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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

53-0000 Transportation and Material Moving Occupations (Major Group)

Transportation and Material Moving Occupations comprises the following occupations: Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors; First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors; Commercial Pilots; Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers; Airfield Operations Specialists; Air Traffic Controllers; Flight Attendants; Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians; Driver/Sales Workers; Light Truck Drivers; Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers; Taxi Drivers; Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity; Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs; Bus Drivers, School; Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other; Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers; Locomotive Engineers; Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers; Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters; Subway and Streetcar Operators; Rail Transportation Workers, All Other; Sailors and Marine Oilers; Motorboat Operators; Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels; Ship Engineers; Bridge and Lock Tenders; Parking Attendants; Aircraft Service Attendants; Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants; Traffic Technicians; Transportation Inspectors; Passenger Attendants; Transportation Workers, All Other; Conveyor Operators and Tenders; Crane and Tower Operators; Dredge Operators; Hoist and Winch Operators; Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators; Machine Feeders and Offbearers; Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment; Packers and Packagers, Hand; Stockers and Order Fillers; Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand; Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators; Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers; Wellhead Pumpers; Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors; Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders; Material Moving Workers, All Other


National estimates for Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
Industry profile for Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
Geographic profile for Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

National estimates for Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
12,639,920 0.2 % $ 19.88 $ 41,340 0.2 %

Percentile wage estimates for Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 11.45 $ 14.19 $ 17.72 $ 22.88 $ 29.72
Annual Wage (2) $ 23,820 $ 29,520 $ 36,860 $ 47,590 $ 61,820


Industry profile for Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Transportation and Material Moving Occupations are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Transportation and Material Moving Occupations, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Warehousing and Storage 1,237,810 74.69 $ 19.43 $ 40,410
Truck Transportation 1,120,890 75.12 $ 24.32 $ 50,580
Employment Services 885,900 25.40 $ 15.04 $ 31,290
General Merchandise Stores 801,860 25.99 $ 15.16 $ 31,540
Food and Beverage Stores (4451 and 4452 only) 794,700 26.87 $ 14.75 $ 30,670

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Couriers and Express Delivery Services 786,980 84.88 $ 22.72 $ 47,260
Inland Water Transportation 19,830 77.77 $ 40.64 $ 84,540
School and Employee Bus Transportation 137,870 77.38 $ 20.27 $ 42,160
Local Messengers and Local Delivery 123,900 76.25 $ 18.73 $ 38,950
Truck Transportation 1,120,890 75.12 $ 24.32 $ 50,580

Top paying industries for Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nonscheduled Air Transportation 22,570 46.44 $ 54.36 $ 113,070
Scheduled Air Transportation 243,620 62.20 $ 47.43 $ 98,650
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 55,230 2.62 $ 44.17 $ 91,880
Inland Water Transportation 19,830 77.77 $ 40.64 $ 84,540
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities 770 0.08 $ 40.37 $ 83,960


Geographic profile for Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Transportation and Material Moving Occupations are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Transportation and Material Moving Occupations, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of transportation and material moving occupations by state, May 2021


States with the highest employment level in Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 1,449,500 87.69 0.98 $ 21.22 $ 44,130
Texas 1,129,330 92.37 1.03 $ 19.60 $ 40,770
Florida 720,860 83.77 0.93 $ 18.66 $ 38,810
Illinois 593,810 105.68 1.18 $ 20.44 $ 42,520
New York 582,750 67.22 0.75 $ 23.02 $ 47,880


Map of location quotient of transportation and material moving occupations by state, May 2021


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Tennessee 355,630 119.07 1.33 $ 18.16 $ 37,770
Kentucky 213,190 115.97 1.29 $ 19.68 $ 40,940
Arkansas 133,880 112.41 1.25 $ 18.27 $ 38,000
Indiana 333,990 111.95 1.25 $ 18.98 $ 39,470
New Jersey 428,160 111.20 1.24 $ 20.29 $ 42,190


Map of annual mean wages of transportation and material moving occupations by state, May 2021


Top paying states for Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska 27,040 91.40 1.02 $ 26.90 $ 55,940
District of Columbia 14,720 22.24 0.25 $ 26.05 $ 54,190
Hawaii 41,250 75.22 0.84 $ 23.94 $ 49,790
Washington 272,400 84.97 0.95 $ 23.45 $ 48,780
New York 582,750 67.22 0.75 $ 23.02 $ 47,880



Map of employment of transportation and material moving occupations by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 674,890 77.77 0.87 $ 23.05 $ 47,940
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 481,620 84.21 0.94 $ 21.09 $ 43,860
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 455,970 107.72 1.20 $ 20.86 $ 43,380
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 376,950 105.03 1.17 $ 20.62 $ 42,890
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 281,600 108.81 1.21 $ 20.29 $ 42,200
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 268,590 92.71 1.03 $ 20.53 $ 42,700
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 254,610 166.41 1.85 $ 20.38 $ 42,380
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 228,460 86.06 0.96 $ 19.55 $ 40,670
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 213,470 87.04 0.97 $ 20.62 $ 42,900
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 196,620 92.89 1.04 $ 20.37 $ 42,370


Map of location quotient of transportation and material moving occupations by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Stockton-Lodi, CA 51,980 202.83 2.26 $ 21.10 $ 43,880
Memphis, TN-MS-AR 105,400 174.27 1.94 $ 19.06 $ 39,640
Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA 9,540 168.24 1.88 $ 18.90 $ 39,310
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 254,610 166.41 1.85 $ 20.38 $ 42,380
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL 38,470 161.40 1.80 $ 18.04 $ 37,530
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV 14,480 147.72 1.65 $ 18.73 $ 38,960
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA 34,770 146.31 1.63 $ 18.24 $ 37,940
Houma-Thibodaux, LA 11,500 144.43 1.61 (8) (8)
Danville, IL 3,620 144.29 1.61 $ 19.91 $ 41,410
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ 49,700 143.20 1.60 $ 19.11 $ 39,750


Map of annual mean wages of transportation and material moving occupations by area, May 2021


Top paying metropolitan areas for Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Anchorage, AK 15,630 96.66 1.08 $ 27.10 $ 56,360
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 154,920 80.79 0.90 $ 25.50 $ 53,050
Urban Honolulu, HI 29,750 75.30 0.84 $ 25.36 $ 52,750
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 156,410 69.76 0.78 $ 25.33 $ 52,680
Fairbanks, AK 3,160 91.59 1.02 $ 24.49 $ 50,940
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 50,450 47.21 0.53 $ 23.22 $ 48,290
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 674,890 77.77 0.87 $ 23.05 $ 47,940
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 118,460 80.87 0.90 $ 22.97 $ 47,780
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 156,050 53.21 0.59 $ 22.81 $ 47,440
Midland, TX 10,890 114.43 1.28 $ 22.75 $ 47,320

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 35,060 93.31 1.04 $ 17.81 $ 37,050
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 28,620 91.05 1.01 $ 18.17 $ 37,790
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 27,480 114.68 1.28 $ 18.74 $ 38,990
North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 26,920 101.24 1.13 $ 17.25 $ 35,880
Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area 26,340 107.87 1.20 $ 16.40 $ 34,100

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
North Georgia nonmetropolitan area 24,810 146.00 1.63 $ 15.88 $ 33,030
West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area 10,990 131.03 1.46 $ 16.90 $ 35,150
Southern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 23,020 127.89 1.43 $ 18.48 $ 38,440
Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area 17,930 126.33 1.41 $ 14.96 $ 31,130
South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area 11,390 125.31 1.40 $ 16.75 $ 34,840

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 8,060 82.86 0.92 $ 27.17 $ 56,510
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 12,580 118.77 1.32 $ 24.64 $ 51,250
Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 7,260 77.22 0.86 $ 21.69 $ 45,120
East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 5,780 94.73 1.06 $ 21.17 $ 44,040
Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area 6,880 58.96 0.66 $ 20.98 $ 43,650


About May 2021 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022