Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
Less than 5 years
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Aircraft cargo handling supervisors coordinate and oversee the movement of cargo on and off aircraft, combining hands-on work with supervisory responsibility. Nationally, about 10,000 people work in this occupation, with projected employment growth of 5.2%. There are an estimated 1,000 annual openings, reflecting both new positions and turnover. The national median annual salary is $63,940, offering a solid earning path for those prepared to take on leadership and operational oversight. The role draws on a mix of leadership, customer service, and problem-solving skills, along with physical strength and stamina. It can appeal to people who enjoy coordinating detailed operations, making fast decisions, and working closely with teams. For those considering similar paths, related supervisory careers include first-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, construction trades and extraction workers, firefighting and prevention workers, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, and forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists.
Aircraft cargo handling supervisors earn a national median annual salary of $63,940, with pay levels varying by state and metro area. Among the highlighted states, Colorado reports a higher median salary of $79,260, followed by Washington at $61,090 and California at $60,530. New York shows a median salary of $57,290, while Massachusetts reports $52,470. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA both show median salaries of $73,020, above their statewide medians. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro lists a median of $60,390, close to New York’s statewide median. These figures suggest that location choices can significantly influence earnings, even within the same state. Candidates can use these benchmarks to compare potential salary expectations across regions and metros when planning a career move or negotiating offers.
The employment outlook for aircraft cargo handling supervisors is shaped by a national workforce of about 10,000 and projected employment growth of 5.2%. This growth rate, combined with an estimated 1,000 annual openings, indicates ongoing hiring needs across the country. Annual openings reflect both newly created positions and the need to replace workers who retire or transition to other roles. The consistent 5.2% projected growth reported for the top states and metro areas reinforces that this occupation is expected to expand in multiple regions rather than being concentrated in only one area. Job seekers considering this field can factor in both the total employment base and the steady projected expansion when evaluating long-term stability. For people interested in supervisory roles with an operational focus, these figures suggest a pathway with recurring opportunities over the projection period.
Location can significantly shape opportunities for aircraft cargo handling supervisors. Among the top states, California stands out with employment of 1,490 and a median salary of $60,530, paired with an opportunity score of 67.38. New York and Massachusetts show smaller employment levels—250 and 140 respectively—but still offer opportunity scores above 65, indicating meaningful potential relative to their size. Colorado and Washington show moderate employment (190 and 150) with higher median pay in Colorado at $79,260 and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ both post very high opportunity scores above 77, with San Jose also offering a median salary of $73,020. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro matches that salary level with higher employment of 220. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA provides the largest metro employment among those listed, at 680, with an opportunity score of 62.99. These contrasts allow candidates to weigh job volume, salary, and opportunity scores when choosing where to focus a search.
The typical education requirement for aircraft cargo handling supervisors is a high school diploma or equivalent, making this role accessible to individuals who have completed secondary education. Success in this occupation, however, depends heavily on a well-developed skill set. Key skills include leadership and interpersonal abilities for supervising teams, along with customer service skills for working with different stakeholders. Being detail oriented, strong in problem solving and decision making, and adaptable supports the day-to-day demands of coordinating cargo operations. Physical strength and stamina are important for the more hands-on aspects of the job. Project management and mathematics skills contribute to organizing work, handling counts or measurements, and managing schedules. Mechanical skills add further value in understanding equipment involved in cargo handling. Together, these skills complement the baseline education requirement and help candidates move into supervisory responsibilities and pursue advancement in related supervisory careers.
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