FreightWaves Ratings cuts through the noise of freight technology product reviews to make you a smarter buyer

What are the Highest Paying Jobs in Transportation?

The transportation industry is growing at a rapid rate. Nationwide, there was 1.9 million truck driving jobs in 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Not only are the jobs plentiful, but they also pay quite well. The median pay is $47,130 per year and with a little extra research and experience, you can make far more than that. To help you get the most out of your transportation career. Here are the highest paying jobs in transportation. 

Quicklook: Highest Paying Jobs in Transportation

  • Best For Private Fleet Employer: Walmart – Match Now
  • Best For Truck Drivers with an N or X Endorsement: Westmor Industries – Match Now
  • Best For Part-Time or Shift Work: Newmont Mining – Match Now
  • Best For Owner Operators: USA Truck – Match Now
  • Best For Home Time: U.S. Xpress – Match Now
  • Best For Duo Truck Drivers: Knight Transportation – Match Now
  • Best For Car Enthusiasts: Reliable Carriers – Match Now
  • Best For Union Truck Driver: ABF Freight – Match Now

8 Top Paying Jobs in Transportation

Truck drivers, engineers, specialized freight loading professionals, and bus drivers can all find high-paying work within the transportation industry. Here’s a look at some of the highest-paying options and why these jobs are such great opportunities for transportation workers.

Walmart

Walmart

Walmart provides a private fleet experience, which as a general rule provides better pay and offers high-quality equipment. Truck drivers can make $80,000, but owner-operators can make nearly $300,000 with the company. 

Best For: Private Fleet Employer

Average Salary: $82,943

Benefits:

  • Up to 21 days of PTO
  • Company-paid life insurance and disability insurance 
  • Outstanding benefits
  • Paid training
  • Consecutive days off
  • Variety of scheduling options
  • Condo-style sleepers
  • 300-mile average length of haul

Disadvantages: 

  • The company scores poorly for the management team 
  • Poor communication 
  • Long commutes on day 1 
  • High standards for a spotless driving history

Westmor Industries

westmor industries

Tanker truck driving jobs generally pay more than standard jobs because they require added expertise. Working for Westmor Industries is no exception. While employees share concerns over long hours, poor management, and struggles with advancement, the pay is still good starting out and you’ll get an outstanding benefits package.

Best For: N or X Endorsement

Salary: $77,195

Benefits:

  • Stable employment 
  • Good for those starting out  
  • Weekly pay
  • $100 cash bonuses for going above and beyond
  • Comprehensive benefits package
  • Seven paid holidays
  • 401K match up to 5%

Disadvantages:

  • Long hours
  • Poor management
  • Limited growth opportunities
  • Home less than with other similar employers

Newmont Mining

newmount mining

Newmont Mining is a leader in gold companies and has been a publicly-traded company since 1925. With a strong history, the company is an excellent choice for your mining truck hauler career. But the hours can be crummy and you face greater safety risks than you do with other truck driver jobs. If those aren’t deal-breakers for you, this is one of the highest-paying transportation jobs out there.

Best For: Part-time or Shift Work

Salary: $127,890

Benefits:

  • Friendly team environment
  • Medical, life and disability insurance
  • Holidays and paid time off
  • Recognition awards
  • On-the-job training 
  • Commitment to diversity and inclusion

Disadvantages: 

  • Not all jobs are full time 
  • Somewhat riskier work compared to hauling other materials 
  • Can take several years to work up to this position 
  • Shifts can be odd hours and lead to burnout

USA Truck

usa truck

Moving to an owner-operator can mean significant pay increases. But it also means learning how to run a small business, managing taxes and expense tracking, learning about truck maintenance, and more. Truck drivers who find the work rewarding will reap the high salary benefits though.

Best For: Owner-Operators

Salary: $103,645

Benefits: 

  • Nice people to work with
  • Stable owner operator work  
  • Option for mileage pay or percent of revenue 
  • Lease purchase program

Disadvantages: 

  • Waiting for load assignments can take a long time
  • Away from home too long 
  • Variability in volume of work 

U.S. Xpress

us xpress

Work traditional hours and support the transportation industry by preparing the next generation of truck drivers when you work as a truck driver trainer. U.S. Xpress is a large trucking company with good job security and great benefits.

