Material Handler Jobs in New York, NY
Material handlers in New York keep supplies moving to transit depots, hospital floors and parcel docks, and stock worker jobs at the MTA pay in the mid-$30s an hour. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring, what the work pays and how to get started.
Current material handler Openings in New York, NY
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Material Handler Work in New York
Much of New York's material handling happens inside the five boroughs' industrial pockets and institutions: parcel buildings along Maspeth Avenue in Brooklyn and in the Maspeth industrial zone in Queens, the Hunts Point food district in the Bronx, the JFK Industrial Corridor around the airport cargo area, and the City's own Central Storehouse in Middle Village, which ships more than 570 commodities to over 1,600 agency sites. Hospitals along York Avenue and First Avenue run their own storerooms and receiving docks around the clock.
Public employers matter more here than almost anywhere. The MTA, the NYPD and NYC Health + Hospitals hire through Stock Worker civil service titles, which pay well above private warehouse rates but require an exam, so watch filing periods as closely as job boards.
Top New York Employers Hiring Material Handlers
These employers have posted material handling roles inside the five boroughs on their own career sites:
- MTA New York City Transit - the Division of Supply Logistics hires Railroad Stock Workers in Brooklyn to receive, pick and distribute parts and run lift trucks.
- FedEx - the Maspeth Avenue station in Brooklyn hires part-time package handlers to load, unload and sort freight, starting at $19 an hour.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering - the cancer center hires logistics associates for General Stores on York Avenue and for evening and early shifts at nearby buildings.
- NYU Langone Health - clinical supply chain associates open deliveries, restock storerooms and operating room carts, and pick cases for the next day's surgeries.
- City of New York - agencies such as the NYPD hire Stock Workers at sites like College Point to run electric forklifts and pallet jacks, with no degree required.
- NYC Health + Hospitals - the public hospital system fills Stock Worker jobs from its own civil service exam, with forklift work after training.
Material Handler Salaries in New York
- Entry level: about $17 to $20 per hour, starting from the $17.00 New York City minimum wage.
- Experienced: roughly $21 to $24 per hour at private warehouses, and $23 to $32 per hour on hospital logistics teams.
- Senior / public sector: $28 to $40 per hour, with MTA stock worker titles posted in the mid-$30s and rising with years of service.
These are estimates from posted pay ranges and federal wage data for the New York metro, where hand material movers earn a median of about $20.81 an hour. Pay rises with forklift and lift truck experience, night shifts, inventory system skills and union or civil service status.
How to Become a Material Handler in New York
Most private and hospital jobs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent and the ability to lift and stand all shift, and employers train you on their systems. There is no New York State or New York City license for material handlers. If the job includes a forklift or other powered truck, federal OSHA rules require your employer to train, evaluate and certify you on that equipment. City and MTA stock jobs are civil service titles: you take an exam during its filing period, and the MTA's Railroad Stock Worker Level II also requires a valid New York State driver license. The free Workforce1 Industrial and Transportation Career Centers in Jamaica, Queens and at the Brooklyn Army Terminal connect job seekers with warehouse openings, and LaGuardia Community College Continuing Education in Long Island City runs a Supply Chain and Logistics Management program.
What the Job Involves
Material handlers receive deliveries, check them against packing lists, unpack and label stock, put it away, and pick supplies to fill orders or requisitions. Depending on the site you may load trucks, sort parcels, push supply carts to patient floors, run a pallet jack or forklift, track expiration dates and record every move in an inventory system.
Skills Employers Look For
- Safe lifting and the stamina to stay on your feet all shift
- Accuracy when counting, checking and labeling stock
- Pallet jack, lift truck or forklift experience
- Comfort with handheld scanners and inventory software
- Reliability for early, evening or weekend shifts
- Clear communication with drivers, nurses or supervisors
Career Path and Advancement
A common New York path starts in a part-time parcel or warehouse job, moves to a full-time material handler or hospital logistics associate role, and then to a civil service Stock Worker title once you pass the exam. The MTA promotes Railroad Stock Worker Level I staff to Level II, and from there the ladder runs to supervisor of stock workers, storekeeper and inventory control roles. Hospital supply staff can add the CMRP credential to move into purchasing.
Related Careers in New York
If material handling interests you, these related New York roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a material handler in New York?
No. New York State and New York City do not license material handlers. If the job uses a forklift or other powered industrial truck, OSHA requires your employer to train and certify you on that equipment.
How much do material handlers make in New York?
Entry-level jobs generally start around $17 to $20 an hour, and experienced handlers earn about $21 to $24. Hospital logistics and MTA stock jobs pay more.
How do I get a City of New York stock worker job?
Stock Worker is a civil service title, so you apply for the exam when DCAS or NYC Health + Hospitals opens a filing period, then get hired from the resulting list. Agencies also post individual vacancies on the City's job site.
Which shifts are available for material handlers in New York?
Parcel stations often run short part-time shifts of 3 to 6 hours, while hospitals staff storerooms early mornings, days, evenings and weekends.
What should I bring to a material handler interview?
Bring a government ID, proof that you can work in the United States, and a list of past warehouse, stock or delivery jobs. For MTA roles that require driving, bring your New York State driver license.
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