Ground Transportation graduates pursue 2 occupations, with top roles paying $68,080/yr or more. The career cards below break down wages, daily tasks, and 10-year job growth projections for each.
This page covers Ground Transportation as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Transportation and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Ground Transportation is a focused area of study within Transportation. You will not have trouble finding it: 308 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 24,115 students complete it each year. Training is practical and skills-based, with a fast path from classroom to job site.
Colleges Offering
308
Graduates / Year
24,115
Avg Net Price / yr
$12,439
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 24,115 students who complete Ground Transportation programs each year, the majority (91%) earn a doctorate degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
91%
Doctorate91%
Certificate8%
Associate's1%
What Can You Do With a Ground Transportation Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Ground Transportation graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Crane and Tower Operators pay the most at $68,080/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
High school diploma or equivalent3,500 openings/yr43K employed nationally
Operation and ControlOperations MonitoringCritical ThinkingActive ListeningMonitoring
Day-to-day responsibilities
Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
Teach vocational courses intended to provide occupational training below the baccalaureate level in subjects such as construction, mechanics/repair, manufacturing, transportation, or cosmetology, primarily to students who have graduated from or left high school. Teaching takes place in public or private schools whose primary business is academic or vocational education.
Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress, provide feedback, and make suggestions for improvement.
Present lectures and conduct discussions to increase students' knowledge and competence using visual aids, such as graphs, charts, videotapes, and slides.
Supervise and monitor students' use of tools and equipment.
Top Colleges for Ground Transportation
Not sure where to study Ground Transportation? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Ground Transportation graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Transportation Programs
Ground Transportation is not the only path through Transportation: 2 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Ground Transportation program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
The data on Ground Transportation shows 1 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 11,500 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Licensure often requiredMany positions in this field require trade licenses, certifications, or apprenticeship completion. These add time and cost beyond the academic credential.
Declining roles in some areas1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
What jobs can you get with a Ground Transportation degree?
Crane and Tower Operators are one path, and it pays a median of $68,080 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Ground Transportation program take?
Four or more years of graduate study for a Ground Transportation doctorate, on top of the bachelor's or master's you need to get in. This is the standard finishing credential in the field.
How many colleges offer Ground Transportation?
308 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
What is the difference between Ground Transportation and Transportation?
Ground Transportation is the narrower of the two: Transportation covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Ground Transportation-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Ground Transportation graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Ground Transportation graduates consistently look for technical proficiency, safety compliance, and hands-on problem-solving. Certifications, apprenticeships, and demonstrated practical experience typically carry as much weight as academic credentials in this field. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Ground Transportation graduates?
Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average +1.8% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Crane and Tower Operators are among the strongest-growth roles at +3.8%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Transportation Programs
Other programs in Transportation. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Choose a Major Pillar
A decision framework for picking a college major using your interests, aptitudes, and federal earnings data to reach a defensible choice before applying.
Yes, most schools allow it, but the schedule math rarely works without either overlapping requirements or extra time. Here's when it actually fits in four years.
The real cost of a second major, when it pays back and when it doesn't, and why a focused single major with a relevant minor often beats a double major.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
Major earnings
Highest paying majors
Job growth
STEM
Field of study
Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
Engineering tech
Engineering
Program earnings
Applied degree
Technician careers
STEM Is Not One Thing: The Pay Gap Within STEM
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
STEM earnings
Engineering pay
Computer science
Program earnings
Major choice
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
