BLS OES wage model · planning ranges

Moving cost tools

Price a distance and home size against the live 50-metro matrix in 32 states. These are BLS-wage planning ranges, not a carrier quote.

Compiled by · · BLS OES →

Metros in the matrix
50
States covered
32
Modeled routes
2,450
2BR medium average
$1,397

What this estimator can return

Oklahoma City has the highest modeled 2BR average in the matrix at $5,156: 2,450 city-pair costs across 50 metros in 32 states, not a 50-state inventory.

50
metros with a modeled cost
32
states in the live extract
2,450
city-pair routes priced
$1,397
2BR medium average in the matrix

The estimator does not look up a named mover, a USDOT number, or a binding quote. It applies the same BLS OES wage-and-distance model used on the city and route pages.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, the national median hourly wage for laborers and freight movers (SOC 53-7062) is $17.88 as of May 2023. PlainMove applies that wage to a modeled 2,450-route city matrix. See our methodology.

Highest modeled 2BR averages in the live matrix

1. Oklahoma City, OK$5,1562. Boston, MA$3,1403. San Jose, CA$3,0974. Charlotte, NC$2,8895. San Diego, CA$2,8396. Sacramento, CA$2,6187. San Francisco, CA$2,5608. Pittsburgh, PA$2,294
Average modeled 2-bedroom moving cost by metro, same wage-and-distance model as the estimator

State coverage of the live matrix

05132
Covered states in the live matrix (32 of 51, including DC as the 51st slot)

Interactive tools

Route cost lookup

Pick origin and destination metros to read studio–4BR costs from the live 2,450-route matrix.

Moving cost estimator

Enter a distance and home size to estimate labor, crew, and materials cost from BLS OES wages.

What to do with these tools

Run the estimator, then get a carrier quote

  • Open the estimator with a distance and home size. The live matrix covers 50 metros in 32 states.
  • Oklahoma City has the highest modeled 2BR average at $5,156. Compare that metro before treating a quote as typical.
  • These are BLS-wage planning ranges. See methodology. The estimator does not look up a named mover.

Download the modeled route-cost snapshot: moving-cost-route-statistics.csv (same CSV as our statistics page, CC0).

Every figure on PlainMove is computed directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.