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Salary comparison

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors vs. Airfield Operations Specialists: Who Earns More?

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors out-earn Airfield Operations Specialists by $1K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors land at $58,170 and Airfield Operations Specialists at $56,850. The education gap is real: aircraft cargo handling supervisor programs typically require no formal educational credential, while airfield operations specialist programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors is Georgia ($81,380); for Airfield Operations Specialists it's Kentucky ($123,290).

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
Airfield Operations Specialists
Median salary
$58,170
$56,850
Hourly rate
$27.97/hr
$27.33/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$41,690
$35,870
Senior level (90th %)
$92,160
$102,120
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
9,760
15,190
Job growth (10-year)
5.2%
4.2%
Category
Transportation
Transportation
Top-paying state
Georgia
Kentucky

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors median pay.

State
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
Airfield Operations Specialists
Georgia
$81,380
$66,790
Colorado
$79,260
$77,500
Virginia
$78,420
$72,250
Arizona
$74,780
$77,570
New Mexico
$72,760
$69,090
Nevada
$70,740
$61,350
Oregon
$61,340
$75,130
Washington
$61,090
$84,050
California
$60,530
$62,600
Alabama
$59,460
$78,590
Alaska
$58,230
$71,510
Idaho
$56,530
$62,510
Texas
$56,290
$60,910
Kentucky
$52,530
$123,290
Michigan
$47,850
$61,780

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors or Airfield Operations Specialists?

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors earn more nationally. The median is $58,170 for Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors versus $56,850 for Airfield Operations Specialists, a difference of $1K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors or Airfield Operations Specialists?

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors has the better 10-year outlook at 5.2% projected growth, compared to 4.2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors or Airfield Operations Specialists?

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors typically requires no formal educational credential. Airfield Operations Specialists requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors get paid the most?

Georgia is the top-paying state for Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors at $81,380/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors vs. Airfield Operations Specialists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Georgia, Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors earn $81,380 vs. $66,790 for Airfield Operations Specialists. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors salary breakdownView →Full Airfield Operations Specialists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Airfield Operations Specialists by take-home payExplore →How to become a aircraft cargo handling supervisorsGuide →How to become a airfield operations specialistsGuide →