Transportation and Warehousing Employment and Wages in 2023

In 2023, the Transportation and Warehousing industry employed over 7.3 million people in the United States, reflecting an increase of 1.6% from 2022. The annual mean wage in 2023 was $59,320, and the median wage was $49,180. Compared to the national average, the wages in this industry group were lower by 9.4%.

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 2023. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $50,210, with a median wage of $45,830. There was a decrease in wage variance to the national average compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from -23.3% to -23.3%, indicating industry wages lagged national wage trends.

Truck Transportation accounted for a substantial employment share, with 1.6 million people employed in 2023. The annual mean wage for this sub-group was $57,520, and the median wage was $55,010. In terms of wage variance to the national average, there was a decrease compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from -11.6% to -12.1%.

The sub-group of Couriers and Express Delivery Services also had considerable industry employment, with approximately 931 thousand people employed in 2023. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $54,760 and the median wage was $45,960. The wage variance to the national average experienced a decrease compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from -13.3% to -16.4%.

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 2023, at $113,540, and a median wage of $96,220. The industry variance to the national average was -12.2%. Flight Attendants had an annual mean wage of $71,100 and a median wage of $68,370. The industry variance to the national average was 0.2%. First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors had an annual mean wage of $68,450 and a median wage of $65,470. 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 $42,080 and a median wage of $39,560. The industry variance to the national average was 5.8%. Stockers and Order Fillers had an annual mean wage of $44,050 and a median wage of $40,490. The industry variance to the national average was 16%. Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators had an annual mean wage of $48,560 and a median wage of $46,790. The industry variance to the national average was 6.2%.

Summary

In 2023, the Transportation and Warehousing industry in the U.S. employed over 7.3 million people, reflecting a 1.6% increase from 2022. The annual mean wage was $59,320, and the median wage was $49,180, which is 9.4% below the national average. Warehousing and Storage was the largest sub-group, employing 1.9 million people with an annual mean wage of $50,210, reflecting a consistent wage variance of -23.3% compared to national trends. Truck Transportation employed 1.6 million people, with an annual mean wage of $57,520, and saw a slight decrease in wage competitiveness. Couriers and Express Delivery Services employed 931,000 people, with wages continuing to lag behind the national average. High-paying roles like General and Operations Managers earned an annual mean wage of $113,540, while Flight Attendants earned $71,100. Lower-wage occupations, including Laborers, Stockers, and Industrial Truck Operators, saw modest wage improvements, with variances between 5.8% and 16% compared to national averages. Overall, the industry demonstrated steady employment growth, with wages remaining below national averages across most sub-groups.

For more detailed industry insights, consider purchasing Aimiax’s 2023 Transportation and Warehousing Industry Report.