Mover

Again, movers help people or businesses move their possessions to new locations. If you become one, your main responsibilities will be to:

• Package items securely, some of which may be fragile
• Disassemble furniture
• Carry the items to a moving truck or van and load them
• Potentially drive the vehicle to the moving destination
• Unload and place the items once you get there

As a mover, you may operate independently, work for a professional moving company, or land gigs through a mobile app. Regardless of how you find jobs, you probably won’t work alone—you’ll usually work with at least one other person or as part of a larger team.

What qualifications and skills do movers need?

The requirements to become a mover aren’t particularly strict, but you will need certain credentials and skills to become one.

• Education: Generally, moving gigs don’t have any educational requirements, but some employers do preferentially hire people who have a high-school diploma or equivalent.
• Fitness: Moving is a labor-intensive job that requires a lot of heavy lifting, and it’ll be hard to do this kind of work if you have back issues or bad knees. The ability to lift at least 40–50 lb is generally a prerequisite.
• Licensure: If you’re going to drive as part of your job, you’ll need a driver’s license and a clean record. You’ll also need a commercial license if your job requires operating a heavy truck (e.g., a flatbed). In some cases, you may also need more specialized permits; you may need operating permission from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the US Department of Transportation to move goods across state lines, for example.
• Certification: Some companies require their movers to have certain certifications (e.g., in warehousing), although this is uncommon.

The formal qualifications you’ll need may vary from state to state. Look up the regulations required in your jurisdiction to make sure you meet all of them.

Aside from the criteria listed above, you’ll interact a lot with customers as a mover, so being personable and attentive to your clients’ needs is also an important part of the job.

Many movers make anywhere from $15 to $50 per hour, excluding tips. The exact amount you’ll make depends on quite a few factors, including:

• Location: Your geographic location affects both how much you’ll get for each job and how many jobs you’ll find. Densely populated urban areas usually have more demand than quieter rural areas.
• Experience: Movers with a proven track record will find work more easily and earn higher wages than those who are just starting out.
• Job type: Some moving jobs are unusually challenging, meaning they require lifting very heavy furniture or fragile items. This often comes with higher wages. Some movers even specialize in moving certain classes of tricky items, such as pianos. If you niche down like this, you’ll be able to charge more.
• Time of year: Most reports suggest that May–September is the peak moving season. These dates have more work available than the rest of the year, and the greater the demand for your services as a mover, the more you’ll make.
• Tips: Getting tips is common in this line of work, although it isn’t guaranteed. If your customer has any particularly fragile items and you transport them safely, they may be more inclined to give a higher tip.

Note that in some areas, your union membership (or lack thereof) may also affect your rates. Many professional movers are part of labor unions, which can negotiate higher salaries and better working conditions for their members.

How much will your expenses affect your profits as a mover?

Depending on the company or platform you work for, you may have to factor expenses into your profits. Most gig apps, for example, will not cover your fuel costs, so if you drive a truck for one of them, you’ll need to pay for gas yourself.

Movers also need to consider the cost of any permits, licenses, and insurance policies they’ll need. For instance, getting an MC number (used to identify carriers who deliver goods across state lines) from the FMCSA costs $300 per application.

If you’ve decided being a mover is the right fit for you, you’re probably wondering where to look for work. Let’s examine the three avenues you can take to become a mover:

1. Work for a moving company

If you have all of the permits required in your state, you can search for jobs at moving companies on online job boards, such as:

• Indeed
• Monster
• ZipRecruiter
• MovingWork.com
• TruckPlease

Aside from online job boards, you can also check out professional mover associations. You’ll find these in each state, and they’re a useful resource for finding gigs.

To find an association in your area, check out the FMCSA’s list of state movers associations.

Is working for a moving company worth it?

Working for a professional moving company is good for those who want to take moving more seriously. These companies often offer training to employees and usually pay higher salaries than you can get by working for an app.

However, moving companies also usually have stricter requirements than apps. You’re more likely to need past experience or even special permits. If you work for a company that transports hefty items, such as manufacturing equipment, you may need a forklift license, for instance.

Moreover, you’ll get less flexibility with your working hours when you’re traditionally employed by a company. In contrast, when you land jobs through a mobile app, you’ll be classified as an independent contractor, and will usually have more freedom to pick your own hours.

2. Work for a moving app

There are several apps that connect movers with clients who need their services. The entry requirements on these are usually fairly loose, and most will give you a lot of freedom to determine your schedule.

Below, we’ve listed some of the most popular apps you can use to find moving work:

Lugg

Lugg is an app that offers on-demand moving and delivery services. Its workers (or “Luggers,” as they’re called) sign up either as “drivers,” meaning they operate the moving truck but don’t do any heavy lifting, or as “helpers,” in which case the opposite is true.

Luggers sign up for 8-hour shifts, with the app’s operating hours being:

• Monday–Saturday: 8 AM to 9 PM
• Sunday: 9 AM to 8 PM

Lugg pays a lot less than professional moving companies. Drivers make $20–$30 per hour and helpers get $15 per hour on average, but these rates only take into account their actual working hours.

