Aircraft Operation

What the Numbers Say About Aircraft Operation

As of the March 2025 reporting window, 2,781 people work in the Aircraft Operation occupation (OPM code 2181) across federal agencies, 0.1% of the 2,289,472-strong federal civilian workforce. Headcount moved up by 0.2% from the prior period, a modest but trackable signal for anyone considering this specialized federal career path.

The average salary for Aircraft Operation is $142,679 per year, placing it 29.9% above the overall federal civilian average of $109,869. Salaries moved up by 1.7% from the prior period, a modest shift, consistent with routine locality pay and grade-level movement. Average length of service in this role is 9.2 years, a mid-length average tenure, reflecting a mix of career employees and those who transfer or exit mid-career.

The Transportation Group family (code 21) groups Aircraft Operation together with 18 other related occupations across the federal government. Candidates browsing USAJOBS for Aircraft Operation postings should also review these sibling occupations, since federal hiring managers often cross-post positions across closely related codes when recruitment is difficult. All figures here come directly from OPM FedScope Employment Cubes, the same official source referenced in federal workforce planning, budget justifications, and GAO reports.

Within the Transportation Group family, Aircraft Operation ranks #4 of 19 by headcount, accounting for 6.3% of the family's combined 44,430 employees. Its average salary ranks in the top half (79th percentile) of pay among Transportation Group occupations.