BLS Moving Industry Employment Data 2026: Wages & Trends

Last Updated: July 2026

TL;DR: The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) posts yearly wage and job data for the moving trade through the OEWS series and the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Heavy truck drivers earn about $28 to $32 per hour, light truck drivers earn $22 to $25, and movers earn $17 to $20. A driver gap near 78,000 keeps 2026 carrier pricing and booking windows tight.

BLS moving industry data is the federal read on wages, jobs, and growth for the truck drivers and movers who staff every licensed carrier. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes two files that cover this data. The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) series sits at bls.gov/oes. The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) sits at bls.gov/ooh. The 2026 OEWS lists heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers at about $28 to $32 per hour. Light truck drivers earn $22 to $25 per hour. Laborers and freight movers earn $17 to $20 per hour. The OOH projects 3 to 5 percent job growth for these roles from 2022 to 2032.

Safebound Moving and Storage is a licensed Florida carrier with USDOT 2900155, MC 975408, and FL IM2839. Since 2016, the team has completed 35,000+ moves across all 50 states. Safebound holds a 4.9 stars rating across 2,401 reviews. Every crew is trained and background-checked. Every quote comes with transparent pricing and no hidden fees. Safebound runs a 100,000 sq ft climate-controlled storage facility in West Palm Beach. The team tracks BLS OEWS wages, OOH projections, and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) authority data when planning crews and vault space for interstate moves. That grounding helps clients time a move around wage and capacity peaks.

The five takeaways below frame each wage read, capacity signal, and hiring standard tied to the 2026 BLS data.

Key Takeaways

1. Federal Source: The BLS OEWS series and the Occupational Outlook Handbook at bls.gov are the federal source for moving industry wages and job growth. Both files update on a yearly cycle.

2. 2026 Wage Bands: Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (SOC 53-3032) earn about $28 to $32 per hour. Light truck drivers (SOC 53-3033) earn $22 to $25. Laborers and freight movers (SOC 53-7062) earn $17 to $20.

3. Job Projections: The BLS OOH projects 3 to 5 percent job growth for these roles from 2022 to 2032, slower than the national average.

4. Driver Gap: The American Trucking Associations (ATA) cites about 78,000 open driver seats in 2024. That gap tightens booking windows and lifts peak season prices on interstate lanes.

5. Regional Premium: High cost markets in New York, California, and peak season Florida run 15 to 25 percent above the BLS national median. That premium shows up in the total price of a long distance move.

The seven sections below map each BLS data point, wage trend, and capacity signal to the right stage of an interstate move.

What Does BLS Publish in the Moving Industry?

The BLS puts out moving industry data in two yearly releases. The OEWS series at bls.gov/oes lists median hourly and yearly wages and job counts by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. It reports figures at the national, state, and metro level. The OOH at bls.gov/ooh pairs those wages with a 10 year job outlook, a growth projection, and typical entry level education.

Three SOC codes cover the moving workforce. SOC 53-3032 covers heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. This class runs interstate long distance freight. SOC 53-3033 covers light truck drivers who run shorter routes and last mile trips. SOC 53-7062 covers laborers and freight, stock, and material movers. This class handles loading, unloading, and warehouse work on both ends of a move. A licensed carrier pulls from all three codes when staffing a full crew for a household move.

What Are the 2026 BLS Wage Bands for Moving Roles?

The 2026 OEWS lists heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers at a median of $28 to $32 per hour, or about $58,000 to $67,000 per year. Light truck drivers earn $22 to $25 per hour, or about $45,000 to $52,000 per year. Laborers and freight movers earn $17 to $20 per hour, or about $35,000 to $42,000 per year. Top quartile wages in each class run 15 to 25 percent above the median. Entry level wages run 15 to 20 percent below.

The 2026 bands reflect a 12 to 18 percent lift over the 2020 median for each role. Industry data ties that lift to the labor gap that opened during the pandemic recovery. Higher wages flow into every line of a carrier's cost stack, from the driver rate to the labor charge on a full service pack. See the moving labor guide for how labor costs land inside a written estimate.

What Does the OOH Project for These Roles?

The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers to grow about 4 percent from 2022 to 2032. Light truck drivers grow about 5 percent. Laborers and freight movers grow about 3 percent. Each figure runs slower than the national average across all jobs, which sits near 3 to 5 percent. The OOH still lists about 240,000 openings a year across the three roles, driven mostly by replacement demand.

Slower projected growth does not mean flat demand. Retirements, career changes, and turnover keep the yearly opening count high. Carriers still compete for a limited pool of experienced commercial drivers. A relocation client sees that competition as a longer booking window on high demand dates. Safebound sets a written, price-locked estimate that reflects current crew and truck availability, unless volume or services change after the written estimate is signed.

