When most people think of jobs in transportation, the first ones that come to mind are pilots, flight attendants or truck drivers. While these jobs make up the majority of the transportation industry, there is more to the sector than meets than eye.
Transportation is broken down into two fields: air transportation, and truck transportation and warehousing. Air transportation provided 487,000 wage and salary jobs in 2006, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While flight crews are the most visible occupations in this field, two-thirds of employees in this field work in ground occupations.
After the tragic events of Sept. 11, passenger air travel decreased dramatically, causing numerous layoffs within the industry. However, the demand for air travel is expected to continue in coming years, and the BLS predicts a seven percent increase in jobs in airline transportation.
Truck transportation and warehousing suppled 2.1 million wage and salary positions in 2006, according to the BLS. Truck drivers and driver/sales workers hold 45 percent of jobs in the sector. Other transportation and material moving jobs accounted for 25 percent of jobs, while office and administrative support occupations employed another 17 percent. On the whole, this field will grow by 15 percent through 2016, according to the BLS. Growth in the truck transportation and warehousing industry reflects ups and downs in the national economy.
Looking for a job that will keep you on the move? Here are 20 of the best-paying jobs in air, truck and warehousing transportation, according to "40 Best Fields for Your Career" by Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D.
Air transportation
Salary: $143,020
Salary: $54,240
Salary: $54,240
Salary: $54,240
Salary: $46,030
Salary: $ 37,570
Salary: $32,620
Salary: $32,620
Salary: $31,780
Salary: $27,770
Truck transportation and warehousing
Salary: $35,807
Salary: $35,807
Salary: $34,250
Salary: $27,916
Salary: $27,396
Salary: $26,993
7. Marking clerks
Salary: $26,120
Salary: $26,120
Salary: $26,120
Salary: $26,120
Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.
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