53 Series · SOC 53-1041
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $58,170
- Median / year
- $92,160
- Top 10% earn
- +5.2%
- Growth '23–'33
- 9,760
- US workers
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors earn a median of $58,170 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $58,170, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $41,690 (10th percentile) to $92,160 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 9,760 US workers. Georgia pays the most ($81,380), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors earn a median of $58,170, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 45% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks #22 of 50 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 5.2% by 2033.
- $58,170
- Median annual wage
- Top 55%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #22 of 50
- in Transportation and Material Moving
- 2.2×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Georgia at $81,380. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors (SOC 53-1041) pays a national median of $58,170 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $41,690 at the 10th percentile to $92,160 at the 90th, with a mean of $65,010 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 9,760 Americans work in this occupation across 37 reporting states and 46 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +5.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,100 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of prior experience generally required. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of C for this role, with a fatality rate of 17.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 4.8 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Georgia pays the highest state median at $81,380, which is +40% above the national figure. The top metro is Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA at $81,380 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$58,170
per year
Median Hourly
$27.97/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$65,010
average
Employment
9,760
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$58,170 Bottom 45% higher than 45% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 53-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 53-series occupations with growth data, Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors sits on the faster-growing side at +5.2% growth and $58,170 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+5.2%
About average
Annual Openings
1,100
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience
Less than 5 years
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Moderate Risk
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
17.5/100K
Injury Rate
4.8/100
Danger Index
28/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Calculate load weights for different aircraft compartments, using charts and computers.
- ▸ Determine the quantity and orientation of cargo, and compute an aircraft's center of gravity.
- ▸ Direct ground crews in the loading, unloading, securing, or staging of aircraft cargo or baggage.
- ▸ Train new employees in areas such as safety procedures or equipment operation.
- ▸ Distribute cargo to maximize use of space.
- ▸ Accompany aircraft as a member of the flight crew to monitor and handle cargo in flight.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$41,690
25th Percentile
$49,820
Median
$58,170
75th Percentile
$78,530
90th Percentile
$92,160
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 37 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | $81,380 | +40% above national |
| 2 | Ohio | $79,650 | +37% above national |
| 3 | Louisiana | $79,460 | +37% above national |
| 4 | Colorado | $79,260 | +36% above national |
| 5 | Connecticut | $78,770 | +35% above national |
| 6 | Virginia | $78,420 | +35% above national |
| 7 | Missouri | $76,450 | +31% above national |
| 8 | Indiana | $75,880 | +30% above national |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $75,620 | +30% above national |
| 10 | Arizona | $74,780 | +29% above national |
| 11 | Arkansas | $73,520 | +26% above national |
| 12 | New Mexico | $72,760 | +25% above national |
| 13 | Nevada | $70,740 | +22% above national |
| 14 | New Jersey | $65,590 | +13% above national |
| 15 | Florida | $62,240 | +7% above national |
| 16 | South Carolina | $61,470 | +6% above national |
| 17 | Oregon | $61,340 | +5% above national |
| 18 | Washington | $61,090 | +5% above national |
| 19 | California | $60,530 | +4% above national |
| 20 | Alabama | $59,460 | +2% above national |
| 21 | North Carolina | $59,130 | +2% above national |
| 22 | Hawaii | $59,120 | +2% above national |
| 23 | Illinois | $58,600 | +1% above national |
| 24 | Alaska | $58,230 | same as national |
| 25 | Utah | $57,570 | 1% below national |
| 26 | New York | $57,290 | 2% below national |
| 27 | Idaho | $56,530 | 3% below national |
| 28 | Texas | $56,290 | 3% below national |
| 29 | Iowa | $55,030 | 5% below national |
| 30 | Tennessee | $53,560 | 8% below national |
| 31 | Minnesota | $53,100 | 9% below national |
| 32 | Kentucky | $52,530 | 10% below national |
| 33 | Massachusetts | $52,470 | 10% below national |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $52,360 | 10% below national |
| 35 | Puerto Rico | $51,150 | 12% below national |
| 36 | Michigan | $47,850 | 18% below national |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $41,600 | 28% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 46 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $81,380 | +40% above national |
| 2 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $80,820 | +39% above national |
| 3 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $80,140 | +38% above national |
| 4 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $79,260 | +36% above national |
| 5 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $78,420 | +35% above national |
| 6 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $77,810 | +34% above national |
| 7 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $77,790 | +34% above national |
| 8 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $75,970 | +31% above national |
| 9 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $75,880 | +30% above national |
| 10 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $75,810 | +30% above national |
| 11 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $74,590 | +28% above national |
| 12 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $73,540 | +26% above national |
| 13 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $73,400 | +26% above national |
| 14 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $73,020 | +26% above national |
| 15 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $73,020 | +26% above national |
| 16 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $73,020 | +26% above national |
| 17 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $70,780 | +22% above national |
| 18 | Cleveland, OH | $68,390 | +18% above national |
| 19 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $67,000 | +15% above national |
| 20 | Albuquerque, NM | $65,590 | +13% above national |
| 21 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $65,540 | +13% above national |
| 22 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $64,860 | +12% above national |
| 23 | Columbia, SC | $61,470 | +6% above national |
| 24 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $61,340 | +5% above national |
| 25 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $61,100 | +5% above national |
| 26 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $60,530 | +4% above national |
| 27 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $60,390 | +4% above national |
| 28 | Tulsa, OK | $60,150 | +3% above national |
| 29 | Pittsburgh, PA | $59,380 | +2% above national |
| 30 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $59,120 | +2% above national |
| 31 | Anchorage, AK | $58,230 | same as national |
| 32 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $57,620 | 1% below national |
| 33 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $56,850 | 2% below national |
| 34 | Boise City, ID | $56,530 | 3% below national |
| 35 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $56,040 | 4% below national |
| 36 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $55,920 | 4% below national |
| 37 | Jacksonville, FL | $54,840 | 6% below national |
| 38 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $54,200 | 7% below national |
| 39 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $53,220 | 9% below national |
| 40 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $52,470 | 10% below national |
| 41 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $51,150 | 12% below national |
| 42 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $49,290 | 15% below national |
| 43 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $49,160 | 15% below national |
| 44 | Knoxville, TN | $45,940 | 21% below national |
| 45 | Omaha, NE-IA | $37,250 | 36% below national |
| 46 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,110 | 41% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 53 (transportation and material moving) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors make? ▼
What state pays Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors? ▼
How dangerous is being a Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors? ▼
Is Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors a good career? ▼
How does Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $78,530/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Georgia leads at $81,380/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.