U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Department of Transportation / Aerospace Engineering

Job-title file

Aerospace Engineering

Design, analyze, and oversee technical systems or infrastructure, ensuring they meet specifications and codes.

838 employees hold this title in Department of Transportation. Median total compensation for the role is $161,841, above the department median of $137,624.

Employees: 838
Total payroll: $134.7M
Role median: $161,841
Agency median: $137,624
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$60,877$226,959+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 838 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

Aerospace Engineering pay vs. the United States

Across all employers in the United States, the median wage for Aerospace Engineers — about 67,710 people — is $134,960. Department of Transportation pays a median base salary of $161,841 for this role, 20% above that figure — about the 69th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Transportation sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$86,700

$106,110

$134,960

$169,690

$205,890

Department of Transportation median · $161,841

The bar is the range of annual wages for Aerospace Engineers across every employer in the United States, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Department of Transportation’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Computed over the 836 of 838 people in this role paid at least $25,000in base salary. The rest are part-year or part-time records, whose actual pay isn’t comparable to a full-time annual wage.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Transportation is $161,841, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare departments

This role across U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

Aerospace Engineering is held in 8 U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) departments. In Department of Transportation, the median of $161,841 ranks #3 of 8.

Highest-paying departments for this role

National Transportation Safety Board

$181,216 · 21

Department of Energy

$162,629 · 1

Department of Homeland Security

$161,373 · 2

Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

$155,034 · 4,417

Department of Commerce

$139,774 · 6

Department of Agriculture

$124,093 · 1

Department of State

$117,981 · 1

Median total compensation for the Aerospace Engineering role in other U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)departments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 2

Gregory Thiele

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$178,981

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $178,981
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $178,981
Pay grade: J
Work city: Fort Worth
Work county: Tarrant
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $178,981
Basic Pay (before locality): $141,030
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 482450439
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

Gregory Thiele works as a Aerospace Engineering for Department of Transportation based in Fort Worth, Texas. Gregory earned $178,981 in 2024. Their pay grade is J.

Andrew Gfrerer

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$178,777

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $178,777
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $178,777
Pay grade: J
Work city: Fort Worth
Work county: Tarrant
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $178,777
Basic Pay (before locality): $140,869
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 482450439
Length of Service (Years): 23
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

Andrew Gfrerer holds the role of Aerospace Engineering at Department of Transportation based in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2024, their total compensation was $178,777. Their pay grade is J.

Erik Brown

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$178,692

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $175,870
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,822
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $178,692
Pay grade: K
Work city: Oklahoma City
Work county: Oklahoma
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $175,870
Basic Pay (before locality): $150,548
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 403550109
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

Erik Brown holds the role of Aerospace Engineering at Department of Transportation based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 2024, their total compensation was $178,692. Their pay grade is K.

John Deluca

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$178,571

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $178,571
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $178,571
Pay grade: J
Work city: Westbury
Work county: Nassau
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $178,571
Basic Pay (before locality): $130,116
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 366550059
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

John Deluca is a Aerospace Engineering at Department of Transportation based in Westbury, New York. 2024 total compensation came to $178,571. They are classified at grade J.

Darren Gassetto

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$178,571

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $178,571
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $178,571
Pay grade: J
Work city: Westbury
Work county: Nassau
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $178,571
Basic Pay (before locality): $130,116
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 366550059
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

Darren Gassetto holds the role of Aerospace Engineering at Department of Transportation based in Westbury, New York. In 2024, their total compensation was $178,571. Their pay grade is J.

Raymont Mei

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$178,509

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $178,509
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $178,509
Pay grade: J
Work city: Des Moines
Work county: King
Work state: Washington

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $178,509
Basic Pay (before locality): $136,464
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 530532033
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

Raymont Mei works as a Aerospace Engineering for Department of Transportation based in Des Moines, Washington. Raymont earned $178,509 in 2024. Their pay grade is J.

Than Doan

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$178,504

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $178,504
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $178,504
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Houston
Work county: Harris
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $178,504
Basic Pay (before locality): $132,500
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 483280201
Length of Service (Years): 25
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

Than Doan holds the role of Aerospace Engineering at Department of Transportation based in Houston, Texas. In 2024, their total compensation was $178,504. Their pay grade is 14.

Douglas Mansell

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$178,099

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $176,809
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,290
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $178,099
Pay grade: K
Work city: Des Moines
Work county: King
Work state: Washington

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $176,809
Basic Pay (before locality): $135,165
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 530532033
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

Douglas Mansell holds the role of Aerospace Engineering at Department of Transportation based in Des Moines, Washington. In 2024, their total compensation was $178,099. Their pay grade is K.

John Raspanti

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$177,963

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $177,963
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,963
Pay grade: J
Work city: Des Plaines
Work county: Cook
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $177,963
Basic Pay (before locality): $136,464
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 172330031
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

John Raspanti is a Aerospace Engineering at Department of Transportation based in Des Plaines, Illinois. 2024 total compensation came to $177,963. They are classified at grade J.

Sanford Proveaux

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$177,917

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $177,917
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,917
Pay grade: J
Work city: Hapeville
Work county: Fulton
Work state: Georgia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $177,917
Basic Pay (before locality): $144,121
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 132570121
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

Sanford Proveaux holds the role of Aerospace Engineering at Department of Transportation based in Hapeville, Georgia. In 2024, their total compensation was $177,917. Their pay grade is J.

Gerald Avella

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$177,917

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $177,917
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,917
Pay grade: J
Work city: Hapeville
Work county: Fulton
Work state: Georgia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $177,917
Basic Pay (before locality): $144,121
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 132570121
Length of Service (Years): 20
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

Gerald Avella is a Aerospace Engineering at Department of Transportation based in Hapeville, Georgia. 2024 total compensation came to $177,917. They are classified at grade J.