How Big Is the Driver Gap and How Does It Affect Movers?

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) cites a driver gap near 78,000 open seats in 2024. Industry reporting expects the gap to stay near that level through 2026. The gap spans the full trucking sector, including long haul freight, less-than-truckload carriers, and household goods movers. Carriers that hold FMCSA authority for household goods compete with the broader freight sector for the same pool of Commercial Driver's License (CDL) holders.

Two effects flow into a household move. First, booking windows tighten on peak dates, and the Memorial Day through Labor Day window fills earliest. Second, peak season pricing runs above off-peak baselines to fund the wage premium a carrier pays to keep experienced drivers on the roster. A client can book 6 to 10 weeks ahead on peak dates. Pulling to an off-peak week often draws better crew availability. The reliable long-distance movers in 2026 guide covers the vetting side of the same gap.

How Does Regional Wage Variation Show Up in a Long-Distance Quote?

The OEWS reports wages by state and metropolitan statistical area. State and metro figures often run well above the national median. New York State pays heavy truck drivers a median near $32 to $36 per hour. California pays $30 to $34. Peak season Florida runs 15 to 20 percent above the baseline from May through August. Lower cost states in the Midwest and interior South sit at or slightly below the national median.

Regional variation lands on a long distance quote as an origin or destination premium. A move that starts or ends in a high cost metro carries a higher labor rate on packing day and delivery day. A peak season pickup in Florida carries the same premium on the loading side. A Florida to Midwest move sees that premium on the origin leg. A Florida to Northeast move sees it on the destination leg. Safebound sets the written estimate against current OEWS regional bands so the number tracks real market conditions.

How Do Carriers Use BLS Data to Plan Crew Capacity?

A licensed carrier uses the OEWS and OOH files in three ways. First, the carrier benchmarks its wage offer against the state and metro median. That keeps pay competitive enough to retain experienced drivers. Second, the carrier uses the OOH growth projection and the yearly opening count to size hiring and training for the coming year. Third, the carrier watches the FMCSA authority registration trend as a companion signal for total household goods capacity in the market.

Safebound applies the same public data to plan crew capacity out of West Palm Beach. Peak season crew size, vault space at the 100,000 sq ft climate-controlled storage facility, and driver rotation across interstate lanes all track the wage and gap signals in the BLS series and the FMCSA data. That discipline is why the Safebound team can hold a written, price-locked estimate through the peak May to August window, unless volume or services change after the written estimate is signed.

What Should a Client Ask a Mover About Crew Hiring?

Wage pressure and a tight driver market push some low bid operators to cut corners. A client can screen out that risk with four questions to any carrier under review. First, does the carrier run background checks and drug screening on every crew member before a first move? Second, does the carrier employ its drivers and loaders, or does it hand off to third party day labor on peak dates? Third, does the carrier hold active FMCSA authority for household goods, and what is its USDOT number? Fourth, does the carrier issue a written, price-locked estimate that reflects the crew and truck assigned to the move?

Every Safebound crew is trained and background-checked. Every quote comes with transparent pricing and no hidden fees. Safebound holds USDOT 2900155 and MC 975408 with active FMCSA authority. A client can verify the number at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. The carrier vetting guide walks the same four question screen in more depth.

What Are the Key BLS Data Points Every Client Should Know?

1. OEWS Source: The OEWS at bls.gov/oes lists median hourly and yearly wages and job counts by SOC code, updated on a yearly cycle.

2. OOH Source: The Occupational Outlook Handbook at bls.gov/ooh pairs the wage data with a 10 year job outlook for each role.

3. SOC 53-3032 Heavy Drivers: Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn a 2026 median of $28 to $32 per hour and staff the long distance interstate legs of a household move.

4. SOC 53-3033 Light Drivers: Light truck drivers earn $22 to $25 per hour and staff shorter routes and last mile delivery legs.

5. SOC 53-7062 Movers: Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers earn $17 to $20 per hour and handle loading, unloading, and warehouse work.

6. 10 Year Growth: The OOH projects 3 to 5 percent job growth for these roles from 2022 to 2032, slower than the national average.

7. Driver Gap: The ATA cites a driver gap near 78,000 open seats in 2024. The gap keeps pressure on pricing and booking windows through 2026.

8. Regional Premium: High cost metros in New York and California run 15 to 25 percent above the national median. Peak season Florida runs 15 to 20 percent above the baseline from May through August.

9. FMCSA Cross-Check: The FMCSA authority trend at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov shows total licensed household goods capacity. It pairs with BLS wage data to explain both pricing and availability.

The table below sums up the three main moving industry roles in the 2026 BLS series. Each figure uses 2026 OEWS and OOH data and reflects national median wages before any regional premium.

