Commercial Air, Rail, and Water Transportation Equipment Rental and Leasing — Average Employee Salary
The average employee in the commercial air, rail, and water transportation equipment rental and leasing industry earns $147,684 per year ($71.00/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.
What Do Commercial Air, Rail, and Water Transportation Equipment Rental and Leasing Workers Earn?
At $147,684/year (equivalent to $71.00/hour for a full-time worker), commercial air, rail, and water transportation equipment rental and leasing wages are significantly above the national average of ~$65,000.
Higher wages in this industry typically reflect specialized skills, professional certifications, or technical expertise required for the work. Employers competing for talent in this space face elevated labor costs.
The typical commercial air, rail, and water transportation equipment rental and leasing business employs 6 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.
Wages as a Percentage of Revenue
For the average commercial air, rail, and water transportation equipment rental and leasing business generating $5.0M/year with 6 employees at $147,684 each, total payroll represents roughly 17.7% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.
What This Means for Business Owners
If you're starting or running a commercial air, rail, and water transportation equipment rental and leasingbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:
- Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $191,989/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
- Typical team size: 6 employees = ~$886,104/year in base payroll.
- Hourly equivalent: $71.00/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
- Revenue needed: With average revenue of $5.0M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.
See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.
View full Commercial Air, Rail, and Water Transportation Equipment Rental and Leasing revenue benchmarks →Frequently Asked Questions
- How much do commercial air, rail, and water transportation equipment rental and leasing employees make?
- The average commercial air, rail, and water transportation equipment rental and leasing employee earns $147,684 per year, which is equivalent to $71.00/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
- How many people work in the commercial air, rail, and water transportation equipment rental and leasing industry?
- The commercial air, rail, and water transportation equipment rental and leasing industry employs 5,423 workers across 860 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 6 employees.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).