Careers in this cluster involve moving people and products from one place to another. Most of the transportation and material moving occupations and some of the installation, maintenance, and repair occupations in the Occupational Outlook Handbook are assigned to this cluster.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) counted about 10.7 million jobs in the Standard Occupational Classification occupations that are assigned to the transportation, distribution, and logistics cluster. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $19,500 for parking lot attendants to $121,280 for air traffic controllers.

Most of the occupations in this cluster typically require a high school diploma or equivalent for entry. However, specific designations range from less than a high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training for occupations such as taxi drivers and chauffeurs to a bachelor’s degree, less than 5 years of work experience in a related occupation, and moderate-term on-the-job training for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers.

BLS projects most job openings in the transportation, distribution, and logistics cluster to be in occupations assigned to the transportation operations pathway. The occupation projected to have the largest number of job openings is hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Kansas City region has a rich history as a center for commerce. Its heartland, river-based location made it a natural crossroads for transcontinental rail, interstate, and waterway. Through its history, Greater Kansas City has established itself as the leading center for trade and distribution within the central United States. Kansas City is experiencing one of the largest industrial booms in its history and is a center of choice for warehousing, manufacturing and distribution. Business has prospered due in large part to the region’s abundant, multi-modal transportation network.

Source: Kansas City Area Development Council