Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
SOC 53-0000 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Transportation and Material Moving Occupations is $40,050, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $46,690, and an estimated 13,752,760 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +17.5% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -0.2% (pay did not keep up with inflation).
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Transportation and Material Moving Occupations has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $40,050 | $40,050 | 13,752,760 |
| 2022 | $37,940 | $39,502 | 13,560,460 |
| 2021 | $36,860 | $41,449 | 12,639,920 |
| 2020 | $34,080 | $40,123 | 12,163,360 |
Nominal change
+17.5%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-0.2%
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Transportation and Material Moving Occupations earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $40,050. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $53,160 | +32.7% | 8,520 |
| West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $51,520 | +28.6% | 14,410 |
| Alaska | $49,180 | +22.8% | 28,840 |
| Washington | $47,150 | +17.7% | 285,510 |
| North Dakota | $46,920 | +17.2% | 42,740 |
| East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $46,130 | +15.2% | 6,110 |
| New York | $45,680 | +14.1% | 643,220 |
| Minnesota | $45,440 | +13.5% | 225,820 |
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $45,420 | +13.4% | 6,980 |
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $45,290 | +13.1% | 16,200 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$29,270
25th Pct
$34,520
Median
$40,050
75th Pct
$50,880
90th Pct
$67,510
Related Occupations in Transportation & Material Moving
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.