before school starts.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand.