First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of helpers, laborers, or material movers, hand.

From people doing the work

My day is a constant balancing act of making sure everyone knows their tasks, keeping an eye on safety, and troubleshooting unexpected issues. It's to see the team hit their targets, but it can be demanding, especially when deadlines are tight or equipment breaks down. Good communication is key to keeping things running smoothly.

Drawn from Supply Chain Management Review, Operations Management Institute, r/logistics

Attribution: Composite

Composite · Synthesised from Supply Chain Management Review, Operations Management Institute, r/logistics

A day in the life of First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand

People interaction
Extensive
Team vs solo
100% Team / 0% Solo
Client facing
Frequent
Impact visibility
Moderate
Travel
Moderate
Schedule flexibility
Rigid
Remote work
On-site Only
Typical work hours
40-60
Stress level
Moderate

First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand salary, education and outlook at a glance

Median salary
$63,940
Entry-level
$48,000
Senior
$90,000
Growth by 2033
+5.2%
Demand
Stable
Freelance potential
Moderate
Salary growth potential
88%
Typical student debt
Moderate

Skills you need as First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand

Hard skills

  • Production and Processing
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Data base user interface and query software

Soft skills

  • Coordination
  • Management of Personnel Resources
  • Speaking

Technical complexity: Low

Tools of the trade

Core tools

  • Microsoft Excel (Software): Used for scheduling, tracking inventory, and managing team performance data.
  • Walkie-Talkie (Hardware): Essential for immediate communication with team members across a work site.
  • Warehouse Management System (WMS) (Software): Manages inventory, order fulfillment, and optimizes warehouse operations.

Commonly used

  • Forklift (Hardware): Used for moving heavy materials and organizing stock within a warehouse or job site.
  • Safety Management Software (Software): Tracks safety incidents, manages compliance, and facilitates safety training.
  • Pallet Jack (Hardware): Used for manually moving pallets and smaller loads in confined spaces.

Specialist tools

  • Project Management Software (Software): Organizes tasks, allocates resources, and monitors project progress for efficient operations.

How to become First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand

Minimum education
High School Diploma
Licensing
No
Years to mid-career
3-5
Years to senior
10-15
Career switching
Easy

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

  • Material Mover: Individuals often transition from hands-on material moving roles, gaining practical experience before supervising.
  • Warehouse Associate: Experience in general warehouse duties provides a strong foundation for supervisory responsibilities.
  • Team Lead (Logistics): Prior experience leading small teams in a logistics or operational setting is highly relevant.

Where you can go from here

  • Operations Supervisor: Supervisors can advance to overseeing broader operational functions and larger teams.
  • Warehouse Manager: Progression often leads to managing entire warehouse facilities and staff.
  • Logistics Coordinator: Moving into a more administrative role focused on coordinating logistics and supply chain activities.

Typical progression

  1. First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
  2. First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
  3. First-Line Supervisors of Passenger Attendants
  4. or Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors

First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand job outlook and future demand

Automation probability
Moderate-High
AI disruption risk
Moderate
Demand trend
Stable

Job satisfaction as First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand

Overall satisfaction
6/10
Meaning
5.5/10
Work-life balance
5/10
Prestige
4.5/10
Social perception
Low

Where practitioners gather

Professional organisations

Podcasts and media

Reddit communities

  • r/logistics: An online community for discussions and advice on logistics and supply chain topics.

Online communities

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