Best For: Home-Time

Salary: $110,000

Benefits:

  • Flexible schedule 
  • No time away from home  
  • Pride in preparing the next generation of truck drivers
  • Ensure high safety standards 
  • Wellness programs
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Comprehensive benefits
  • Bonuses when students stay with the company

Disadvantages:

  • Employees report that management doesn’t care for its people 
  • It can be more stressful than working for other companies 
  • Equipment is not the most modern, up-to-date  

Knight Transportation

knight transportation

If you’re considering a job as a team driver, you should consider finding a driver to start your career with. That way, you know that you’ll get along with that person. This is especially ideal if you are a husband-wife duo as it can maximize your household income. Team driving can also reduce the loneliness factor of life as a truck driver.

Best For: Duo Truck Drivers

Salary: $185,000 per truck

Benefits: 

  • Automatic pay increases
  • Referral bonus program 
  • 2 days off weekly
  • No waiting on loads  
  • Dedicated routes 

Disadvantages:

  • Long hours
  • Potential interpersonal challenges with another driver 
  • Compensation is tied to another driver

Reliable Carriers

If you love being around cars, the life of a luxury car hauler is for you. People will entrust their vehicles to your care and attention, and you’ll have the opportunity to provide a high-quality service to them. Because the stakes are high in this work, the pay is also high and it doesn’t require any extra endorsements or specialized training.

Best For: Car Enthusiasts

Salary: $94,843

Benefits: 

  • High pay rate for car hauling work 
  • Tons of opportunities within the company  
  • Fun, interesting work
  • Ability to be around unique cars 

Disadvantages:

  • High standards for driving records
  • Requires a great deal of trucking experience
  • Mechanics and office workers are overworked and stressed, which could impact your enjoyment of the job

Teamster Truck Driver: ABF Freight

abf frieght

Get outstanding protection as a union truck driver when you’re part of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union. Several trucking companies hire union workers, but ABF Freight provides some of the highest pay and greatest benefits.

Best For: Union Truck Driver

Salary: $70,998

Benefits:

  • Truck driver development program 
  • Sick pay  
  • Best technology tools for drivers 
  • Modern equipment
  • Protected by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union

Disadvantages: 

  • Limited support from management
  • Not the most inclusive work environment
  • Lack of flexibility 

Is Transportation a Good Career Field?

Transportation is an excellent career field because it offers stable entry-level positions, a clear career path for working your way up into higher-paying jobs, and is expected to grow 3.4 percent over the next several years

The work is also diverse. You can work your way from serving as a truck driver to warehouse work and then on to driver training jobs. Some people enjoy retiring and serving as a bus driver part-time or plowing snow in the winters as a good side income. 

What To Consider in High-Paying Transportation Jobs

Individuals that earn the highest pay in the transportation industry, can also assume some of the greatest risks and be required to live in less desirable areas. Before deciding that these high-paying jobs are right for you, consider these factors.

Risks and Liability

Higher paying transportation jobs often provide greater compensation because they present some risk to the driver. Whether that’s because you’re carrying hazardous loads or because the value of the load is significantly greater, you should consider the risks and liability before taking on the work. This could lead to greater stress that might not be worth the compensation.

Location

You might travel to remote areas of the country or be required to live in areas that are not as desirable. In some cases, such as mining transportation workers, you might spend hours traveling to remote locations just to start your workday.

Licenses and Certifications

Some high-paying transportation jobs require that you seek additional licenses or certifications, such as a truck driver training certification. This can cost additional money and consume more of your time to prepare for this next step in your career, while still maintaining your existing job duties.

Cargo

Fragile cargo can mean higher pay rates, but it also requires the highest truck driver skill levels. Make sure you have what it takes to protect this cargo or you might end up with a dark cloud hanging over your driving record and challenges in getting even entry-level transportation jobs.

Miles

Higher-paying transportation work often requires more miles, which means more time away from home, long hours, more stress, and greater stamina. More mileage isn’t for everyone and can lead to burnout and fatigue. 

Tools to Find High-Paying Transportation Jobs

The transportation industry is thriving and growing. To take advantage of that growth, start looking for ways to grow your career by pursuing one of these high-paying transportation jobs. Browse open opportunities at TruckDrivingJobs.com to find work that matches your experience and skills. 

FAQ

Is Transportation a Good Career?

Transportation is an excellent career as it has many entry-level positions and plenty of career growth. The work is diverse so that you won’t tire of it or get burnt out.

Is Transportation in High Demand?

Transportation work is in extremely high demand. The need to move goods and get them to consumers is greater than ever with increased online ordering and home delivery services.

Do Truckers Make Good Money?

The average base salary for truckers is $77,237. In contrast, the national average salary is $56,310.

Sign up for a FreightWaves e-newsletter to stay informed of all news and trends impacting supply chain careers and operations.

TruckDrivingJobs.com

Where the best truck drivers go to find jobs nationwide!