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Transportation is wide-reaching and complex, meaning that the jobs listed here are only a fraction of your options in the industry. It includes both passenger transport as well as shipment of goods and raw materials. Along with that are all of the supporting roles, such as mechanics, safety inspectors, regulators, and those that work in logistics.
Here are 18 Great Jobs in Transportation
The American highway system is a modern marvel. Some of our other transportation industries need to be updated, but that just opens up more opportunities in the field. When the effort is put in to improve them, they’ll need myriad engineers, technicians, construction workers, and planners. In the meantime, here are some careers to look into.
10 of the Best Paying Jobs in Transportation
All of the jobs listed here are either going to require a college education or high levels of specialized training. These jobs are well compensated because of the required education and the immense responsibility – mistakes can cause people to die.
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Average Annual Salary: $108,000
The pilot is in charge of the plane. In a commercial aircraft, there’s typically a first officer and another pilot – to help with duties and fly the plane, if necessary.
Both pilots can transport any number of things, be it passengers, goods, mail, raw materials, or even livestock. They must complete the required training to earn their pilot’s license, as well as know the ordinances and regulations about air traffic.
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Average Annual Salary: $53,000
This is a highly skilled position that requires a lot of training. Airplane mechanics troubleshoot and fix airplanes, as well as make sure that they’re fit to fly. This can vary from little crop dusters to commercial airplanes made by Boeing or Airbus. It requires attention to detail as well as being good with your hands.
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Average Annual Salary: $100,000
A helicopter pilot has to go through intensive flight training and pass a test in order to obtain a license, much like an airplane pilot. Helicopters are generally more specialized than planes, but pilots can be expected to fly helicopters to transport passengers or cargo, airlift people to medical facilities, or operate a news chopper.
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Average Annual Salary: $65,000
This is a heavily mathematical and cerebral position. It requires monitoring the supply chain of an organization. Duties include monitoring the pricing and demand of the supplies in order to get a good price, as well as keeping an eye on the logistical side of supply.
They make sure the organization has the right amount of stock stockpiled as well as planning it out to help overcome potential problems and promote efficiency.
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Average Annual Salary: $65,000
Also called a civil engineer, this type of engineering is focused on roadways, bridges, and other structures necessary for the transportation. Transportation engineers need to be familiar with different materials as well as the landscape and climate of the area that they’re planning to build on.
They’re in charge of making sure that roads and bridges are properly built and safe to use, as well as determining how long they’ll hold up before needing repairs.
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Average Annual Salary: 79,000
A traffic engineer is responsible for making sure that traffic in an area can flow freely. They help determine where new roads should be built – and if they need to be built – and decide things such as the interval of traffic lights. They’re especially important in cities, where there’s huge traffic flow.
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Average Annual Salary: $60,000
This is one of several positions that ensure the safety of air travel. Air traffic controllers are responsible for keeping track of air traffic and guiding pilots to areas where they won’t collide with another plane.
They also keep contact with aircraft in the air and help guide them in the case of an emergency or a mechanical problem. They are often stationed in towers near airports, and most of their duties are keeping track of which runways are free and helping with takeoff and landing.
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Airplane Engineer
Average Annual Salary: N/A
Airplane engineers work on the construction of airplanes. They have to be familiar with materials, and aerodynamics, as well as stay up to date with changes in computing and technology. Like all engineering, it’s a very detail-oriented job with a strong emphasis on practicality.
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Airworthiness Safety Inspector
Average Annual Salary: $55,000
Before an airplane is cleared to take off, it has to be checked for airworthiness. An airworthiness safety inspector makes sure that the plane has been properly maintained, as well as checks the function of the systems.
Airworthiness safety inspectors are more focused on avionics and communications, while other safety inspectors specialize in other parts of the plane.
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Average Annual Salary: $79,000
The “engineer” in train engineer has more to do with the old idea of an engineer, as in, one in charge of an engine. Train engineers pilot trains.
There’s more to the job than that, of course, with them having to be aware of the tracks, the capabilities of their train, and how many cars they’re hauling (especially if it’s freight.) In a passenger train, the train engineer is similar to the plane’s captain.
All of these jobs require either higher levels of education or training, as well as experience. This makes the above list more of a snapshot of what your career might look like at its height of it. If you’re looking for a way into the industry or aren’t interested in as much training or education, the below list is a better place to start.
10 Entry-Level Jobs in Transportation
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Average Annual Salary: $37,000
Bus drivers are an important part of the economy and transportation system. This can range from driving a long-distance bus, such as a Greyhound, to one that’s chartered, to a city bus or even a school bus. All bus drivers must be licensed to drive one as well as have a safe driving record.
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Average Annual Salary: $36,000
This is a job that has a great deal of variance in pay and hours depending on what type of courier you choose to be. Some deliver food, others legal documents. If you’re licensed and properly trained, couriers will even move valuables, such as gems or other precious items. Basically, couriers are a trustworthy way to have something delivered.
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Average Annual Salary: $40,000
Most of being a deckhand involve manual labor. But if you like ships and the sea, then it’s a good way to start in either the merchant marine or as a crew member on a yacht. The job mainly entails handling cargo and keeping parts of the ship well maintained, but other duties may be assigned.
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Average Annual Salary: $54,000
If you like numbers, this could be a job for you. Marine underwriters work for insurance companies, looking into insuring ships and boats. There are many types of underwriters, depending on what type of insurance the company offers, all of which calculate risk and decide how much to charge for insurance.
Insurance is necessary for the transportation of goods, as it offsets the risk to the merchants and those responsible for transporting goods.
