Aircraft cargo handling supervisors salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,690 | $20.04 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $58,170 | $27.97 |
| Mean (average) | $65,010 | $31.26 |
| 90th percentile | $92,160 | $44.31 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Aircraft cargo handling supervisors pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 39 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $59,460 | $51,810 | $95,720 | ||
| Alaska | $58,230 | $52,530 | $92,860 | 130 | 6.38 |
| Arizona | $74,780 | $55,140 | $99,970 | 220 | 1.09 |
| Arkansas | $73,520 | $60,310 | $87,930 | 40 | 0.47 |
| California | $60,530 | $49,290 | $102,150 | 1,490 | 1.3 |
| Colorado | $79,260 | $54,300 | $111,480 | 190 | 1.03 |
| Connecticut | $78,770 | $43,450 | $92,370 | 50 | 0.51 |
| Florida | $62,240 | $44,270 | $88,370 | 740 | 1.19 |
| Georgia | $81,380 | $55,720 | $108,240 | 150 | 0.48 |
| Hawaii | $59,120 | $44,830 | $82,500 | 180 | 4.62 |
| Idaho | $56,530 | $41,690 | $102,100 | 120 | 2.22 |
| Illinois | $58,600 | $49,820 | $76,980 | 530 | 1.38 |
| Indiana | $75,880 | $47,130 | $96,280 | 60 | 0.31 |
| Iowa | $55,030 | $46,060 | $105,470 | ||
| Kentucky | $52,530 | $30,670 | $75,650 | 1,010 | 8.04 |
| Louisiana | $79,460 | $32,610 | $84,580 | 40 | 0.32 |
| Maryland | Data unavailable | 130 | 0.78 | ||
| Massachusetts | $52,470 | $45,830 | $82,580 | 140 | 0.62 |
| Michigan | $47,850 | $42,610 | $92,100 | 90 | 0.31 |
| Minnesota | $53,100 | $48,320 | $102,600 | 170 | 0.92 |
| Missouri | $76,450 | $45,970 | $91,000 | 100 | 0.56 |
| Nebraska | Data unavailable | 150 | 2.36 | ||
| Nevada | $70,740 | $46,460 | $90,450 | 170 | 1.69 |
| New Hampshire | $52,360 | $46,600 | $102,260 | 30 | 0.74 |
| New Jersey | $65,590 | $52,920 | $92,380 | 60 | 0.22 |
| New Mexico | $72,760 | $47,330 | $93,670 | 50 | 0.89 |
| New York | $57,290 | $40,870 | $96,270 | 250 | 0.4 |
| North Carolina | $59,130 | $55,220 | $79,630 | 90 | 0.29 |
| Ohio | $79,650 | $43,700 | $108,410 | 100 | 0.29 |
| Oklahoma | $41,600 | $38,480 | $86,620 | 70 | 0.69 |
| Oregon | $61,340 | $52,530 | $95,100 | 110 | 0.88 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,620 | $45,610 | $91,200 | 450 | 1.19 |
| Puerto Rico | $51,150 | $36,260 | $77,630 | 100 | 1.72 |
| South Carolina | $61,470 | $31,220 | $80,140 | 140 | 0.99 |
| Tennessee | $53,560 | $40,420 | $81,390 | 260 | 1.25 |
| Texas | $56,290 | $45,100 | $85,480 | 1,410 | 1.6 |
| Utah | $57,570 | $51,590 | $97,300 | 80 | 0.72 |
| Virginia | $78,420 | $45,850 | $97,490 | 240 | 0.92 |
| Washington | $61,090 | $52,540 | $81,970 | 150 | 0.66 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.7%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Cargo tracking system software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Warehouse management system WMS
Transferable skills for career changers: Management of Personnel Resources, Time Management, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Instructing.
Common job titles: Cargo Supervisor, Ground Operations Supervisor, Line Service Supervisor (LSS), Loadmaster, Ramp and Cargo Supervisor, Ramp Supervisor.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do aircraft cargo handling supervisors make?
The national median annual wage for aircraft cargo handling supervisors was $58,170 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $41,690 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $92,160. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do aircraft cargo handling supervisors need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is aircraft cargo handling supervisors a growing career?
BLS projects employment of aircraft cargo handling supervisors to change +9.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay aircraft cargo handling supervisors the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Georgia ($81,380), Ohio ($79,650), Louisiana ($79,460). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.