Transportation Manager: career path and pay in the US
Where a Transportation Manager goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 3 steps, from Transportation Manager to Director of Transportation / VP of Transportation.
Also for the United Kingdom: Transportation Manager in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 3 to 7 years
Transportation Manager
$60K to $90K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Transportation Management Certification (optional) - Global, Logistics Certification (optional) - Global, MBA (optional) - Global.
Step 2 · 7 to 12 years
Senior Transportation Manager
$90K to $135K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Transportation Management Certification - Global, Logistics Certification - Global, Supply Chain Management Certification (optional) - Global, MBA (preferred) - Global.
Step 3 · 12+ years
Director of Transportation / VP of Transportation
$95K to $145K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Transportation Management Certification - Global, Logistics Certification - Global, Supply Chain Management Certification - Global, MBA (required) - Global.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
24% → 24%
Stays level across the path. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$60K to $90K → $95K to $145K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US.
What the work involves
Plan, direct, or coordinate transportation, storage, or distribution activities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable government laws or regulations. Includes logistics managers.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge areas
- Transportation
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Personnel and Human Resources
Education people bring
Job Zone 4, job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Other paths from here
- Operations Director
- Logistics Director
- Supply Chain Director
- General Manager
More Transportation/Logistics paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Logisticians, Logistics Analysts, Logistics Engineers, Supply Chain Managers, General and Operations Managers.
Your own role
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.