Material Moving Machine Operator
Impact: Operational efficiency, Supply chain integrity
Operate industrial trucks or tractors equipped to move materials around a warehouse, storage yard, factory, construction site, or similar location.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Minimal
- Team vs solo
- 60% Solo / 40% Team
- Client facing
- Rarely
- Impact visibility
- Low
- Travel
- Minimal
- Schedule flexibility
- Structured
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $47,000
- Entry-level
- $37,000 - $40,000
- Senior
- $60,000+
- Growth by 2033
- -2% (decline)
- Demand
- Declining
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- Moderate to 50-60% growth from entry to senior
- Typical student debt
- Minimal
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Forklift Operation
- Material Handling
- Equipment Maintenance
- Inventory Management
- Safety Procedures
Soft skills
- Attention to Detail
- Safety Consciousness
- Problem-Solving
Technical complexity: Moderate
How to get there
- Minimum education
- High School Diploma
- Licensing
- Varies by State
- Years to mid-career
- 3-5 years
- Years to senior
- 7-10 years
- Career switching
- Easy
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Material Handler
- Forklift Operator
- Warehouse Lead
- Warehouse Supervisor
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 70% to high risk due to repetitive tasks and advancements in automated material handling systems
- AI disruption risk
- Moderate
- Demand trend
- Declining
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 3/10
- Meaning
- 5/10
- Work-life balance
- 3.5/10
- Prestige
- 4.5/10
- Social perception
- Moderate