Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
Supervise and coordinate the activities of ground crew in the loading, unloading, securing, and staging of aircraft cargo or baggage. May determine the quantity and orientation of cargo and compute aircraft center of gravity. May accompany aircraft as member of flight crew and monitor and handle cargo in flight, and assist and brief passengers on safety and emergency procedures. Includes loadmasters.
Also called: Air Cargo Ground Crew Supervisor, Air Cargo Ground Operations Supervisor, Air Cargo Specialist Supervisor, Air Cargo Supervisor, Aircraft Loadmaster, Airfreight Loading Supervisor
Median pay
$58,170
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$41,690 – $92,160
People employed
9,760
Holland code
ECR
Enterprising · Conventional · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 2.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 3.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 4.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 5.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 6.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 7.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 8.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors pay by state
Annual median pay by state (36 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What aircraft cargo handling supervisors do
- 01Calculate load weights for different aircraft compartments, using charts and computers.
- 02Determine the quantity and orientation of cargo, and compute an aircraft's center of gravity.
- 03Direct ground crews in the loading, unloading, securing, or staging of aircraft cargo or baggage.
- 04Train new employees in areas such as safety procedures or equipment operation.
- 05Distribute cargo to maximize use of space.
- 06Accompany aircraft as a member of the flight crew to monitor and handle cargo in flight.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
- Transportation
- English Language
- Administration and Management
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Airfield Operations Specialists84% · −2%
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters80% · +34%
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance79% · −13%
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers76% · −4%
- Cargo and Freight Agents75% · −10%
Change into aircraft cargo handling supervisors
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Airfield Operations Specialists86% · $56,850
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance81% · $50,340
- Aircraft Service Attendants79% · $40,450
- Cargo and Freight Agents78% · $52,260
- Freight Forwarders78% · $52,260