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Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

Reviewed by Armen

Group median

$42,740

Group mean

$48,750

Employment

13,645,620

Occupations

May 2024 national BLS data. Figures are national medians and percentiles from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS (May 2024); your local market, employer and experience will differ. Wage data ages — this reflects the May 2024 release, verified June 2026. Informational only, not career, salary-negotiation or financial advice.

Transportation and Material Moving Occupations (SOC 53-0000) encompassed 13,645,620 workers in May 2024, making it a substantial segment of the U.S. workforce. The national annual median wage for the group was $42,740, while the mean wage was $48,750. This occupational group serves as an umbrella category covering diverse roles essential to the movement of goods and people across the economy.

The group contains 50 detailed occupations whose individual wages vary considerably around the group median. Workers in this category range from those in lower-wage positions to those earning significantly more, reflecting differences in skill requirements, experience, working conditions, and specialized certifications. Understanding the specific occupation within this broad category is important for accurate wage expectations, as pay can differ substantially depending on the particular role and its demands.

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Occupations in Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

Occupation	Median pay	Employment
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers	$226,600	99,300
Air Traffic Controllers	$144,580	22,400
Commercial Pilots	$122,670	51,830
Ship Engineers	$101,320	8,580
Transportation Inspectors	$85,750	23,320
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	$85,540	35,390
Subway and Streetcar Operators	$84,830	9,200
Locomotive Engineers	$77,400	31,990
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters	$74,080	42,710
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators	$71,510	5,110
Wellhead Pumpers	$70,010	17,350
Flight Attendants	$67,130	130,110
Crane and Tower Operators	$66,370	42,000
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers	$65,480	12,460
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	$63,940	10,160
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	$61,890	605,510
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers	$60,020	12,600
Bridge and Lock Tenders	$58,490	2,720
Traffic Technicians	$58,480	7,580
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders	$58,070	10,920
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers	$58,030	3,300
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity	$57,440	148,980
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	$57,440	2,070,480
Airfield Operations Specialists	$56,750	16,640
Hoist and Winch Operators	$52,310	2,480
Motorboat Operators	$51,880	2,380
Sailors and Marine Oilers	$49,610	31,360
Rail Transportation Workers, All Other	$49,330	1,520
Dredge Operators	$48,430	1,030
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors	$48,350	139,180
Bus Drivers, School	$47,040	387,920
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators	$46,390	805,770
Light Truck Drivers	$44,140	994,410
Material Moving Workers, All Other	$41,690	25,190
Aircraft Service Attendants	$41,540	27,310
Conveyor Operators and Tenders	$41,230	26,060
Machine Feeders and Offbearers	$39,700	46,690
Transportation Workers, All Other	$39,630	10,960
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand	$38,940	2,982,530
Passenger Attendants	$37,560	25,340
Driver/Sales Workers	$37,130	417,420
Stockers and Order Fillers	$37,090	2,779,530
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs	$36,670	229,630
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other	$36,260	50,330
Taxi Drivers	$36,220	17,510
Packers and Packagers, Hand	$35,580	601,440
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment	$35,270	373,960
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants	$34,850	98,270
Parking Attendants	$34,600	134,650
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians	$34,330	12,080

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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 national (public domain), verified June 2026. How we compile this.

Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

Occupations in Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

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