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Average Annual Salary: $39,000
A subway train operator drives a subway train. It’s similar to being a bus driver in the sense that you drive the same route daily, transporting passengers to where they need to go.
Subway train operators must be licensed and familiar with their trains, so they know if there’s a problem. They also have to be aware of any potential issues on the track.
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Average Annual Salary: $33,000
Taxi drivers, also known as cab drivers or cabbies, operate a vehicle with the purpose of ferrying passengers. Drivers have to have a good driving record, as well as be properly licensed to drive a cab. Pay is strictly based on how many customers you get, meaning that looking for fairs isn’t an insignificant part of the job.
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Average Annual Salary: $26,000
If you like to clean but don’t want to clean houses, this is a job to look at. Car details wash both the exterior and interior of vehicles.
They have to be familiar with different types of cleaning solutions, so they know what to use on the different parts of the car. It doesn’t require special education, and the vast majority include on-the-job training. They also get tips.
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Transportation Security Officer
Average Annual Salary: $33,000
A transportation security officer is responsible for the security of a transportation hub, be that an airport, seaport, train station, or bus terminal. They check ticket information, as well as make sure that the passengers aren’t carrying contraband or dangerous items.
They are also expected to be the first responder to any threat, disturbance, or other emergencies.
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Average Annual Salary: $35,000
Someone working in logistics is responsible for dealing with goods going in and out of an area, such as a warehouse. They deal with deliveries, the storage of goods, as well as inspection to make sure that what was received was correct. They are also responsible for updating the database as to inventory, cost, and other necessary information.
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Average Annual Salary: $30,000
Flight attendants are trained professionals that are responsible for passenger safety and compliance on an airplane. They have to be familiar with safety regulations and protocols, as well as the proper response in an emergency.
Most of their duties involve tending to passengers, both in terms of serving food and drink and dealing with any disagreements and disturbances. Good customer service skills are a must, as well as being flexible as you work on the flights you’re assigned to.
Why Choose a Career in Transportation?
Transportation is a very wide-reaching industry, meaning that there are myriad career options. However, the majority of the jobs in this industry require similar traits. Here are some things to consider if you’re looking to work in transportation.
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You love machines. While there are many jobs in this field that don’t require the direct operation of machines, all of them tie into it. Whether it’s a car, truck, boat, airplane, train, or helicopter, these machines make our current transportation system possible.
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You’re detail-oriented. All of the jobs listed above require attention to detail. Whether it’s being a pilot and having to follow checklists, or an engineer, or even working in logistics – all of it requires attention to detail.
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Traveling appeals to you. Not every job in the industry requires travel. But if you want to be a pilot, work on a ship, or be a flight attendant, you’ll be traveling for most of your career.
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Safety is key for you. There are strict safety rules and regulations when it comes to travel. This will especially affect you if you choose to be a vehicle operator – it doesn’t much matter what type – but all of these jobs require a focus on safety. For instance, engineers in the field have to consider safety in all their designs.
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You’re good at following directions. For the majority of these jobs, there are protocols and instructions you’re required to follow. That doesn’t mean you should never be an independent thinker, but if you want to be, say, a pilot and can’t follow instructions, you won’t get far.
Transportation is such a wide field that you’re likely to find something that’ll suit your skills and needs. But if most of the above traits describe you, then you’ll find an industry full of options.
Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Transportation
Not every job in this field requires a college degree, but if you’re looking to get one, here are some suggestions.
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Engineering. This can send you on the path to any of the engineering jobs. If you want to specialize, you can also do that.
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Transportation and Materials Moving. If you want to be focused on the logical side of transportation.
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Marine Transportation. For a specialization in transportation via ship.
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Aeronautics. If you want to be an airplane engineer or aerospace engineer.
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Physics. This can work for almost any engineering job as well, but also for transportation in general. It all comes down to motion, which is physics.
Many transportation jobs require a license. The details of most of them will depend on what state you’re in, but here’s an overview.
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Pilots must get a pilot’s license. This will involve going through the requisite training and passing an exam. There are different types of licenses depending on the type of aircraft you want to fly. Including but not limited to:
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Private Pilot
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Commercial Multi-Engine License
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Certified Flight Instructor
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Train engineers have to be licensed by the Federal Railroad Association. They also require experience and are generally promoted from lower-level positions.
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Bus drivers need a CDL license.
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Flight attendants need a Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency from the FAA.
There are other certificates you can get to help advance your career, but that’ll be based on what you choose to specialize in.
Is Transportation a Good Career Path?
Yes, transportation is a great career path. Transportation is completely necessary to our economy and lives, meaning that demand will stay high. And while vehicles are getting more heavily computerized, there’s no proof that the need for a human operator will disappear any time in the near future.
A high number of the careers in transportation require training or higher education, meaning that the majority of them are paid well. Many of them also include high levels of responsibility and some level of autonomy.
Transportation is a far-reaching, necessary industry, meaning working your whole career in the field won’t be hard. Many of the skills learned in this industry can be transferred to other jobs as well, meaning that if you think you may want to change careers at some point, it shouldn’t be too difficult.
If the above careers and requirements sound interesting and doable to you, then you should absolutely look into a career in transportation.
- Finance
- Energy
- Commodities
- Health Care
- Transportation
- Consumer
- Pharma
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Author
Di has been a writer for more than half her life. Most of her writing so far has been fiction, and she’s gotten short stories published in online magazines Kzine and Silver Blade, as well as a flash fiction piece in the Bookends review. Di graduated from Mary Baldwin College (now University) with a degree in Psychology and Sociology.