As a Lugger, most of your shift will be downtime, which Lugg won’t pay you for, even though they expect you to be available for the whole period. When you factor this into your hours, you may make under minimum wage (i.e., around $5 per hour).

Moving Help

Moving Help is a platform owned by U-Haul. Like Lugg, it connects users who need moving services to independent movers and small moving businesses.

Customers must book a minimum of 2 hours of services with Moving Help. If your job exceeds the prepaid hours your customer has booked, you can add on extra hours in the app.

Reportedly, Moving Help’s gig workers earn around $17 per hour on average, but you get full control over your rates and don’t have to accept jobs that pay too little. However, you’ll need to factor in a 15% “marketplace fee” that Moving Help will take out of your pay.

It’s worth noting that you need to be on a team of at least two people to work for Moving Help, so if you’d prefer to go at it alone, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit is an online marketplace that connects freelancers, or “Taskers,” to job opportunities in their area. Moving is one of the most common tasks you can find.

User reports suggest that you can make $20–$30 per hour as a Tasker, although this figure depends on where you’re working. You keep 100% of your earnings and tips, and you’ll get one hour of pay if a customer cancels on you.

TaskRabbit gives you complete control over your schedule, making it a solid side hustle if you’re looking to supplement your income without compromising your work-life balance.

However, in many areas, the market for movers on TaskRabbit is saturated, meaning you’ll need to compete with many other Taskers (as well as professional moving companies that already have a solid reputation).

Bellhop

Bellhop is another platform that connects movers to customers who need assistance with either local or long-distance moves. Like Lugg, Bellhop focuses solely on moving and doesn’t allow other jobs.

If you sign up, you’ll either work as a “mover,” which involves heavy lifting, or a “driver,” in which case you’ll just be responsible for operating the moving truck.

Bellhop will provide you with on-the-job training, making it one of the better platforms for those just starting out. However, the app does have downsides; you never work alone, and you don’t have control over who you work with. If the mover or driver you’re partnered with is unreliable, you’ll be directly affected.

Bellhop states on their site that you can earn up to $21 per hour with them, though anecdotal reports suggest you may actually earn closer to $15 per hour.

Handy (Angi Services)

Handy, also known as Angi Services, is a platform that connects users to workers and small businesses that offer a wide range of home services, including moving.

Customers post their jobs on the Handy platform, which are then forwarded to workers (called “Professionals”) via the Angi Services for Pros app.

One issue with Handy is that you don’t get to decide your rates—the platform has a predetermined rate for each service. It also doesn’t disclose how much it takes off of its professionals’ wages.

Judging by user reports, you can make around $16 per hour as a mover. Concerningly, some users also claim that you can’t count on being paid on time.

You can only sign up as a Professional if you have paid experience in the services you plan on offering, so Handy isn’t suitable for those who aren’t already experienced movers.

GigSmart

GigSmart, as the name suggests, is another gig app where you can find all kinds of temporary work, including moving jobs. GigSmart also has an online job board that’s integrated into the platform; this is worth checking out if you want to find something more stable (a long-term position with a moving company).

Anecdotal reports suggest that it’s tough to find work on GigSmart. Many jobs get filled almost immediately, and some users even claim that you have to bid for jobs.

GigSmart doesn’t disclose how much you usually get for moving work, but one report suggests that you can earn $15 per hour on average, which puts its rates roughly in line with other gig apps.

Move It

Move It describes itself as “the Uber and Lyft of moving and delivery.” It offers on-demand moving services by connecting customers to drivers and movers, who it terms “Pros” and “Muscles,” respectively.

Both Pros and Muscles do heavy lifting and carrying, but only Pros drive. Move It expects all of its workers to have their own transportation to and from jobs.

Move It states on its FAQ that Pros can earn up to $80 per hour, whereas Muscles earn a minimum of $26 per hour. These rates are much higher than most of its competitors offer, and we haven’t independently confirmed them (as Move It is something of a newcomer in the gig app space, there are relatively few user reports to corroborate their claims).

If you’re interested in starting a moving side hustle, Move It should definitely be on your radar, but keep your wits about you, since the app is still a mostly unknown quantity.

3. Start your own moving business

If you’re serious about moving as a profession, you can also consider starting your own moving business and offering your services to residents in your area. This requires a lot more work than getting hired by a moving company or gig app, and it also has much higher upfront costs, but it offers correspondingly higher returns in the long run.

Is starting a moving business worth it?

It goes without saying that starting any business requires a huge amount of effort and investment. Even if you have a lot of experience in the moving industry, there’s no guarantee you’ll be successful.

You’ll need other workers to help you out, which means budgeting for their salaries and keeping track of payroll. Moreover, if you don’t already have a van or truck, you’ll need to invest in one, as well as all the necessary licenses and permits.

Considering all of these factors, starting a moving business isn’t worth it for those who want to get paid quickly or aren’t willing to dedicate the necessary time and resources.

However, if you’re passionate about moving and are looking to take your side hustle to the next level, starting your own business is far and away the most profitable avenue in the long run.