Employment of transportation and material moving occupations is projected to grow 4 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations, adding 483,100 new jobs. Material moving workers are expected to be needed to move materials in nearly all sectors of the economy. Additionally, the economy depends on truck drivers to transport freight and keep supply chains moving.
The median annual wage for transportation and material moving occupations was $32,440 in May 2019, below the median for all occupations of $39,810.
| OCCUPATION | JOB SUMMARY | ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION  |
2019 MEDIAN PAY |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Airline and Commercial Pilots |
Airline and commercial pilots fly and navigate airplanes, helicopters, and other aircraft. |
See How to Become One | $121,430 |
|
|
Air Traffic Controllers |
Air traffic controllers coordinate the movement of aircraft to maintain safe distances between them. |
Associate’s degree | $122,990 |
|
|
Bus Drivers |
Bus drivers transport people between various places. |
See How to Become One | $33,300 |
|
|
Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers |
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $32,020 |
|
|
Flight Attendants |
Flight attendants provide routine services and respond to emergencies to ensure the safety and comfort of airline passengers. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $56,640 |
|
|
Hand Laborers and Material Movers |
Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. |
No formal educational credential | $28,710 |
|
|
Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers |
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. |
Postsecondary nondegree award | $45,260 |
|
|
Material Moving Machine Operators |
Material moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects. |
See How to Become One | $36,770 |
|
|
Railroad Workers |
Workers in railroad occupations ensure that passenger and freight trains safely run on time. They may drive trains, coordinate the activities of the trains, or operate signals and switches in the rail yard. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $65,020 |
|
|
Taxi Drivers, Ride-Hailing Drivers, and Chauffeurs |
Taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs transport people to and from the places they need to go. |
No formal educational credential | $31,340 |
|
|
Water Transportation Workers |
Water transportation workers operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water. |
See How to Become One | $57,330 |
Last Modified Date:
Wednesday, September 4, 2019