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Sector

Careers in Transportation & Aerospace Manufacturing

Vehicles and transportation equipment manufacturing builds non-automotive vehicles and equipment โ€” trucks, trailers, RVs, and related products. Moderate concentration at larger employers (10.9% at 250+).

1.8M
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$63K
Median salary
Across all roles
Transportation & Aerospace Manufacturing jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Transportation & Aerospace Manufacturing employment by metro ยท ~393 areas
1.Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA23K
2.New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ20K
3.Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN20K
4.Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX19K
5.Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI18K

Jobs per 100K workforce โ€” measures industry density

1.Elkhart-Goshen, IN2,853.6
2.Columbus, IN1,992.5
3.Wichita, KS1,781.3
4.Sheboygan, WI1,378.5
5.Spartanburg, SC1,375.8
BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Transportation & Aerospace Manufacturing

Vehicles and transportation equipment manufacturing produces cars, trucks, and transit โ€” there's satisfaction in building machines that move people and goods, engineering complexity, and automotive culture. Many find meaning in vehicle production.

The challenge can come from industry transformation and production demands. Electric vehicle transition is disrupting traditional skills. Production schedules are demanding with efficiency expectations. Global competition affects all segments. Union dynamics vary by manufacturer.

The field varies by vehicle type and role. Passenger vehicles differ from commercial trucks, buses, or railcars. Assembly differs from component production, engineering, or quality. OEMs operate differently than suppliers or specialty manufacturers.

For those who thrive here, the rewards are substantial: building vehicles, often strong wages, large-scale manufacturing, and transportation culture. If you're drawn to vehicles, can adapt to industry changes, and want transportation manufacturing careers, this sector offers solid opportunities.

How people break in

Production positions are accessible. Skilled trades require apprenticeship. Engineering requires degrees. Industry experience helps for advancement.

Work environment tends toward
Heavy manufacturingCommercial customersEngineering intensityRegional concentrationCyclical demand
Industries it connects to
Salary vs. national average
-12%
$63K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$17K$38K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level โ†’
Salary range across all transportation & aerospace manufacturing roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$92K
2. Boulder$77K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$74K
4. Trenton-Princeton$70K
5. Durham-Chapel Hill$70K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$70K in mid-market metros to ~$104K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap โ€” metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $104K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ยท $88K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $80K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $92K adj.
Boulder ยท $77K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $74K adj.
Most jobs
New York ยท 23M
Los Angeles ยท 15.3M
Chicago ยท 11.4M
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts โ€” signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Transportation & Aerospace Manufacturing.

๐Ÿšช
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Manufacturing data
18%
People tend to stay in Manufacturing. Lower turnover often indicates better working conditions or higher switching costs.
โ†“ 4%vs. 22% all industries
๐Ÿข
Typical Employer Size
Small-skewed
Small businesses dominate. More variety in roles but less formal structure and benefits.
66%
Small
<50
23%
Mid
50โ€“249
11%
Large
250+
๐Ÿ 
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
mostly_onsite
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
๐Ÿ“‹
Credential Density
Moderate
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
๐Ÿค
Union Presence
Based on all Manufacturing data
~9%
Minimal union coverage means compensation is individually negotiated. Know your market rate going in.
โ†“ 9%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Union Members Summary 2024
Career Tracks

Career tracks in Transportation & Aerospace Manufacturing

How jobs in this sector break down by function, and what they typically pay.

Engineering
10%
$90K median
Explore โ†’
Maintenance & Repair
10%
$58K median
Explore โ†’
Admin & Office
8%
$66K median
Explore โ†’
Construction
7%
$57K median
Explore โ†’
Business Operations
7%
$80K median
Explore โ†’
Transportation
7%
$57K median
Explore โ†’
Median salary for occupations employed within Transportation & Aerospace Manufacturing. BLS OEWS May 2024.

Explore careers in Transportation & Aerospace Manufacturing

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034
Truest editorial: Industry narrative, sector context, career track mapping, working signals analysis.