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What Can You Do With an Aviation Management Degree? Jobs
Key takeaway: An aviation management degree leads to ground-side jobs: airfield operations specialist at a median annual wage of $56,850, aircraft cargo handling supervisor at $58,170, logistician at $82,320, and transportation, storage, and distribution manager at $107,230 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). It does not lead to the flight deck. Pilot and air traffic control jobs are gated by FAA certificates and FAA hiring, not by this degree, and they are listed here only so you can see the difference.
Aviation management is the business and operations side of aviation. The curriculum trains you to run an airfield, a station, a cargo terminal, or a compliance program under federal regulation. That is why the jobs below cluster around operations and management, and why the highest-paid occupations associated with aviation are not degree outcomes at all.
Jobs you can get with an aviation management degree
| Occupation | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Transportation, storage, and distribution managers | $107,230 |
| Logisticians | $82,320 |
| Flight attendants | $63,580 |
| Aircraft cargo handling supervisors | $58,170 |
| Airfield operations specialists | $56,850 |
View the data behind this chart
| Occupation | Avg. annual openings |
|---|---|
| Logisticians | 26,400/yr |
| Flight Attendants | 19,800/yr |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | 18,500/yr |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 11,700/yr |
| Commercial Pilots | 6,600/yr |
| Air Traffic Controllers | 2,200/yr |
| Airfield Operations Specialists | 1,600/yr |
| Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | 1,100/yr |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national medians. Median means half of workers in the occupation earned more and half earned less. Wages in this field vary sharply by airport size and by whether the employer is a large hub authority, a regional airport, a carrier, or a contracted ground handler.
Airfield operations specialist. This is the operational core of the field. Specialists inspect runways, taxiways, lighting, and signage, coordinate vehicles on the movement area, manage wildlife and construction hazards, respond to airfield incidents, and keep records that hold up when the airport’s certification is inspected. The national median annual wage was $56,850, with the 10th percentile at $35,870 and the 90th at $102,120 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 16,900 in 2024, projected to grow 4.2 percent through 2034, with 1,600 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Be clear about the entry gate: many airports hire into this role on experience and a background check rather than on a degree, and the degree tends to matter for the move into supervision. See how to become an airfield operations specialist.
Aircraft cargo handling supervisor. Supervisors run the ramp and cargo operation: loading and weight-and-balance paperwork, hazardous materials documentation, crew assignment, equipment, and turn times. The national median annual wage was $58,170, with the 10th percentile at $41,690 and the 90th at $92,160 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 10,300 in 2024, projected to grow 5.2 percent, with 1,100 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). This is a promote-from-within role at most carriers and handlers, and the degree is what moves you past first-line supervision.
Logistician. Logisticians plan and coordinate the movement of freight through networks, including air cargo. The national median annual wage was $82,320, with the 10th percentile at $50,890 and the 90th at $133,160 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). This occupation is the growth story in the group: employment was 241,000 in 2024, projected to grow 16.7 percent through 2034, with 26,400 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Aviation management coursework in air cargo and network planning reads directly onto this work, and supply chain management coursework strengthens the application.
Transportation, storage, and distribution manager. This is the management tier: running an airport department, an airline station, a cargo terminal, or a distribution operation, with budget and staffing responsibility. The national median annual wage was $107,230, with the 10th percentile at $65,120 and the 90th at $194,900 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 216,700 in 2024, projected to grow 6.1 percent through 2034, with 18,500 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Most people reach it after several years in operations, not straight out of a degree.
Flight attendant. Cabin crew work is customer-facing safety work, and airlines hire on training they provide themselves plus an FAA certificate of demonstrated proficiency issued after that training. The national median annual wage was $63,580, with the 10th percentile at $35,110 and the 90th at $136,430 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 130,800 in 2024, projected to grow 9.2 percent through 2034, with 19,800 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). A degree is not required. Some aviation management graduates fly for a few years and then move into station management or crew scheduling.
The jobs this degree does not get you
Two of the highest-paid occupations in aviation appear in every search result about this field. Neither is a product of this degree.
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers had a median annual wage of $232,140, with the 10th percentile at $106,710 and the 90th at $463,830 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Commercial pilots had a median annual wage of $123,220 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Both require FAA pilot certificates and ratings, a medical certificate, and logged flight hours earned at a flight school under 14 CFR Part 61 or Part 141. Airline flying additionally requires an airline transport pilot certificate with an hour minimum that a management degree does not reduce, except at specific universities holding an FAA authorization for a restricted certificate through an approved flight program. Reading a course catalog for the word “aviation” will not tell you whether flight training is included. Ask for it in writing.
Air traffic controllers had a median annual wage of $148,080, with the 10th percentile at $78,420 and the 90th at $215,610 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 24,100 in 2024, with 1.2 percent projected growth and 2,200 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Controllers are hired by the FAA through its own announcements, trained at the FAA Academy, and subject to a maximum entry age and medical and security screening. Some universities participate in an FAA collegiate training initiative, but the hiring decision is the FAA’s, not the school’s.
What the degree level changes
Nothing in aviation management is licensed, so the question is which door the credential opens.
The online bachelor’s in aviation management is the entry credential. It gets you screened for airport operations, station and ramp supervision, cargo coordination, scheduling, and analyst roles. Paired with a ramp or operations job while you study, it is the standard route into the industry.
The online master’s in aviation management is an advancement credential. It suits people already working in aviation who want airport administration, safety leadership, or a corporate role. It does not substitute for the operational years those jobs also want.
If your interest is freight networks rather than aviation specifically, compare supply chain management. If it is process and capacity work across industries, compare operations management. If it is safety systems, compare occupational safety.
Common questions
What jobs can you get with an aviation management degree?
Airport operations coordinator and airfield operations specialist, airline station and ramp supervisor, cargo operations supervisor, air service development analyst, aviation safety and compliance specialist, scheduling and dispatch support, and, with experience, transportation and distribution management. Flight attendant is also open, though no degree is required for it.
How much do aviation management majors make?
It depends on the role. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national medians are $56,850 for airfield operations specialists, $58,170 for aircraft cargo handling supervisors, $82,320 for logisticians, and $107,230 for transportation, storage, and distribution managers.
Can I become a pilot with an aviation management degree?
No. The degree contains no flight training and issues no FAA certificate. Pilot certificates come from FAA-approved flight schools under Part 61 or Part 141, with logged flight hours, a medical certificate, written exams, and a practical test, all priced separately from tuition.
Which of these careers pays best?
Among the jobs this degree actually reaches, transportation, storage, and distribution management carries the highest national median at $107,230, followed by logisticians at $82,320 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Logisticians also have the most openings in the group at 26,400 per year and the fastest projected growth at 16.7 percent from 2024 to 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034).
Is an aviation management degree worth it?
It is worth it if you want to work in airport or airline operations and you pair the degree with actual industry exposure. It is a poor purchase if you bought it expecting a flight deck. The is an aviation management degree worth it page walks through the trade-offs.
Keep exploring
- Start at the aviation management program hub, then compare levels: online bachelor’s and online master’s.
- Walk through how to become an airfield operations specialist, or weigh the trade-offs on is it worth it.
- Find programs near you at the state index.
- Compare related fields: business administration, supply chain management, operations management, occupational safety, and hospitality management.
Data verified: September 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.