Other Support Activities for Water Transportation Revenue Benchmarks
The average other support activities for water transportation business in the United States generates $2.2M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 658 other support activities for water transportation businesses in the U.S., employing 7,181 workers with an average profit margin of 5.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $88K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Other Support Activities for Water Transportation Business Actually Do?
Marine cargo handling — stevedoring, container handling, bunkering (fuel), warehousing at ports.
Who buys: Shipping lines, ports, ocean carriers, importers/exporters.
Average Revenue
$2.2M
per year
Profit Margin
5.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$201K
per year
Total Businesses
658
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$110K
small business avg
Labor Cost
35.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$88K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.2
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Other Support Activities for Water Transportation Charge?
Marine cargo handling, bunkering (fueling ships), stevedoring, warehousing at ports.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Container handling (per TEU) | $100–300 |
Bulk cargo stevedoring (per ton) | $3–15/ton |
Bunker fuel margin | $5–25/ton |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete other support activities for water transportation business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a other support activities for water transportation business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the other support activities for water transportation industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Fuel & vehicle costs | $30 | $659K | Fuel is often the single biggest line — plus tires, maintenance, tolls. |
Wages & benefits | $35 | $768K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $132K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $66K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $21 | $461K | Insurance (very high), truck payments, dispatching software, driver benefits. |
Net profit | $5 | $110K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
7.95%
openings/year
Closure Rate
6.43%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-0.61%
annual
Businesses Closed
120
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Other Support Activities for Water Transportation Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
16 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a other support activities for water transportation business do?
- Marine cargo handling — stevedoring, container handling, bunkering (fuel), warehousing at ports. Shipping lines, ports, ocean carriers, importers/exporters.
- How much do other support activities for water transportation charge?
- Marine cargo handling, bunkering (fueling ships), stevedoring, warehousing at ports. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average other support activities for water transportation make per year?
- The average other support activities for water transportation business generates $2.2M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $110K per year at a 5.0% profit margin.
- How many other support activities for water transportation businesses are there in the US?
- There are 658 other support activities for water transportation businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 7,181 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a other support activities for water transportation business?
- Startup costs for a other support activities for water transportation business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the other support activities for water transportation industry?
- The average employee in the other support activities for water transportation industry earns $88K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The other support activities for water transportation industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of -0.6%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 7.9% and 6.4% respectively.
Approximately 72% of other support activities for water transportation businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 120 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the other support activities for water transportation industry earns $88,329/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 878 establishments employing 8,008 people, the typical business has about 9 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The other support activities for water transportation industry has grown 6% since 2000 (from 1,719 to 1,814 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Other Support Activities for Water Transportation revenue with other industries: