occupation · 53-0000 · major
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations — wages and employment
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations earned a median annual wage of $42,740 in the United States in May 2024, with 13,645,620 people employed, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
What stands out
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations earned a median annual wage of $42,740 in the United States in May 2024, with 13,645,620 people employed, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The lowest-paid tenth earned $30,390 or less, the best-paid tenth $70,620 or more. Since May 2023 the median moved from $40,050 to $42,740, +6.7 %. The best-paying state is Alaska at $51,390; the lowest Puerto Rico at $22,750. Among metropolitan areas, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA pays the highest median, $51,340. Wages are as published by BLS for May of each year; '≥ $239,200' is BLS's top code. Every value links to its fact record.
United States, year by year
Annual wages at the median, mean and four percentiles; employment is the May estimate.
| Reference | Employment | Median | Mean | 10th | 25th | 75th | 90th | Median hourly | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | 13,645,620 | $42,740 | $48,750 | $30,390 | $35,710 | $53,750 | $70,620 | $20.55 | evidence → |
| May 2023 | 13,752,760 | $40,050 | $46,690 | $29,270 | $34,520 | $50,880 | $67,510 | $19.26 | evidence → |
By state
Median annual wage, May 2024, highest first. Each state has its own record with the full series.
| State | Median annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $51,390 | 29,470 |
| Washington | $48,460 | 287,920 |
| North Dakota | $47,800 | 40,980 |
| District of Columbia | $47,130 | 17,450 |
| Wyoming | $47,000 | 25,200 |
| Hawaii | $46,970 | 48,380 |
| Minnesota | $46,900 | 228,260 |
| Delaware | $46,740 | 41,040 |
| Colorado | $46,280 | 218,520 |
| New York | $46,240 | 616,760 |
| Oregon | $45,480 | 173,500 |
| Iowa | $45,410 | 152,760 |
| California | $45,300 | 1,516,560 |
| Massachusetts | $44,980 | 230,050 |
| Montana | $44,880 | 38,320 |
| Wisconsin | $44,590 | 278,220 |
| Vermont | $44,560 | 19,680 |
| Maine | $44,320 | 48,700 |
| Virginia | $44,300 | 315,760 |
| Maryland | $44,120 | 212,770 |
| Illinois | $43,930 | 629,260 |
| Utah | $43,760 | 136,190 |
| New Jersey | $43,520 | 467,310 |
| Kansas | $43,450 | 133,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,400 | 576,600 |
| Indiana | $43,190 | 357,370 |
| Nebraska | $42,700 | 95,330 |
| Kentucky | $42,660 | 229,640 |
| Arizona | $42,600 | 266,750 |
| Idaho | $42,490 | 72,580 |
| Connecticut | $41,730 | 130,310 |
| Rhode Island | $41,600 | 32,900 |
| Ohio | $40,910 | 535,600 |
| Michigan | $40,300 | 367,760 |
| New Hampshire | $40,160 | 53,130 |
| Georgia | $40,150 | 526,870 |
| New Mexico | $39,970 | 61,550 |
| Missouri | $39,900 | 251,150 |
| Texas | $39,730 | 1,276,870 |
| Tennessee | $39,630 | 368,450 |
| Nevada | $39,550 | 156,980 |
| South Dakota | $38,840 | 39,830 |
| Florida | $38,220 | 819,580 |
| South Carolina | $38,110 | 202,870 |
| North Carolina | $37,950 | 454,240 |
| Mississippi | $37,910 | 125,710 |
| Louisiana | $37,700 | 176,670 |
| Arkansas | $37,680 | 135,210 |
| Alabama | $37,350 | 212,370 |
| Oklahoma | $37,250 | 156,120 |
| West Virginia | $36,850 | 57,390 |
| Virgin Islands | $33,150 | 2,280 |
| Guam | $27,350 | 4,520 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,750 | 68,890 |
Highest-paying metropolitan areas
Top 20 by median annual wage.
| Metro area | Median annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $51,340 | 159,240 |
| Anchorage, AK | $50,760 | 17,380 |
| Midland, TX | $50,270 | 13,650 |
| Greeley, CO | $49,420 | 11,080 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,310 | 156,140 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $48,480 | 2,960 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $48,060 | 33,940 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $47,900 | 52,080 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $47,830 | 4,300 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $47,730 | 6,160 |
| Boulder, CO | $47,700 | 7,550 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $47,570 | 145,140 |
| Minot, ND | $47,560 | 3,220 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $47,520 | 56,680 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $47,320 | 259,410 |
| Grand Island, NE | $47,320 | 4,380 |
| Napa, CA | $47,300 | 5,380 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $47,220 | 4,510 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $47,190 | 9,000 |
| Bellingham, WA | $47,150 | 6,840 |
Occupations in this group
50 detailed occupations, largest first.
