How to become an Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor

Official title: Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors

Also called: Cargo Supervisor, Ground Operations Supervisor, Line Service Supervisor (LSS), Loadmaster, Ramp and Cargo Supervisor, Ramp Supervisor

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.

Main tasks

• Determine the quantity and orientation of cargo, and compute an aircraft's center of gravity.
• Direct ground crews in the loading, unloading, securing, or staging of aircraft cargo or baggage.
• Train new employees in areas such as safety procedures or equipment operation.
• Distribute cargo to maximize use of space.

How to become one

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $58,170 a year The middle half earn $49,820 to $78,530.
• About 9,700 people work in this job now, and about 10,600 are projected by 2035. (+9.2%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Related jobs

• First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
• Recycling Coordinators
• First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
• First-Line Supervisors of Passenger Attendants

Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz

Questions people ask

How much does an Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $58,170 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $49,820 to $78,530.

Is an Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 9% by 2035, from about 9,700 to about 10,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor?

Usually not. Only 17% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

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.