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Careers›Roles›Transportation Operations Specialist
Mid-Level

Transportation Operations Specialist

Keeping people and goods moving smoothly is your daily work, coordinating routes, schedules, and the thousand small things that can snarl a transportation system. Where a smooth commute is quietly managed.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
I
C
E
R
A
S
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Transportation Operations Specialists
Administrative ServicesGovernment · 67%Professional Services · 13%Education · 12%Healthcare · 1%Consumer Services · 1%
Job markets for Transportation Operations Specialists
Employment concentration · ~122 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Science
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Transportation Operations Specialist

The work means monitoring operations, coordinating schedules and resources, responding to disruptions, and keeping a transportation system running day to day. You work between control rooms, data, and the field, often on shift. Disruptions don't wait for convenient hours, and a small delay can cascade across the whole network.

What people underestimate is the constant problem-solving and reactivity: plans meet weather, breakdowns, and human factors that defy them. Shift work and irregular hours are common, the pressure spikes when things go wrong, and you manage problems you didn't cause. Settings span transit, freight, and logistics.

It fits someone level-headed, organized, and good under pressure. If you want predictable, low-stakes days, the firefighting can wear. But if you like solving live problems and keeping things moving, and the quiet win of a system that just runs, the work tends to be steadily engaging.

What people in this role value
AchievementAbove avg
IndependenceModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
RecognitionModerate
RelationshipsModerate
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Professional Services$92K+15%
Technology & Information$91K+13%
Energy & Utilities$82K+2%
Financial Services$81K+2%
Wholesale & Distribution$79K-1%
Compared to Science average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Transportation Operations Specialists (SOC 19-3099.01), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Science →
Transportation Operations SpecialistTransportation Design EngineerTransportation AnalystTransportation ConsultantTransportation SpecialistTransportation Technician (Transportation Tech)Program OfficerFleet CoordinatorTransportation ModelerTransportation PlannerTransportation Data Programs ManagerAirway Transportation Systems Specialist (ATSS)
Exploring the Transportation Operations Specialist career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$63K–$161K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
37K
U.S. Employment
-1.7%
10yr Growth
3K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$77K$74K$71K$68K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$77K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningSystems EvaluationCoordination
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
19-3099.01

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midTransportation Design Engineer$101KmidTransportation Analyst$85KmidTransportation Consultant$100KseniorSenior Transportation Analyst$85KmidTransportation Specialist$93KseniorSenior Transportation Specialist$93K
View all Science roles →

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.