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 53-7062 · median $38,940 · 2,982,530 jobs
- Stockers and Order Fillers 53-7065 · median $37,090 · 2,779,530 jobs
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 53-3032 · median $57,440 · 2,070,480 jobs
- Light Truck Drivers 53-3033 · median $44,140 · 994,410 jobs
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators 53-7051 · median $46,390 · 805,770 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors 53-1047 · median $61,890 · 605,510 jobs
- Packers and Packagers, Hand 53-7064 · median $35,580 · 601,440 jobs
- Driver/Sales Workers 53-3031 · median $37,130 · 417,420 jobs
- Bus Drivers, School 53-3051 · median $47,040 · 387,920 jobs
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment 53-7061 · median $35,270 · 373,960 jobs
- Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs 53-3053 · median $36,670 · 229,630 jobs
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity 53-3052 · median $57,440 · 148,980 jobs
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors 53-7081 · median $48,350 · 139,180 jobs
- Parking Attendants 53-6021 · median $34,600 · 134,650 jobs
- Flight Attendants 53-2031 · median $67,130 · 130,110 jobs
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers 53-2011 · median $226,600 · 99,300 jobs
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants 53-6031 · median $34,850 · 98,270 jobs
- Commercial Pilots 53-2012 · median $122,670 · 51,830 jobs
- Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other 53-3099 · median $36,260 · 50,330 jobs
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers 53-7063 · median $39,700 · 46,690 jobs
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters 53-4031 · median $74,080 · 42,710 jobs
- Crane and Tower Operators 53-7021 · median $66,370 · 42,000 jobs
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels 53-5021 · median $85,540 · 35,390 jobs
- Locomotive Engineers 53-4011 · median $77,400 · 31,990 jobs
- Sailors and Marine Oilers 53-5011 · median $49,610 · 31,360 jobs
- Aircraft Service Attendants 53-6032 · median $41,540 · 27,310 jobs
- Conveyor Operators and Tenders 53-7011 · median $41,230 · 26,060 jobs
- Passenger Attendants 53-6061 · median $37,560 · 25,340 jobs
- Material Moving Workers, All Other 53-7199 · median $41,690 · 25,190 jobs
- Transportation Inspectors 53-6051 · median $85,750 · 23,320 jobs
- Air Traffic Controllers 53-2021 · median $144,580 · 22,400 jobs
- Taxi Drivers 53-3054 · median $36,220 · 17,510 jobs
- Wellhead Pumpers 53-7073 · median $70,010 · 17,350 jobs
- Airfield Operations Specialists 53-2022 · median $56,750 · 16,640 jobs
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers 53-7072 · median $60,020 · 12,600 jobs
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers 53-4022 · median $65,480 · 12,460 jobs
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians 53-3011 · median $34,330 · 12,080 jobs
- Transportation Workers, All Other 53-6099 · median $39,630 · 10,960 jobs
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders 53-7121 · median $58,070 · 10,920 jobs
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors 53-1041 · median $63,940 · 10,160 jobs
- Subway and Streetcar Operators 53-4041 · median $84,830 · 9,200 jobs
- Ship Engineers 53-5031 · median $101,320 · 8,580 jobs
- Traffic Technicians 53-6041 · median $58,480 · 7,580 jobs
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators 53-7071 · median $71,510 · 5,110 jobs
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers 53-4013 · median $58,030 · 3,300 jobs
- Bridge and Lock Tenders 53-6011 · median $58,490 · 2,720 jobs
- Hoist and Winch Operators 53-7041 · median $52,310 · 2,480 jobs
- Motorboat Operators 53-5022 · median $51,880 · 2,380 jobs
- Rail Transportation Workers, All Other 53-4099 · median $49,330 · 1,520 jobs
- Dredge Operators 53-7031 · median $48,430 · 1,030 jobs
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