Records analyzed
11 sub-agencies
Cross-joined with state geography and occupational mix
2026 data Public-data reference. official source
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Open-data reference.
Federal workforce data for DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. This agency represents 2.5% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.
What the Numbers Say About DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION employs 57,204 federal civilian workers, which accounts for 2.5% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472 reported in the OPM FedScope March 2025 release. Compared to the prior period, headcount moved up by 0.3%, a signal that hiring authorities and attrition at this agency are adding net positions during the current reporting window.
On compensation, the average salary of $141,857 sits 29.1% above the federal civilian average of $109,869. Average length of service at DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION is 14.3 years, reflecting a workforce that has built institutional knowledge across 11 sub-agencies. For applicants comparing federal employers, this pay premium (or gap) combined with tenure patterns helps explain why some agencies retain staff through full careers while others cycle more rapidly through early-career hires.
Geographic reach is another signal of scale: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION has employees in 51 states and territories, with the largest concentration in DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (7,862 employees at $155,859 avg salary). Over the most recent 12 months of workforce-dynamics data, the agency recorded 0 accessions against 0 separations for a net change of 0 positions — useful context for job seekers evaluating whether DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION is expanding, contracting, or simply replacing departures. All figures draw directly from OPM FedScope Employment Cubes and update quarterly.
Workforce Overview
Employees
57,204
+0.3% from prior period
Average Salary
$141,857
+1.8%
Avg Length of Service
14.3 yrs
Sub-agencies
11
Data vintage
March 2025
OPM FedScope quarterly snapshot
Source authority
OPM FedScope
U.S. Office of Personnel Management — official federal HR data
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION pay vs. federal civilian average
Agency average $141,857 relative to federal average $109,869
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION workforce by GS grade tier
Estimated distribution of 57,204 employees across the General Schedule pay grades. Tier weights are modeled from the agency's average salary of $141,857, average length of service of 14.3 years, and sub-agency salary brackets. Color encodes pay-band tier (entry / mid / senior / executive).
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION — estimated GS-grade workforce mix. Source: OPM FedScope March 2025; pay tiers modeled from agency averages.
Salary Analysis
How DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION pay compares to the federal average of $109,869
Agency Average
$141,857
Federal Average
$109,869
vs. Federal Avg
+29.1%
Salary Range by Sub-agency
Under $80K
0
$80K–$100K
125
$100K–$120K
1,260
$120K–$150K
55,819
Over $150K
0
Sub-agencies & Organizational Units
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION has 11 sub-agencies. The highest-paying unit averages $148,820.
| Sub-agency | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION | 46,335 | $143,501 | 14.5 yrs |
| FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION | 2,967 | $130,867 | 14.1 yrs |
| OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION | 1,916 | $143,987 | 13 yrs |
| FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION | 1,260 | $117,924 | 14 yrs |
| FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION | 1,193 | $133,166 | 11.6 yrs |
| MARITIME ADMINISTRATION | 814 | $130,139 | 14.3 yrs |
| NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION | 784 | $148,820 | 12.6 yrs |
| FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION | 767 | $145,540 | 12.6 yrs |
| PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION | 652 | $139,404 | 12.2 yrs |
| OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL | 391 | $146,338 | 16.5 yrs |
| GREAT LAKES SAINT LAWRENCE SEAWAY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | 125 | $93,495 | 11.8 yrs |
Geographic Presence
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION has employees in 51 states and territories. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA has the most with 7,862 employees.
