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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Where you practice this profession shapes your financial life more than experience alone. The national median salary for Material Moving Workers in 2026 is $39,572, with entry-level positions averaging $28,492 and senior roles reaching $56,193. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $72,080, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Transportation within the broader Transportation & Logistics industry, Material Moving Workers typically hold No formal requirement. The employment landscape is shaped by steady, and the day-to-day is warehouse. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$43,860 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Material Moving Worker in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $72,080 — $43,860 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($28,220). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Material Moving Workers average $28,492, the median sits at $39,572, and senior earners pull in $56,193. That $27,701 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $40,795 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
The state breakdown adds another layer. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $67,320 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $28,447. That $38,873 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
A Material Moving Worker in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $72,080 — $43,860 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($28,220). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The 10th-percentile (entry-level) Material Moving Worker salary averages $28,492 nationally. That's below the typical median household income, which means early-career earnings depend heavily on location and cost of living.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $28,492 | $39,572 | $56,193 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £14,237 | £19,773 | £28,078 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$22,927 | CA$31,843 | CA$45,217 |
| Australia | 13 | A$26,506 | A$36,813 | A$52,275 |
| Sweden | 24 | 161,688 kr | 224,566 kr | 318,884 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $34,388 | $47,762 | $67,822 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $33,232 | $46,155 | $65,540 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $33,048 | $45,900 | $65,178 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $30,600 | $42,500 | $60,350 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $30,233 | $41,990 | $59,626 |
| Washington | 8 | $29,651 | $41,183 | $58,479 |
| New York | 5 | $27,907 | $38,760 | $55,039 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $27,907 | $38,760 | $55,039 |
| Florida | 22 | $27,696 | $38,466 | $54,622 |
| Colorado | 11 | $27,217 | $37,802 | $53,679 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $27,173 | $37,740 | $53,591 |
| Nevada | 5 | $27,124 | $37,672 | $53,494 |
| Arizona | 12 | $26,989 | $37,485 | $53,229 |
| Oregon | 5 | $26,928 | $37,400 | $53,108 |
| Idaho | 3 | $26,846 | $37,287 | $52,947 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $26,634 | $36,992 | $52,529 |
| Utah | 4 | $26,561 | $36,890 | $52,384 |
| Virginia | 7 | $26,124 | $36,283 | $51,522 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $25,786 | $35,813 | $50,855 |
| Alaska | 1 | $25,704 | $35,700 | $50,694 |
| Illinois | 5 | $25,410 | $35,292 | $50,115 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $24,779 | $34,416 | $48,870 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $24,480 | $34,000 | $48,280 |
| Montana | 1 | $24,480 | $34,000 | $48,280 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $24,398 | $33,887 | $48,119 |
| Texas | 40 | $24,278 | $33,720 | $47,882 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $24,236 | $33,660 | $47,798 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $24,113 | $33,490 | $47,556 |
| Georgia | 6 | $24,031 | $33,377 | $47,395 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $23,990 | $33,320 | $47,314 |
| Kansas | 4 | $23,868 | $33,150 | $47,073 |
| Michigan | 6 | $23,786 | $33,037 | $46,912 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $23,501 | $32,640 | $46,349 |
| Maryland | 1 | $23,501 | $32,640 | $46,349 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $23,256 | $32,300 | $45,866 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $23,256 | $32,300 | $45,866 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $22,644 | $31,450 | $44,659 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $22,522 | $31,280 | $44,418 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $22,216 | $30,855 | $43,814 |
| Missouri | 4 | $22,216 | $30,855 | $43,814 |
| Alabama | 5 | $22,130 | $30,736 | $43,645 |
| Indiana | 3 | $21,787 | $30,260 | $42,969 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $21,787 | $30,260 | $42,969 |
| Iowa | 2 | $21,542 | $29,920 | $42,486 |
| Ohio | 6 | $21,502 | $29,863 | $42,406 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $20,563 | $28,560 | $40,555 |
Geography shapes Material Moving Worker pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $47,762 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($72,080 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $34,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $72,080 | 212 | $34,000 | $46,069 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $67,320 | 198 | $34,000 | $43,353 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $62,560 | 184 | $34,000 | $40,637 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $61,540 | 181 | $34,000 | $40,056 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $60,520 | 178 | $34,000 | $39,474 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $60,180 | 177 | $34,000 | $39,280 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $60,180 | 177 | $34,000 | $39,280 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $58,820 | 173 | $34,000 | $38,504 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $58,820 | 173 | $34,000 | $38,504 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $57,460 | 169 | $34,000 | $37,728 |
Career economics for Material Moving Workers: entry level averages $28,492, mid-career hits $39,572, and experienced professionals reach $56,193. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires No formal requirement, and the work is warehouse. The outlook: steady. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The weighted national median salary for Material Moving Workers is $39,572 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $28,492, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $56,193.
The highest-paying city for Material Moving Workers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $72,080. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($72,080), Santa Clara ($67,320), Irvine ($62,560). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Material Moving Worker salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $28,220. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Material Moving Workers (10th percentile) average $28,492 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $51,898. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Material Moving Workers average $56,193 nationally — $27,701 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Material Moving Workers can earn up to $102,354.
The top-paying states for Material Moving Workers are California ($47,762 median), Massachusetts ($46,155 median), Hawaii ($45,900 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Material Moving Worker involves No formal requirement. The field is in the Transportation & Logistics sector (Transportation), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically warehouse.
With a national median of $39,572 and representation across 288 metro areas, Material Moving Worker offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $27,701 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.