U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Department of Transportation / Aviation Safety

Job-title file

Aviation Safety

Carry out the duties of this position in support of the agency's public mission.

4,127 employees hold this title in Department of Transportation. Median total compensation for the role is $142,063, above the department median of $137,624.

Employees: 4,127
Total payroll: $586.6M
Role median: $142,063
Agency median: $137,624
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$59,966$209,625+

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

How total compensation varies among the 4,127 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

Aviation Safety pay vs. the United States

Across all employers in the United States, the median wage for Transportation Inspectors — about 24,500 people — is $92,100. Department of Transportation pays a median base salary of $141,812 for this role, 54% above that figure — above the 90th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Transportation sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$40,330

$58,780

$92,100

$108,890

$138,670

Department of Transportation median · $141,812

The bar is the range of annual wages for Transportation Inspectors 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 4,088 of 4,127 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 $142,063, 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)

Aviation Safety is held in 7 U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) departments. In Department of Transportation, the median of $142,063 ranks #4 of 7.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Department of Energy

$197,482 · 1

Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

$169,861 · 2

Department of State

$156,051 · 2

Department of Interior

$136,912 · 27

Department of Commerce

$110,447 · 1

Department of Agriculture

$106,856 · 31

Median total compensation for the Aviation Safety 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 1

Nicholas Daleo

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$74,299

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $74,299
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,299
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Saint Ann
Work county: Saint Louis
Work state: Missouri

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,299
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 297000189
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

At Department of Transportation, Nicholas Daleo serves as a Aviation Safety based in Saint Ann, Missouri. Their 2024 pay totaled $74,299. They are classified at grade 11.

Justin Reed

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$74,069

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $74,069
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,069
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Charlotte
Work county: Mecklenburg
Work state: North Carolina

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,069
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 370870119
Length of Service (Years): 11
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

Justin Reed is a Aviation Safety at Department of Transportation based in Charlotte, North Carolina. 2024 total compensation came to $74,069. They are classified at grade 11.

Jeremy Fortier

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$74,050

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $74,050
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,050
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Las Vegas
Work county: Clark
Work state: Nevada

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,050
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 320120003
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

Jeremy Fortier works as a Aviation Safety for Department of Transportation based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jeremy earned $74,050 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.

Steven Thompson

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$74,050

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $74,050
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,050
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Las Vegas
Work county: Clark
Work state: Nevada

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,050
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 320120003
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

Steven Thompson holds the role of Aviation Safety at Department of Transportation based in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2024, their total compensation was $74,050. Their pay grade is 11.

Joshua Smith

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$73,591

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $73,591
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,591
Pay grade: 11
Work city: San Antonio
Work county: Bexar
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $73,591
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 486090029
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

Joshua Smith works as a Aviation Safety for Department of Transportation based in San Antonio, Texas. Joshua earned $73,591 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.

Steve Gonzales

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$72,553

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $72,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,553
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Lubbock
Work county: Lubbock
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 484140303
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

Steve Gonzales works as a Aviation Safety for Department of Transportation based in Lubbock, Texas. Steve earned $72,553 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.

Susan Adolwa

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$72,553

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $72,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,553
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Greensboro
Work county: Guilford
Work state: North Carolina

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 371940081
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

Susan Adolwa holds the role of Aviation Safety at Department of Transportation based in Greensboro, North Carolina. In 2024, their total compensation was $72,553. Their pay grade is 11.

Jaime Aguayo

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$72,553

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $72,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,553
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Nashville
Work county: Davidson
Work state: Tennessee

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 471760037
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

At Department of Transportation, Jaime Aguayo serves as a Aviation Safety based in Nashville, Tennessee. Their 2024 pay totaled $72,553. They are classified at grade 11.

Steven Anneker

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$72,553

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $72,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,553
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Salt Lake City
Work county: Salt Lake
Work state: Utah

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 491700035
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

Steven Anneker is a Aviation Safety at Department of Transportation based in Salt Lake City, Utah. 2024 total compensation came to $72,553. They are classified at grade 11.

Christopher Chambers

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$72,553

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $72,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,553
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Lincoln
Work county: Lancaster
Work state: Nebraska

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 312830109
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

Christopher Chambers holds the role of Aviation Safety at Department of Transportation based in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 2024, their total compensation was $72,553. Their pay grade is 11.

Tessila Davis

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$72,553

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $72,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,553
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Greensboro
Work county: Guilford
Work state: North Carolina

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 371940081
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

Tessila Davis holds the role of Aviation Safety at Department of Transportation based in Greensboro, North Carolina. In 2024, their total compensation was $72,553. Their pay grade is 11.

Eric James

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$72,553

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $72,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,553
Pay grade: 11
Work city: West Columbia
Work county: Lexington
Work state: South Carolina

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 452790063
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

Eric James works as a Aviation Safety for Department of Transportation based in West Columbia, South Carolina. Eric earned $72,553 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.

John Walker

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$72,553

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $72,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,553
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Salt Lake City
Work county: Salt Lake
Work state: Utah

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 491700035
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

At Department of Transportation, John Walker serves as a Aviation Safety based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their 2024 pay totaled $72,553. They are classified at grade 11.

Louis Wiseheart

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$72,553

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $72,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,553
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Louisville
Work county: Jefferson
Work state: Kentucky

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 212090111
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

Louis Wiseheart works as a Aviation Safety for Department of Transportation based in Louisville, Kentucky. Louis earned $72,553 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.

Logan Morgan

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$72,553

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $72,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,553
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Greensboro
Work county: Guilford
Work state: North Carolina

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 371940081
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

Logan Morgan works as a Aviation Safety for Department of Transportation based in Greensboro, North Carolina. Logan earned $72,553 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.

Troy Ellenberger

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$72,553

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $72,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,553
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Wichita
Work county: Sedgwick
Work state: Kansas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 205880173
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

Troy Ellenberger works as a Aviation Safety for Department of Transportation based in Wichita, Kansas. Troy earned $72,553 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.

Gaiten Howard

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$67,961

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $67,961
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $67,961
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Baton Rouge
Work county: East Baton Rouge
Work state: Louisiana

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $67,961
Basic Pay (before locality): $58,176
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 220150033
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

Gaiten Howard holds the role of Aviation Safety at Department of Transportation based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 2024, their total compensation was $67,961. Their pay grade is 09.

David Murray

Aviation Safety/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$67,961

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $67,961
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $67,961
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Louisville
Work county: Jefferson
Work state: Kentucky

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $67,961
Basic Pay (before locality): $58,176
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 212090111
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1825
Pay Plan (OPM): FG

David Murray is a Aviation Safety at Department of Transportation based in Louisville, Kentucky. 2024 total compensation came to $67,961. They are classified at grade 09.