Samuel Belete

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$177,917

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $177,917
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,917
Pay grade: J
Work city: Hapeville
Work county: Fulton
Work state: Georgia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $177,917
Basic Pay (before locality): $144,121
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 132570121
Length of Service (Years): 21
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

At Department of Transportation, Samuel Belete serves as a Aerospace Engineering based in Hapeville, Georgia. Their 2024 pay totaled $177,917. They are classified at grade J.

Grant Eaton

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$177,917

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $177,917
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,917
Pay grade: J
Work city: Hapeville
Work county: Fulton
Work state: Georgia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $177,917
Basic Pay (before locality): $144,121
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 132570121
Length of Service (Years): 22
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

Grant Eaton works as a Aerospace Engineering for Department of Transportation based in Hapeville, Georgia. Grant earned $177,917 in 2024. Their pay grade is J.

Linda Haynes

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$177,917

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $177,917
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,917
Pay grade: J
Work city: Hapeville
Work county: Fulton
Work state: Georgia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $177,917
Basic Pay (before locality): $144,121
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 132570121
Length of Service (Years): 29
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

At Department of Transportation, Linda Haynes serves as a Aerospace Engineering based in Hapeville, Georgia. Their 2024 pay totaled $177,917. They are classified at grade J.

William Herderich

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$177,917

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $177,917
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,917
Pay grade: J
Work city: Hapeville
Work county: Fulton
Work state: Georgia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $177,917
Basic Pay (before locality): $144,121
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 132570121
Length of Service (Years): 26
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

William Herderich works as a Aerospace Engineering for Department of Transportation based in Hapeville, Georgia. William earned $177,917 in 2024. Their pay grade is J.

Anthony Jopling

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$177,917

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $177,917
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,917
Pay grade: J
Work city: Hapeville
Work county: Fulton
Work state: Georgia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $177,917
Basic Pay (before locality): $144,121
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 132570121
Length of Service (Years): 23
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

Anthony Jopling works as a Aerospace Engineering for Department of Transportation based in Hapeville, Georgia. Anthony earned $177,917 in 2024. Their pay grade is J.

Syed Noor

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$177,917

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $177,917
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,917
Pay grade: J
Work city: Hapeville
Work county: Fulton
Work state: Georgia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $177,917
Basic Pay (before locality): $144,121
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 132570121
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

At Department of Transportation, Syed Noor serves as a Aerospace Engineering based in Hapeville, Georgia. Their 2024 pay totaled $177,917. They are classified at grade J.

Paul Pellicano

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$177,917

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $177,917
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,917
Pay grade: J
Work city: Hapeville
Work county: Fulton
Work state: Georgia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $177,917
Basic Pay (before locality): $144,121
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 132570121
Length of Service (Years): 25
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

At Department of Transportation, Paul Pellicano serves as a Aerospace Engineering based in Hapeville, Georgia. Their 2024 pay totaled $177,917. They are classified at grade J.

Warren Underwood

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$177,917

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $177,917
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,917
Pay grade: J
Work city: Atlanta
Work county: De Kalb
Work state: Georgia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $177,917
Basic Pay (before locality): $144,121
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 130280089
Length of Service (Years): 20
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

At Department of Transportation, Warren Underwood serves as a Aerospace Engineering based in Atlanta, Georgia. Their 2024 pay totaled $177,917. They are classified at grade J.

Gary Wechsler

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$177,917

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $177,917
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,917
Pay grade: J
Work city: Hapeville
Work county: Fulton
Work state: Georgia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $177,917
Basic Pay (before locality): $144,121
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 132570121
Length of Service (Years): 26
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

Gary Wechsler works as a Aerospace Engineering for Department of Transportation based in Hapeville, Georgia. Gary earned $177,917 in 2024. Their pay grade is J.

Aaron Foutch

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$177,854

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $177,854
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,854
Pay grade: J
Work city: Des Plaines
Work county: Cook
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $177,854
Basic Pay (before locality): $136,381
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 172330031
Length of Service (Years): 18
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

Aaron Foutch holds the role of Aerospace Engineering at Department of Transportation based in Des Plaines, Illinois. In 2024, their total compensation was $177,854. Their pay grade is J.

Ricardo Garcia

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$177,740

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $177,740
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,740
Pay grade: J
Work city: San Jose
Work county: Santa Clara
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $177,740
Basic Pay (before locality): $122,234
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063340085
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

Ricardo Garcia holds the role of Aerospace Engineering at Department of Transportation based in San Jose, California. In 2024, their total compensation was $177,740. Their pay grade is J.

Krista Greer

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$177,312

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $177,312
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,312
Pay grade: J
Work city: Des Moines
Work county: King
Work state: Washington

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $177,312
Basic Pay (before locality): $135,549
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 530532033
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

Krista Greer holds the role of Aerospace Engineering at Department of Transportation based in Des Moines, Washington. In 2024, their total compensation was $177,312. Their pay grade is J.

Maureen Maisttison

Aerospace Engineering/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$177,253

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $177,253
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,253
Pay grade: J
Work city: Burlington
Work county: Middlesex
Work state: Massachusetts

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $177,253
Basic Pay (before locality): $134,313
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 250157017
Length of Service (Years): 24
Occupation Code (OPM): 0861
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

At Department of Transportation, Maureen Maisttison serves as a Aerospace Engineering based in Burlington, Massachusetts. Their 2024 pay totaled $177,253. They are classified at grade J.