Small Craft Operating

What the Numbers Say About Small Craft Operating

Federal agencies employ 227 people in the Small Craft Operating occupation (OPM code 5786), accounting for 0.0% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472 for the March 2025 reporting window. Headcount in this occupation moved down by -9.2% versus the prior period, though at this small a headcount, year-to-year swings can reflect a handful of hires or departures rather than a broad hiring trend.

Small Craft Operating pays $81,195 per year on average, 26.1% below the $109,869 federal civilian average, after moving up 2.8% from the prior period (a broad shift as locality pay tables and grade-level adjustments moved through the workforce). Employees in this role stay an average of 11.1 years, a mid-length average tenure, reflecting a mix of career employees and those who transfer or exit mid-career.

The Transportation/mobile Equipment Operation Family family (code 57) groups Small Craft Operating together with 14 other related occupations across the federal government. Candidates browsing USAJOBS for Small Craft Operating 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.

Small Craft Operating makes up 2.1% of the 10,693 employees across the Transportation/mobile Equipment Operation Family family, ranking #6 of 15 occupations in that family by headcount.