SOC Code	Occupation	2026 Median Wage	2022-2032 Growth
53-3032	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	$28 to $32 per hour	About 4 percent
53-3033	Light Truck Drivers	$22 to $25 per hour	About 5 percent
53-7062	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers	$17 to $20 per hour	About 3 percent

Seasonal rates may vary.

A client reading the table can see why heavy driver time carries the highest hourly load on a long distance quote. Loader and packer time still adds meaningfully to the total. Safebound sets the written estimate against the same wage bands, unless volume or services change after the written estimate is signed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the BLS OEWS series and what does it cover for movers?

The OEWS series at bls.gov/oes is the yearly BLS survey that lists median hourly and yearly wages and job counts for every SOC code, including SOC 53-3032, 53-3033, and 53-7062. The OEWS file reports national, state, and metro figures and is the federal source for moving industry wages.

What are the 2026 median wages for movers and drivers?

The 2026 OEWS lists heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers at about $28 to $32 per hour, light truck drivers at $22 to $25, and laborers and freight movers at $17 to $20. Top quartile wages in each class run 15 to 25 percent above the median, and high cost metros run above those national bands.

What does the Occupational Outlook Handbook project for moving jobs?

The OOH at bls.gov/ooh projects heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers to grow about 4 percent, light truck drivers about 5 percent, and laborers and freight movers about 3 percent from 2022 to 2032. Replacement demand still opens about 240,000 seats a year across the three roles.

How big is the current driver gap and who tracks it?

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) cites a driver gap near 78,000 open seats in 2024. Industry reporting expects a similar gap through 2026. The gap spans long haul freight, less-than-truckload carriers, and household goods movers, so household movers compete with the broader trucking sector for CDL holders.

How does the driver gap affect a household move?

The gap tightens booking windows on peak dates and lifts peak season pricing above off-peak baselines. A client planning a peak May through August move should book 6 to 10 weeks ahead to lock a preferred crew. Pulling to an off-peak week often draws better crew availability and a lower total.

Why do wages vary so much across states and metros?

The OEWS reports wages by state and metropolitan statistical area. Cost of living, union presence, and local demand shape each regional band. New York and California run 15 to 25 percent above the national median for heavy drivers. Peak season Florida runs 15 to 20 percent above the baseline from May through August.

Does BLS data include employer benefits or only wages?

The OEWS reports wages only. Employer paid benefits like health insurance, retirement, and paid time off are covered in the separate BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC) release. A licensed carrier that pays strong benefits still lifts total labor cost above the OEWS wage figure alone.

How does BLS data differ from FMCSA carrier data?

BLS covers labor and wages. FMCSA covers licensed carrier authority, safety records, and cargo insurance filings. A relocation client cross-checks the two files to gauge both the labor market for movers and the number of licensed household goods carriers active on a given lane. Verify carrier authority at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.

Where does a client verify the current BLS moving industry data?

The current OEWS wage tables sit at bls.gov/oes. The Occupational Outlook Handbook sits at bls.gov/ooh. Both files update on a yearly cycle and list national, state, and metro figures for SOC 53-3032, 53-3033, and 53-7062. Safebound tracks each release when planning crew capacity.

Ready to Plan a Move With BLS-Informed Timing?

Tight driver capacity and rising wages make early booking the smart hedge on preferred move dates in 2026. Call 561-510-7191 for a written, price-locked estimate that reflects current crew and truck availability, or request a free quote to lock a crew before the peak season fills. Visit Safebound Moving and Storage to review the full credential stack. Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-9pm | Sat-Sun 10am-6pm.

People Also Read

• How to Vet a Moving Company in 10 Minutes (The Background Check Scammers Can't Pass)

• Moving Labor: What You Need to Know Before Your Next Move

Sources & References

• US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

• US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook

• FMCSA, Protect Your Move

• Florida DACS, Mover Verification

• FTC, Tips for Hiring a Moving Company

Safebound Moving & Storage is licensed, insured, and certified throughout Florida and the continental United States. USDOT 2900155 | MC 975408 | FL IM2839. BBB Accredited. Forbes Featured. Verify at fdacs.gov or safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.

About the Author

Leo Cavaretta | Moving Industry Specialist, Safebound Moving & Storage

Leo Cavaretta is a moving industry specialist at Safebound Moving & Storage, a licensed carrier based in West Palm Beach, Florida (USDOT 2900155). Leo specializes in interstate moving regulations, USDOT compliance, residential relocation, and moving cost transparency, helping customers navigate the full moving process, from written, price-locked estimates with transparent pricing and no hidden fees to long-distance logistics, with confidence. Since 2016, Safebound has completed more than 35,000+ moves across all 50 states. Safebound holds USDOT 2900155, MC 975408, and FL IM2839, and is BBB Accredited. Get a free quote or learn about Safebound Moving & Storage.

Connect: LinkedIn