| State | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | 7,862 | $155,859 | 14.4 yrs |
| TEXAS | 4,777 | $142,670 | 15.2 yrs |
| CALIFORNIA | 3,892 | $152,704 | 14.2 yrs |
| OKLAHOMA | 3,470 | $119,048 | 15.4 yrs |
| FLORIDA | 2,951 | $141,813 | 14.6 yrs |
| GEORGIA | 2,755 | $145,816 | 15.9 yrs |
| NEW YORK | 2,432 | $144,327 | 13.6 yrs |
| WASHINGTON | 2,284 | $143,553 | 14.5 yrs |
| VIRGINIA | 2,208 | $157,757 | 14.6 yrs |
| ILLINOIS | 1,988 | $147,601 | 13.8 yrs |
| NEW JERSEY | 1,799 | $152,993 | 15.8 yrs |
| COLORADO | 1,513 | $146,599 | 13.7 yrs |
| OHIO | 1,201 | $141,643 | 13.2 yrs |
| ALASKA | 1,147 | $132,242 | 12.4 yrs |
| MASSACHUSETTS | 1,032 | $141,174 | 14.9 yrs |
| TENNESSEE | 1,012 | $135,154 | 13.3 yrs |
| MINNESOTA | 945 | $151,042 | 13.2 yrs |
| PENNSYLVANIA | 910 | $137,992 | 13.9 yrs |
| INDIANA | 891 | $138,110 | 13.4 yrs |
| MISSOURI | 798 | $123,154 | 14.6 yrs |
Showing top 20 of 51 states
Workforce Dynamics
Monthly hiring and separation trends. Net change over 12 months: 0.
| Month | Accessions | Separations | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2025 | +255 | -461 | -206 |
| Feb 2025 | +270 | -256 | +14 |
| Jan 2025 | +472 | -362 | +110 |
| Dec 2024 | +469 | -574 | -105 |
| Nov 2024 | +325 | -260 | +65 |
| Oct 2024 | +361 | -204 | +157 |
| Sep 2024 | +443 | -203 | +240 |
| Aug 2024 | +457 | -348 | +109 |
| Jul 2024 | +468 | -250 | +218 |
| Jun 2024 | +878 | -326 | +552 |
| May 2024 | +369 | -256 | +113 |
| Apr 2024 | +357 | -185 | +172 |
Hiring & Separation Reasons
Why employees join and leave DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Accession Reasons
New Hire - Excepted Service Appointment
4,530
New Hire - Competitive Service Appointment
594
Separation Reasons
Retirement - Voluntary
1,721
Quit
835
Termination (Expired Appt/Other)
728
Other Separation
197
Transfer Out - Individual Transfer
174
Employee Tenure Distribution
Average length of service is 14.3 years. Employees in sub-agencies grouped by average tenure.
Under 5 yrs
0
5–10 yrs
0
10–15 yrs
56,813
15–20 yrs
391
Over 20 yrs
0
Related Federal Data
Explore related salary, cost-of-living, and workforce data from other federal sources
WageDex — Salary Data
BLS occupation salary data for 831 occupations across all US metros. Compare federal vs. private sector pay.
PlainWorker — Worker Protections
OSHA inspection data and workplace safety records. See enforcement activity at federal and private employers.
PlainPension — Pension Data
Federal and private pension plan data. Explore retirement benefits for DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION employees.
PlainCost — Cost of Living
BEA Regional Price Parities for 387 metros. See how far your federal salary goes in different locations.
Federal Employment Guides
Learn more about working for the federal government
Similar-Sized Agencies
Federal agencies with a similar workforce size to DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
56,263 employees $101,587 avg
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
63,752 employees $95,844 avg
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
47,410 employees $127,933 avg
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
90,840 employees $88,591 avg
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
92,269 employees $134,256 avg
NAT AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
17,973 employees $152,463 avg
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people work at DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION employs 57,204 federal workers as of March 2025. This represents 2.5% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average salary at DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION? ▾
The average salary at DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION is $141,857 per year, which is 29.1% above the federal average of $109,869.
What is the average length of service at DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION? ▾
The average length of service at DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION is 14.3 years. The federal average is 11.8 years.
How many sub-agencies does DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION have? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION has 11 sub-agencies or organizational units. The largest is FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION with 46,335 employees.
In how many states does DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION have employees? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION has employees in 51 states and territories. The largest concentration is in DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA with 7,862 employees.
Is DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION hiring or downsizing? ▾
Over the most recent 12 months of data, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION had 0 accessions and 0 separations, for a net change of 0 employees.
Where can I find salary data for occupations at DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION? ▾
While PlainGovJobs provides agency-level salary data, you can explore detailed salary data by occupation on WageDex at wagedex.com, which covers 831 occupations with Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Data Source: U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) FedScope Employment Cubes, March 2025. Federal civilian non-seasonal full-time and part-time employees. Data does not include military personnel, postal workers, or intelligence agency staff. Last updated: 2026-03-10.
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainGovJobs Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from OPM FedScope. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
