How to hire a mover

How to hire a mover, step by step

Here's a step-by-step mover hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a mover job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new mover
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a mover do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a mover, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a mover to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a mover that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of mover salaries for various roles:

   Type of Mover	Description	Hourly rate
   Mover	Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.	$12-20
   Stage Hand	Stagehands are skilled employees who work in the television, film, or theatre to assist other crew members set up the sound, lighting, and other equipment as well as helping performers change into their costumes. These employees are required to hang banners, update marquees, and handle other signage within the venue as it is important for any production... Show more	$12-23
   Package Handler UPS	The primary job of package handlers is to assemble, seal, and load packages. They are responsible for tracking package information using scanners and sorting parcels according to destination... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Office Furniture
   • Customer Service
   • Household Goods
   • Load Trucks
   • Pallet Jack
   • Delivery Vehicle
   • Office Equipment
   • Dollies
   • Safety Rules
   • Teamwork
   • Equipment Inventory
   • Truck Inspections
   • Customers Homes
   • General Maintenance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Hand hoisting furniture both up and down.
   • Assist families with helping to build their new homes through USDA funding.
   • Move pianos, gym equipment, bookcases, computer equipment, televisions, mirrors and glass pieces.
   • Work with USDA to develop policies and procedures to enhance the volume and quality of housing services.
   • Used a variety of items such as, a fork lift and dollies to move receptacles to and from appropriate locations.
   • Develop inventory management -learn how to pack/unpack furniture by utilizing hand-trucks and dollies for public/private housing moves

   More mover duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your mover job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A mover salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, movers' average salary in louisiana is 40% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level movers earn 38% less than senior-level movers.
   • Certifications. A mover with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a mover's salary.

   Average mover salary

   $15.96hourly

   $33,187 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level mover salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average mover salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$41,323	$20
   2	California	$40,290	$19
   3	Oregon	$38,115	$18
   4	Colorado	$38,036	$18
   5	Massachusetts	$37,766	$18
   6	Minnesota	$37,032	$18
   7	Wisconsin	$36,722	$18
   8	Arizona	$35,868	$17
   9	New York	$35,462	$17
   10	South Dakota	$33,915	$16
   11	Oklahoma	$33,405	$16
   12	Maine	$32,808	$16
   13	Pennsylvania	$32,807	$16
   14	Maryland	$32,264	$16
   15	Kansas	$32,138	$15
   16	Illinois	$32,089	$15
   17	Missouri	$31,700	$15
   18	Michigan	$31,320	$15
   19	Virginia	$31,285	$15
   20	Texas	$30,987	$15

   Average mover salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Zag	$87,460	$42.05
   2	Oakland University	$42,573	$20.47
   3	Titan	$39,074	$18.79
   4	Travis County	$37,773	$18.16
   5	UPS	$37,574	$18.06
   6	Storr Office Environments	$37,500	$18.03	2
   7	Daifuku Webb Holding	$36,353	$17.48	1
   8	Dart Container	$36,072	$17.34
   9	Alro Steel	$36,063	$17.34
   10	Southcoast Health	$35,799	$17.21
   11	Paul Davis USA	$35,664	$17.15	2
   12	Gentle Giant Moving	$35,613	$17.12	27
   13	M.E.I	$35,458	$17.05
   14	The Coca-Cola Company	$35,427	$17.03	2
   15	CADC	$35,214	$16.93
   16	Ferrara Candy	$35,145	$16.90
   17	Accel Entertainment	$35,033	$16.84
   18	Hormel Foods	$35,018	$16.84	3
   19	Reyes Holdings	$34,925	$16.79	2
   20	ServiceMaster Restore	$34,834	$16.75	1

4. Writing a mover job description

   A mover job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a mover job description:

   Mover job description example

   Coleman Worldwide Moving is seeking loaders, packers, movers, and warehouse personnel for our various service centers. We are in need of people who are hardworking, and energetic. This a great opportunity for anyone interested in earning good pay and a job in which you stay active. This is an ideal summer job for College students as well as those that want a long lasting career.
   
   Coleman Worldwide Moving has been in business since 1914 with 104+ years of experience and we invite you to come join OUR TEAM!
   Wrap household goods for transit Perform packing jobs as necessary Lift and carry household goods between residence and vehicle Assist as needed in loading trucks and/or containers for forward movement via interstate commerce Pre-trip inspections alongside drivers of all aspects of equipment including truck interior, straps and tensioners, walk-boards,etc. Complete household goods inventory Perform work at warehouse as needed Other duties as assigned
   Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
   Must be willing to travel (local, intrastate and interstate) Good communications skills
   Required Education and Experience:
   Required: High school diploma or GED
   Working Conditions:
   Indoors and outdoors Lifting of objects up to 50 pounds Frequent squatting and bending Frequent use of stairs
   Coleman Worldwide Moving Benefits for Employees (not applicable for seasonal employees if not stated):
   VACATION PAY after 1 year employment Array of voluntary health benefits including but not limited to (Health, Dental, Vision, 401k, and more) Holiday pay after 90 days for Full Time employees (Seasonal Included) Referral Programs
   College StudentsWe also offer a summer Intern SCHOLARSHIP Program!
   Coleman Worldwide Moving proudly supports post-secondary education in our communities and will offer the following scholarship program to qualifying summer interns to assist them with tuition in the coming year. Funding amounts are paid out directly to the Associate to assist with their various student expenses. $500 scholarship* towards your post-secondary education for the first** full summer internship. $750 scholarship* towards your post-secondary education for the second** full summer internship $1,000 scholarship* towards your post-secondary education for the third** or more full summer internship Must be summer seasonal Associate employed as Helper, Packer, Driver, Warehouseman, or other Service Center Operational, non-management position. Must show proof of enrollment in school for current year's fall classes. Must work full time through scheduled season (accommodations made for school dates). Supervisor acknowledgement of good work performance and attendance also required.
   Coleman Worldwide Moving (and affiliated companies) (collectively "CWM") is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Policy prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, familial status, pregnancy, genetic information, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or other protected status. CWM will continue to support and promote equal employment opportunity, human dignity, and cultural diversity. This policy applies to all personnel matters such as compensation, benefits, transfers, Company sponsored training, education, and social and recreational programs. This commitment is made by CWM in accordance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations
   
   Only applications submitted within three months of the review period will be considered for employment. Please submit another application for further review after the review period elapses.
   
   Take part in a company that has been successful for over 100 years and is still growing - join the Coleman Team today!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find movers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any movers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level movers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your mover job on Zippia to find and recruit mover candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit movers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new mover

   Once you've found the mover candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new mover first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a mover?