Online Transportation Management Degree in Minnesota: Salary, Schools & Outlook (2026)

Quick answer: Minnesota employs about 4,030 transportation, storage, and distribution managers (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through the FMCSA and your state motor carrier authority. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.

Compare transportation and distribution management programs enrolling now:

Licensing and Credentials in Minnesota

There is no professional license for this role. The regulatory weight sits on the carrier and the operation rather than the individual: FMCSA requirements, hours-of-service rules, drug and alcohol testing programs and the safety rating that follows the carrier. The degree is a hiring signal and a systems education rather than a government-issued credential.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with the FMCSA and your state motor carrier authority that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 1 school within 34 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 1 of them carries a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Academy College

Bloomington, MN 33.7 miles away BOC Score 49.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
  • 1600 W. 82nd Street, Suite 100 Bloomington, MN 55431-1411
  • (952) 851-0066
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 48.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $86,185 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers Earn in Minnesota

Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers in Minnesota earn a median $118,180 per year, above the national median of $107,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Transportation and Distribution Management Pay and Employment in Minnesota at a Glance

MetricMinnesotaNationalSource
Median annual wage$118,180$107,230BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$71,610$65,120BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$91,420$82,440BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$156,030$146,770BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$200,450$194,900BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment4,030221,180BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient0.961.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state6.1%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Minnesota Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Minnesota median of $118,180 sits above the national median of $107,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 0.96 puts Minnesota slightly below the national average, so the occupation is a little less common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Minnesota

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Minneapolis$124,6003,030
Mankato$122,83050
Rochester$111,70070
Duluth$97,990130
St. Cloud$95,760110

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Transportation and distribution management concentrates around freight corridors, ports, rail hubs and distribution centers rather than following population.

Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers Wages by Metro Area in Minnesota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), transportation, storage, and distribution managers wages in Minnesota vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington3,030$124,600$133,800$75,310$206,760
Sioux Falls200$107,550$111,870$76,500$153,080
Fargo190$98,400$106,460$70,420$151,770
Duluth130$97,990$104,840$66,660$160,430
La Crosse-Onalaska120$95,680$105,680$55,790$165,750
St. Cloud110$95,760$109,360$65,110$168,410
Rochester70$111,700$120,010$69,100$186,830
Mankato50$122,830$127,650$67,350$170,630
Grand Forks50$102,780$106,990$63,040$156,150

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

All Minnesota Metro Areas With Published Data

Duluth * Minneapolis * St. Cloud


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do transportation, storage, and distribution managers make in Minnesota?

The median annual wage for transportation, storage, and distribution managers in Minnesota is $118,180, above the national median of $107,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $91,420 at the 25th percentile to $156,030 at the 75th.

How many transportation, storage, and distribution managers work in Minnesota?

Minnesota holds about 4,030 transportation manager jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 221,180, and BLS projects about 18,500 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).

Do I need a license to work as a transportation manager in Minnesota?

There is no professional license for this role. The regulatory weight sits on the carrier and the operation rather than the individual: FMCSA requirements, hours-of-service rules, drug and alcohol testing programs and the safety rating that follows the carrier. The degree is a hiring signal and a systems education rather than a government-issued credential. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with the FMCSA and your state motor carrier authority before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn a bachelor's in transportation, distribution or operations management online while working in Minnesota?

Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies the FMCSA and your state motor carrier authority.

What is the highest-paying area of Minnesota for transportation, storage, and distribution managers?

Among Minnesota metro areas with published data, Minneapolis reports the highest median at $124,600 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is Minnesota a good state for transportation, storage, and distribution managers?

On pay, the state median of $118,180 sits above the national $107,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.96 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers (SOC 11-3071), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.