Headline risk
4%
Very Low RiskPackers and packagers, hand
AI displacement pressure score for United States AI Work Index, combining global AI task overlap with local wages, employment trends, and demand signals.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 35,580
Employment 2024
591.8K
Projected Change (2024–34)
-5.4%
Openings (2024–34)
74.0K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Overall employment of hand laborers and material movers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Examine and inspect containers, materials, or products to ensure that product quality and packing specifications are met. AI use: 0%
- 2. Measure, weigh, and count products and materials. AI use: 0%
- 3. Mark and label containers, container tags, or products, using marking tools. AI use: 0%
- 4. Record product, packaging, and order information on specified forms and records. AI use: 0%
- 5. Assemble, line, and pad cartons, crates, and containers, using hand tools. AI use: 0%
- 6. Clean containers, materials, supplies, or work areas, using cleaning solutions and hand tools. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 36.4 · 582K employed
Under 25: 28% · 25–54: 54% · 55+: 18%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Data quality
Employment data available
Narrative & sources
Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials.
Most hand laborers and material movers work full time. Because materials are shipped around the clock, some workers, especially those in warehousing, work overnight shifts.
There are usually no formal educational requirements to become a hand laborer or material mover. Employers typically require only that applicants be physically able to perform the work.
The median annual wage for hand laborers and material movers was $37,680 in May 2024.
Overall employment of hand laborers and material movers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Important context
This score measures structural AI displacement pressure, not actual job losses. Local wages and demand data are specific to United States AI Work Index; the underlying AI task overlap analysis is consistent across all countries.