Transportation and Warehousing Employment and Wages in 2024

In 2024, the Transportation and Warehousing industry employed over 7.4 million people in the United States, reflecting an increase of 0.9% from 2023. The annual mean wage in 2024 was $62,460, and the median wage was $50,660. Compared to the national average, the wages in this industry group were lower by 8%.

Industry Sub-Groups

Among the industry sub-groups, Warehousing and Storage held the largest number of jobs within the Transportation and Warehousing industry, employing over 1.9 million people in 2024. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $52,540, with a median wage of $47,230. There was an increase in wage variance to the national average compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from -23.3% to -22.6%, indicating industry wages outpaced national wage trends.

Truck Transportation accounted for a substantial employment share, with 1.5 million people employed in 2024. The annual mean wage for this sub-group was $60,140, and the median wage was $57,840. In terms of wage variance to the national average, there was an increase compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from -12.1% to -11.5%.

The sub-group of Couriers and Express Delivery Services also had considerable industry employment, with approximately 925 thousand people employed in 2024. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $57,130 and the median wage was $47,300. The wage variance to the national average experienced an increase compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from -16.4% to -15.9%.

Highest Employment Occupations

When we examine the top occupations in terms of employment within the Transportation and Warehousing industry, we find that General and Operations Managers had the highest annual mean wage in 2024, at $118,180, and a median wage of $99,590. The industry variance to the national average was -11.2%. Flight Attendants had an annual mean wage of $78,970 and a median wage of $67,350. The industry variance to the national average was 0%. First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors had an annual mean wage of $70,430 and a median wage of $67,910. The industry variance to the national average was 7.2%.

Conversely, notable occupations with lower wages within the Transportation and Warehousing industry included Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand, with an annual mean wage of $44,080 and a median wage of $43,190. The industry variance to the national average was 6.4%. Stockers and Order Fillers had an annual mean wage of $45,060 and a median wage of $41,840. The industry variance to the national average was 15.8%. Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators had an annual mean wage of $50,430 and a median wage of $47,900. The industry variance to the national average was 5.4%.

Summary

In 2024, the Transportation and Warehousing industry employed over 7.4 million people in the United States, a modest increase of 0.9% from the previous year. Despite its growth, the industry’s average wages remained 8% below the national average, with a mean annual wage of $62,460 and a median wage of $50,660. Key sub-sectors like Warehousing and Storage, Truck Transportation, and Couriers and Express Delivery Services accounted for the bulk of employment, with each showing slight improvements in wage parity compared to national trends. High-paying roles such as General and Operations Managers and Flight Attendants stood in contrast to more common occupations like Laborers and Freight Movers and Stockers, whose wages remained considerably lower. While overall pay continues to trail the national average, the industry plays a vital role in supply chain continuity and logistics infrastructure, and its incremental wage gains signal gradual improvement in compensation standards.