How Much Does Transportation Jobs Pay

The transportation sector is no doubt, the most critical sector of any economy, with a pool of high-paying job opportunities.

You can earn a solid living while working in the transportation industry and a lot of cash. So, how much do transportation jobs pay as a very lucrative sector?

Suppose you intend to move into the transportation sector. In that case, this article will give you the pay scale of various transportation jobs in the United States, the average salary, job descriptions, and also job requirements.

How Much Does Transportation Jobs Pay

The transportation sector is quite broad, and the 2023 average salary of employees in this sector depends solely on the nature of the job and the position occupied.

Below are some transportation jobs with their pay!

Water Transportation Workers

Water transportation workers include captains, mates, pilots, sailors, ship engineers, marine boilers, motorboat operators, and so on.

Job Description

Employees are required to operate and maintain non-military vessels. The job involves operating and controlling ships and also maintaining the safety of passengers and cargo.

Employees may be required to work on large deep-sea container ships transporting manufactured goods, on bulk carriers transporting iron ore, coal, and other heavy commodities, and on tankers carrying fuel and other liquids.

Job Requirements

This job does not require any formal education. Still, most jobs require a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) from the Transportation Security Administration and a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), as well as any related endorsements from the United States Coast Guard.

Average National Salary

The average national salary of water transportation workers is $59,250, with a number of 66,600 jobs.

Railroad Workers

Railroad workers include train drivers, individuals operating control signals and switches, and coordination of training activities. The majority of employees in this field are full-time workers.

Job Description

Railroad workers are in charge of safely operating passengers and freight trains.

Job Requirements

Applicants for this job need a high school diploma or its equivalent to be a railroad worker including several months of on-the-job training.

Average National Salary

The average national salary of railroad workers is $64,210, with a number of 74,600 jobs.

Tanker Drivers

Job Description

Tanker Drivers are hired to drive tanker trailers, deliver goods, load and unload goods in the tanker, and keep records of the driving hours and the miles covered.

Job Requirements

Applicants for this job need a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Average Salary

The average salary of tanker drivers in the United States is $19.78 per hour, which amounts to $74,851 per year.

Working as a tanker driver can also get you additional benefits, like the opportunity to buy company stocks at a discounted price (employee stock purchase plan), A&D insurance, and much more. 

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Salaried Truck Drivers

Job Description

Heavy and tractor-trailer salaried truck drivers are one of the most common transportation jobs in the transportation sector, with almost 2 million positions.

Heavy and tractor-trailer salaried truck drivers centre primarily on transporting goods across the country. Drivers are often employed full-time because they are always on the road for days or weeks.

Job Requirements

Heavy and tractor-trailer salaried truck drivers require a postsecondary non-degree award. Most employers also require drivers to have a high school diploma or its equivalent and also expect them to take training courses for about three to six months.

Average National Salary

The average salary of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the United States is $47,130, with a number of 1,951,600 jobs.

Local Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs

Job Description 

Local taxi drivers and chauffeurs travel from one place to another, transporting people and goods to various destinations.

Average Salary

The salary of taxi drivers and chauffeurs ranges between $24,724 to $51947 every year. The average salary for this job stands at $36,551 USD per year. 

Flight Attendants

Job Description

Flight attendants are assigned to attend to passengers on commercial airliners.

Employees participate in preflight briefings with pilots, conduct preflight inspections of emergency equipment, maintain safety procedures on board aircraft, and take care of passengers with special needs.

Flight attendants may also be called upon to reassure nervous passengers, administer and coordinate emergency medical care, and provide directions during an aircraft evacuation.

This job involves irregular hours, including nights and weekends, and may require overnight stays in distant cities.

Job Requirements

Flight attendants require a degree, a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Average Salary

The average salary of flight attendants is $59,050, with about 102,500 jobs.

Commercial Pilots

Job Description

Commercial pilots fly for major airlines, commercial airlines, private planes, air freight companies, helicopters, and private employers.

Employees of this job have variable schedules and sometimes overnight layovers.

The exact pay level will depend on the position of the pilot; lead pilot, copilot, or flight engineer.

Job Requirements

Commercial pilots need a bachelor’s degree in transportation, engineering, or business. In addition to these education requirements, commercial pilots are also required to complete flight training with an independent FAA-certified flight instructor or school.

Pilots are also required to have military experience and undergo on-the-job training as specified by government regulations.

Average National Salary

The average National Salary for commercial pilots is $130,440, with about 113,900 jobs.

Air Traffic Controllers

Job Description

Air-traffic controllers are responsible for coordinating the movement of aircraft in airports and the skies above them. The primary aim is to maintain safe distances to avoid collisions and other hazards.

Air-traffic controllers are required to work in control towers, route centers, and approach control facilities. Rotating shifts is very common in the field; employees are expected to work at night and on weekends.

Job Requirements

Applicants for this job must have a bachelor’s or associate’s degree, which the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative must complete, as well as satisfactory completion of exams and courses through the Federal Aviation Administration academy.

Average National Salary

The average national salary of an air traffic controller is $130,420, with a number of 24,500 jobs.

Delivery Drivers

Job Description

Delivery drivers are responsible for ensuring the secure delivery of goods from the factory to the shop, controlling the loading and unloading of goods, and handling proper documents of the goods to be delivered.

A delivery driver might also be required to use a variety of vehicles for commutation.

Job Requirements

Applicants for this job need a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Average Salary

According to the US Department of Transportation, delivery drivers get paid $19.34 per hour on average.

In addition to this basic pay, delivery drivers get other benefits and an opportunity to make daily trips from the clients. A delivery driver is estimated to get a bonus of almost $50 daily.

Some of the top benefits that delivery drivers can bring in additional compensation include flexibility in timings, reimbursements for every mileage covered, health insurance, and so on.

Truck Driver 

Job Description

Truck drivers have the essential job of transferring goods from one place to another, and they are required to cover long distances to deliver cargo. 

Job Requirements

Applicants for this job need a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Average Salary

Truck drivers get paid about $66,995 per annum. Location is also a key factor. The pay of truck drivers can increase according to the location.

For instance, a truck driver can make almost $91,116 in a year by working in Chicago. Also, in Dallas, a truck driver can make $91,635 in a year. In Atlanta, truck drivers earn an annual pay of almost $89,139. 

The pay of truck drivers can also vary depending on the roles. For instance, a truck driver can take up the role of company team driver, individual company driver, or owner-operated driver.

In addition, the payment plan can also depend on miles. For instance, a company team truck driver can get paid $0.48 to $0.75 per mile, meaning he can earn almost $31,54 Dollars per week if he travels 6k miles in a week. 

Similarly, a company solo driver can earn $0.40 to $0.64 per mile. Thus, the pay can amount to $1183 per week if an average of 3k miles is travelled. 

Conclusion

Now you know how much money you can make from jobs in the transportation industry can give you. Feel free to apply for any of the above jobs if you meet the requirements.

You can also drop your questions with us in the comment box. Don’t forget to share this article with your friends.