# Ground Transportation

> Ground Transportation is a field of study in the Transportation and Materials Moving area.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/ground-transportation
- CIP code: 49.02 (Transportation and Materials Moving)
- Colleges offering it: 209 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 209 | $50,134 | $50,381 | $5,500 |
| Associate's | 19 | $54,938 | $67,337 | $12,000 |
| Bachelor's | 1 | $23,776 | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Associate's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Pennsylvania College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-college-of-technology-2096) | Williamsport, PA | $62,389 | $12,000 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Subway and Streetcar Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/subway-and-streetcar-operators): $86,380 median pay
- [Locomotive Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/locomotive-engineers): $81,410 median pay
- [Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/railroad-conductors-and-yardmasters): $78,000 median pay
- [Pile Driver Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pile-driver-operators): $73,300 median pay
- [Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/underground-mining-machine-operators-all-other): $70,130 median pay
- [Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/rail-track-laying-and-maintenance-equipment-operators): $70,070 median pay
- [Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/railroad-brake-signal-and-switch-operators-and-locomotive-firers): $68,840 median pay
- [Crane and Tower Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/crane-and-tower-operators): $68,080 median pay
- [Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/career-technical-education-teachers-postsecondary): $63,820 median pay
- [First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/first-line-supervisors-of-material-moving-machine-and-vehicle-operators): $62,890 median pay
- [First-Line Supervisors of Transportation Workers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/first-line-supervisors-of-transportation-workers-all-other): $62,890 median pay
- [Continuous Mining Machine Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/continuous-mining-machine-operators): $61,810 median pay
- [Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/explosives-workers-ordnance-handling-experts-and-blasters): $61,390 median pay
- [Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/rail-yard-engineers-dinkey-operators-and-hostlers): $60,600 median pay
- [Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/earth-drillers-except-oil-and-gas): $60,190 median pay
- [Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/operating-engineers-and-other-construction-equipment-operators): $59,850 median pay
- [Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/bus-drivers-transit-and-intercity): $59,050 median pay
- [Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers): $58,640 median pay
- [Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/excavating-and-loading-machine-and-dragline-operators-surface-mining): $57,430 median pay
- [Extraction Workers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/extraction-workers-all-other): $57,010 median pay
- [Hoist and Winch Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hoist-and-winch-operators): $56,450 median pay
- [Rail Transportation Workers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/rail-transportation-workers-all-other): $56,360 median pay
- [Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/paving-surfacing-and-tamping-equipment-operators): $53,340 median pay
- [Highway Maintenance Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/highway-maintenance-workers): $50,260 median pay

## More in Transportation and Materials Moving

- [Air Transportation](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/air-transportation): 133 colleges
- Marine Transportation: 12 colleges
- Transportation and Materials Moving, Other: 4 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/