Question 1

How do I choose between the majors in this concentration?

Accepted Answer

Start by identifying the mode of transportation that interests you most — air, sea, or ground — because each cluster has distinct licensure requirements, training timelines, and hiring pipelines. Aviation majors like Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew require FAA certification and log hours before employment; the 118 colleges offering that major reflect how widespread those programs are. Ground transportation paths, such as Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation at 11 colleges, tend to be shorter and more regional. Marine programs like Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer are offered at only 9 colleges but produced 543 completions, reflecting a niche but stable career path for captains and vessel mates.

Question 2

What is the difference between Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology and Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot?

Accepted Answer

The Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science general major (5,383 completions, 87 colleges) is a broader management- and science-oriented credential whose top career is transportation, storage, and distribution managers — roles that oversee logistics rather than fly aircraft. The Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot major (1,633 completions, 118 colleges) is tightly tied to FAA Airline Transport Pilot certification and feeds directly into cockpit positions as airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers. If you want to fly for a regional or major airline, the pilot major is the direct route; if you want to run flight operations, dispatch, or airport management, the general aeronautics major is more aligned.

Question 3

Which majors in this family are most common at the associate's level?

Accepted Answer

Aviation and pilot programs dominate completions across the board, and many are offered at community colleges that confer associate's degrees alongside FAA certificates — explaining why Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew appears at all 118 colleges in the family. Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation, with 11 colleges and 93 completions, is also frequently packaged as a two-year or vocational credential. By contrast, Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer (9 colleges, 543 completions) and Air Traffic Controller programs (22 colleges, 153 completions) are more often housed at four-year institutions or specialized academies with specific federal hiring ties.

Question 4

What do graduates from this concentration typically earn?

Accepted Answer

Median earnings across the Transportation and Materials Moving family sit at approximately $48,059. The top-earning career tied to programs in this cluster is heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers at $57,440 annually, followed by industrial truck and tractor operators at $46,390 and light truck drivers at $44,140. Aviation-related careers such as airline pilots and flight engineers tend to have substantially higher ceilings once pilots accumulate ATP hours and advance to major carriers, though entry-level regional airline pay has historically been lower. Across 9,232 total completions in the family, earnings outcomes vary widely depending on specific major, level of credential, and how quickly graduates clear the relevant licensure hurdles.

Question 5

Are there niche majors in this concentration worth knowing about?

Accepted Answer

Yes — several small programs fill highly specific workforce needs. Remote Aircraft Pilot (6 colleges, 28 completions) is an emerging credential tied to FAA Part 107 drone operations, a fast-growing commercial sector. Diver, Professional and Instructor (2 colleges, 4 completions) is a rare pathway to commercial diving careers. Railroad and Railway Transportation, offered at only 2 colleges with 4 completions, serves regional freight and passenger rail operators who need credentialed conductors and yardmasters. These niche majors are worth investigating precisely because low program counts mean less competition for seats and often tighter relationships with specific industry employers.

Transportation and Materials Moving

Sorted by popularity

Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General

Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew

Aviation/Airway Management and Operations

Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer

Air Traffic Controller

Air Transportation, Other

Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation

Remote Aircraft Pilot

Airline Flight Attendant

Flight Instructor

Marine Transportation, Other

Diver, Professional and Instructor

Railroad and Railway Transportation

Ground Transportation, Other

Transportation and Materials Moving, Other

Common questions