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
None
Short-term on-the-job training
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.
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Transportation workers, all other (53-6099) represent a varied group of roles that support the broader transportation system. Nationally, this occupation has a median annual salary of $39,630 with employment around 12,000 workers. The field is projected to grow 3.8%, with about 1,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing hiring needs. The role draws on a mix of physical, mechanical, and people-focused skills, including physical strength and stamina, mechanical ability, customer service, fine motor skills, and being detail oriented. Success in this field can also benefit from mathematics, science, interpersonal skills, speaking and listening, and problem solving and decision making. Typical entry requires a high school diploma or equivalent, making it accessible to a wide range of job seekers, including recent graduates and career changers. For individuals who are comfortable with both hands-on work and interacting with others, this occupation can offer stable employment options in different regions and metro areas across the country.
The national median annual salary for transportation workers, all other is $39,630, but pay can vary considerably by location. Several states show higher median pay, including Washington at $58,300, Massachusetts at $55,200, and Virginia at $51,110. California and New York also stand above the national median, at $47,590 and $48,450 respectively. At the metro level, some areas offer even higher earning potential. The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro stands out with a median salary of $61,460, while San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ both offer median salaries above $55,000. Other metros, such as Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, also exceed the national median at $49,710. These differences show that location choice can significantly influence earnings within this occupation.
Transportation workers, all other have national employment of about 12,000 workers and a projected employment growth rate of 3.8%. This growth outlook, paired with approximately 1,000 annual openings, suggests consistent demand over time. The projected 3.8% growth rate is also reflected in top states and metro areas, indicating a broadly similar growth expectation across different regions listed. With a defined number of annual openings relative to total employment, job seekers can anticipate a steady flow of new and replacement positions. The combination of national employment, projected growth, and annual openings suggests that this occupation offers ongoing opportunities for both new entrants and experienced workers seeking a change. Individuals considering this path can use the growth and openings data to plan their job search and evaluate the stability of employment prospects over the coming years.
Location plays a meaningful role in opportunities for transportation workers, all other. Among states, California has the highest employment at 1,870, along with a median salary of $47,590 and an opportunity score of 67.38. New York and Washington also combine notable employment levels (220 and 260 respectively) with median salaries of $48,450 and $58,300. Massachusetts and Virginia show smaller employment counts (30 and 70) but relatively strong median salaries and opportunity scores, led by Massachusetts at $55,200 and an opportunity score of 65.87. Metro areas show even more concentrated opportunity. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro has an opportunity score of 77.27, with a median salary of $55,220 and employment of 270. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV each combine higher median salaries with employment around 370–380. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA offers the highest listed metro median salary at $61,460, though with employment of 40, indicating a smaller but high-paying market.
The typical education requirement for transportation workers, all other is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the field accessible to individuals who have completed secondary education but may not have pursued college or other postsecondary programs. While formal education requirements are relatively modest, the occupation relies on a broad set of skills. Physical strength and stamina and fine motor skills are important, alongside mechanical ability and being detail oriented. Because many roles involve interacting with others, customer service and interpersonal skills, as well as strong speaking and listening abilities, are valuable. Mathematics and science knowledge can also support performance in this occupation, particularly when combined with problem solving and decision making skills. Together, these skills suggest that workers who are comfortable with both physical tasks and people-focused communication can be well-positioned, even without advanced academic credentials.
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