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Aviation Management & Operations

Types of Degrees Aviation Management & Operations Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Aviation Management & Operations can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	26
Associate’s Degree	195
Bachelor’s Degree	1,062
Master’s Degree	497
Doctor’s Degree	4

What Aviation Management & Operations Majors Need to Know

Studies in Aviation Management & Operations emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Aviation Management & Operations graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Aviation Management & Operations emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Transportation — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 5.2 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• Personnel and Human Resources — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set built by a Aviation Management & Operations program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Coordination — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Time Management — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Aviation Management & Operations careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Aviation Management & Operations graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.4 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.2 / 7
Developing and Building Teams	4.2 / 7
Getting Information	4.2 / 7
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.1 / 7
Working with Computers	4.0 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.0 / 7
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Aviation Management & Operations professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Dynamics	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Microsoft Visio	Process mapping and design software	—
Microsoft Dynamics AX	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
SAP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	✓
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Oracle E-Business Suite Financials	Financial analysis software	—
Warehouse management system WMS	Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software	✓

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Aviation Management & Operations graduates include:

• Supply Chain Logistics Manager
• Logistics Supervisor
• Global Supply Chain Manager
• Solution Design and Analysis Manager
• Demand Planning Manager
• Supply Chain Project Manager
• Supply Chain Operations Director
• Supply Chain Management Director
• Supply Chain Product Manager
• Auto Parts Manager (Automotive Parts Manager)
• Manufacturing Supply Chain Manager
• Supply Chain Systems Manager
• Global Supply Chain Director
• Materials Manager
• Inventory Manager

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Aviation Management & Operations graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	66.7%
Master’s degree	19.1%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	9.5%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	4.8%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Aviation Management & Operations?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 80% of Aviation Management & Operations degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	357	20.0%
Men	1,429	80.0%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Aviation Management & Operations graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	918	51.4%
Asian	94	5.3%
Hispanic or Latino	313	17.5%
Black or African American	195	10.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native	9	0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	3	0.2%
Two or More Races	73	4.1%
Race Unknown	54	3.0%
International Students	127	7.1%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Aviation Management & Operations Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Aviation Management & Operations graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$54,735
4 years	$69,369
5 years	$80,156

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $80,156 — roughly 46% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Aviation Management & Operations Programs

Online study is tracked by IPEDS for Aviation Management & Operations. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	3	2
Bachelor’s	14	8
Master’s	9	1
Doctoral (Research)	1	0

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Aviation Management & Operations Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Aviation Management & Operations graduates earn a median of $69,369 four years after completion — roughly 83% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Air Transportation	49.01
Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General	49.0101
Air Traffic Controller	49.0105
Air Transportation, Other	49.0199
Airline Flight Attendant	49.0106
Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew	49.0102
Flight Instructor	49.0108
Remote Aircraft Pilot	49.0109

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.