Ranked list · updated 2026-10-09
Highest-paying transportation & aviation credentials
16 transportation & aviation credentials are ranked below by the median annual wage published for the occupation each one unlocks. Every figure is quoted from the source named inside that credential's own guide, and the exam fee shown beside it comes from the awarding body.
- Credentials ranked
- 16
- Exam fees
- $10–$200
- Field
- Transportation & Aviation
Which transportation & aviation credentials lead to the highest published pay?
The 16 credentials below are ordered by the median annual wage published for the occupation each one unlocks. The order is computed from the researched guides; the sentence printed for each credential is that guide's own sourced headline, reproduced verbatim so its attribution stays attached to the number.
| # | Credential | Published median for the occupation it unlocks (quoted) | Exam fee | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airline Transport Pilot Multiengine Airplane Knowledge Test | Commercial pilots earned a May 2024 BLS median of $122,670; airline transport pilots at the majors typically earn far more. | ~$175 | 2026-08 |
| 2 | Commercial Pilot Airplane Knowledge Test | $122,670 median for commercial pilots (BLS, May 2024) — SOC 53-2012 | ~$175 | 2026-08 |
| 3 | Instrument Rating Airplane Knowledge Test | $122,670 median for commercial pilots (BLS, May 2024) | ~$175 | 2026-08 |
| 4 | Private Pilot Airplane Knowledge Test | $122,670 median for commercial pilots — the BLS code the private pilot certificate feeds into (BLS OOH Pay tab, May 2024); the combined airline-and-commercial headline is $198,100 because airline pilots earn far more | ~$175 | 2026-08 |
| 5 | The Recreational UAS Safety Test | No direct occupation — TRUST is the free recreational-drone knowledge test; the commercial drone path it leads toward sits inside occupations like commercial pilots, at a May 2024 median of $122,670 (BLS) | Free | 2026-08 |
| 6 | NASBLA-Approved Boating Safety Course | Recreational boater education is a legal gate, not a job credential — but it is the entry requirement for maritime work where captains and mates earn a median of $92,456 (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | $20-40 | 2026-08 |
| 7 | CDL Air Brakes Knowledge Test | $57,440 median for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (BLS, May 2024) | State-set, commonly $10-$100 for the knowledge test | 2026-08 |
| 8 | CDL Combination Vehicles Knowledge Test | $57,440 median for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (BLS, May 2024) | State-set, commonly $10-$100 for the knowledge test | 2026-08 |
| 9 | CDL General Knowledge Test | $57,440 median for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (BLS, May 2024) | State-set, commonly $10-$100 for the knowledge test | 2026-08 |
| 10 | CDL Hazardous Materials Endorsement Knowledge Test | $57,440 median for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers — the occupation the H endorsement keeps you eligible for (BLS, May 2024) | ~$86.50 TSA fee plus state fee | 2026-08 |
| 11 | CDL On-Road Driving Skills Test | $57,440 median for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (BLS, May 2024) | State-dependent | 2026-08 |
| 12 | CDL Passenger Endorsement Knowledge Test | $57,440 median for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers — the occupation the P endorsement keeps you eligible for (BLS, May 2024); bus drivers, transit and intercity carry the same median | State-dependent | 2026-08 |
| 13 | CDL Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection Test | $57,440 median for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (BLS, May 2024) | State-dependent | 2026-08 |
| 14 | CDL School Bus Endorsement Knowledge Test | $57,440 median for bus drivers, transit and intercity — the closest-fit passenger-carrying occupation for the S endorsement (BLS, May 2024); school bus drivers are their own BLS code at a $47,040 median | State-dependent | 2026-08 |
| 15 | IMSA Work Zone Traffic Control Safety Certification | Flaggers and traffic-control workers sit inside construction labourer occupations at a May 2024 median of $46,730 (BLS) — the IMSA certification is the credential many agencies and contractors require for work-zone safety roles | $200-400 | 2026-08 |
| 16 | Part 107 Small UAS Initial Training for Part 61 Pilots | No dedicated BLS occupation exists for drone pilots — the closest verified BLS line is Photographers at $42,520 (BLS OOH, May 2024), and commercial drone earnings vary widely by niche. | ~$175 | 2026-08 |
What does this ranking actually measure?
Ranked by the median annual wage published for the occupation each credential unlocks, most recent figure per occupation, quoted from the source named in the guide (usually the BLS occupational series). A credential is the entry ticket to an occupation, not a pay guarantee: these are occupation medians, not starting salaries.
Each row also carries the month its guide was last checked against the primary source, so you can see how current the figure is before you rely on it. Fees and pass rules change; the guide linked from every row carries the authoritative reference.
Where does this field sit in the site-wide ranking?
The main ranking pools all 424 credential-with-median pairs across 15 fields, so a credential that leads this page may still sit outside the site-wide top 25 — and a credential outside this page's top few may rank highly overall. Use whichever view matches the question you are answering.
- All fields, site-wide ranking 424 ranked
- Accounting & Tax 8 ranked
- Admissions & Academic Testing 33 ranked
- Allied Health & Medical Support 43 ranked
- Finance & Securities 20 ranked
- Fitness, Wellness & Personal Care 27 ranked
- Food Safety & Hospitality 17 ranked
- Government & Public Safety 18 ranked
- Healthcare & Clinical Licensure 10 ranked
- Insurance & Risk 7 ranked
- IT, Cloud & Cybersecurity 122 ranked
- Project Management & Business 22 ranked
- Teaching & Education 42 ranked
- Trades, Construction & Engineering 24 ranked
- Workplace Safety 15 ranked
Frequently asked questions
How many transportation & aviation credentials are ranked here?
16 of this field's published guides carry a citable occupation median and are ranked below. Site-wide, 424 credentials across 15 fields are ranked, so this page is a subset of the main list rather than an alternative to it.
What does a transportation & aviation credential cost to attempt?
Exam fees across this field's ranked credentials run from about $10 to $200. Fee is what the exam costs to sit; the median quoted for each row is what the occupation pays once you hold the credential, and the two do not move together.
Is the highest-paying transportation & aviation credential the right one to start with?
Not necessarily. The ranking orders by the median for the occupation each credential unlocks, and several of the credentials here are sequential steps in the same career path rather than competing alternatives — one may be the prerequisite for another on this list. Read the guide for a credential's eligibility rules before treating its position here as a starting recommendation.
Why is a credential I expected to see missing?
Only credentials with a published occupation median appear. A credential whose guide does not carry a citable median is left out rather than estimated, and any credential whose researched text marks its exam as retired, withdrawn or no longer obtainable is removed — pointing at a dead exam in a recommendation list would be actively misleading.