Transportation and material moving careers: pay and licences
Transportation work is licence-led: a commercial driver's licence, an FAA certificate or a merchant mariner credential is the qualification that matters, not a degree. That makes most of these roles reachable in months, and several pay well above the national median.
The list below ranks every transportation and material-moving occupation by median annual pay.
- Occupations
- 52
- Pay range
- $35,150–$232,140
- Top median
- $232,140
Transportation occupations, ranked by median pay
Median annual wage, national, BLS May 2025.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersConsiderable preparation needed · 103,560 employed$232,140median / yrAir Traffic ControllersMedium preparation needed · 22,510 employed$148,080median / yrCommercial PilotsGrowingMedium preparation needed · 47,630 employed$123,220median / yrShip EngineersMedium preparation needed · 8,400 employed$109,530median / yrCaptains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsMedium preparation needed · 36,850 employed$92,460median / yrTransportation InspectorsConsiderable preparation needed · 24,500 employed$92,100median / yrAviation InspectorsMedium preparation needed · 24,500 employed$92,100median / yrTransportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except AviationLittle to some preparation needed · 24,500 employed$92,100median / yrSubway and Streetcar OperatorsLittle to some preparation needed · 10,200 employed$86,380median / yrLocomotive EngineersLittle to some preparation needed · 33,470 employed$81,410median / yrRailroad Conductors and YardmastersLittle to some preparation needed · 46,440 employed$78,000median / yrGas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station OperatorsLittle to some preparation needed · 3,510 employed$77,320median / yrWellhead PumpersLittle to some preparation needed · 17,990 employed$69,960median / yrRailroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive FirersLittle to some preparation needed · 12,400 employed$68,840median / yrCrane and Tower OperatorsMedium preparation needed · 42,890 employed$68,080median / yrFlight AttendantsGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 131,650 employed$63,580median / yrPump Operators, Except Wellhead PumpersLittle to some preparation needed · 9,780 employed$61,770median / yrRail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and HostlersLittle to some preparation needed · 3,920 employed$60,600median / yrTraffic TechniciansMedium preparation needed · 7,860 employed$59,090median / yrBus Drivers, Transit and IntercityLittle to some preparation needed · 159,240 employed$59,050median / yrTank Car, Truck, and Ship LoadersLittle to some preparation needed · 10,700 employed$58,870median / yrHeavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 2,062,040 employed$58,640median / yrAircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 9,760 employed$58,170median / yrBridge and Lock TendersLittle to some preparation needed · 3,040 employed$57,700median / yrAirfield Operations SpecialistsMedium preparation needed · 15,190 employed$56,850median / yrHoist and Winch OperatorsLittle to some preparation needed · 2,600 employed$56,450median / yrRail Transportation Workers, All OtherPreparation level not rated · 1,120 employed$56,360median / yrSailors and Marine OilersLittle to some preparation needed · 31,670 employed$51,520median / yrRefuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsLittle to some preparation needed · 147,240 employed$49,690median / yrDredge OperatorsLittle to some preparation needed · 1,040 employed$49,640median / yrBus Drivers, SchoolLittle to some preparation needed · 402,930 employed$47,920median / yrMotorboat OperatorsLittle to some preparation needed · 2,480 employed$47,520median / yrIndustrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 774,420 employed$46,420median / yrTransportation Workers, All OtherPreparation level not rated · 13,550 employed$45,650median / yrLight Truck DriversGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 983,300 employed$44,860median / yrConveyor Operators and TendersLittle to some preparation needed · 22,930 employed$42,420median / yrTaxi DriversGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 41,050 employed$42,100median / yrMaterial Moving Workers, All OtherPreparation level not rated · 23,480 employed$41,800median / yrMachine Feeders and OffbearersLittle to some preparation needed · 42,330 employed$41,220median / yrAircraft Service AttendantsGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 31,300 employed$40,450median / yr
Fastest growing transportation occupations
Projected employment growth, 2024–34.