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

Job-title file

Economist

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

143 employees hold this title in Department of Transportation. Median total compensation for the role is $148,689, above the department median of $137,624.

Employees: 143
Total payroll: $20.6M
Role median: $148,689
Agency median: $137,624
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$53,259$224,212+

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

How total compensation varies among the 143 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

Economist pay vs. the United States

Across all employers in the United States, the median wage for Economists — about 17,790 people — is $124,720. Department of Transportation pays a median base salary of $148,689 for this role, 19% above that figure — about the 62nd percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Transportation sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$67,360

$89,330

$124,720

$174,720

$238,060

Department of Transportation median · $148,689

The bar is the range of annual wages for Economists 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.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Transportation is $148,689, 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)

Economist is held in 43 U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) departments. In Department of Transportation, the median of $148,689 ranks #24 of 43.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Commodity Futures Trading Commission

$247,426 · 32

Securities and Exchange Commission

$214,634 · 138

Federal Reserve System

$208,995 · 65

National Science Foundation

$204,000 · 5

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

$200,226 · 87

Federal Housing Finance Agency

$196,471 · 64

Federal Trade Commission

$191,900 · 88

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

$191,900 · 3

Department of Justice

$191,900 · 55

Federal Communications Commission

$191,350 · 62

Department of Treasury

$183,749 · 363

Small Business Administration

$181,216 · 9

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

Compare jurisdictions

Economist beyond U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

This role is reported in 5 jurisdictions. In U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense), the median of $144,042 ranks #1 of 5. See Economist across all of U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

$135,913 · 8

$79,810 · 69

$73,923 · 10

$65,123 · 35

Median total compensation for comparable Economistroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 4

Philip Liang

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$99,200

Sub-department: Federal Highway Administration
Base pay: $99,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,200
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $99,200
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Transportation, Philip Liang serves as a Economist based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $99,200. They are classified at grade 12.

Joe Pencak

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$99,200

Sub-department: Maritime Administration
Base pay: $99,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,200
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $99,200
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Joe Pencak works as a Economist for Department of Transportation based in Washington, District of Columbia. Joe earned $99,200 in 2024. Their pay grade is 12.

Alesandro Arcuri

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$99,200

Sub-department: Pipeline/Hazardous Materials Safety Administrative
Base pay: $99,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,200
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $99,200
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Alesandro Arcuri works as a Economist for Department of Transportation based in Washington, District of Columbia. Alesandro earned $99,200 in 2024. Their pay grade is 12.

Mikidadu Mohammed

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$99,200

Sub-department: Pipeline/Hazardous Materials Safety Administrative
Base pay: $99,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,200
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $99,200
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Transportation, Mikidadu Mohammed serves as a Economist based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $99,200. They are classified at grade 12.

Sara Hylton

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$99,200

Sub-department: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrative
Base pay: $99,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,200
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $99,200
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Sara Hylton is a Economist at Department of Transportation based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2024 total compensation came to $99,200. They are classified at grade 12.

Sarah Plotnick

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$98,240

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Transportation
Base pay: $98,240
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $98,240
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Cambridge
Work county: Middlesex
Work state: Massachusetts

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $98,240
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 250170017
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Sarah Plotnick works as a Economist for Department of Transportation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sarah earned $98,240 in 2024. Their pay grade is 12.

Thomas Scheinblum

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$97,979

Sub-department: Maritime Administration
Base pay: $97,979
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $97,979
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Invalid
Work county: Invalid
Work state: Invalid

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $97,979
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: Invalid
Duty Station Code: *
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Thomas Scheinblum is a Economist at Department of Transportation based in Invalid, Invalid. 2024 total compensation came to $97,979. They are classified at grade 12.

Claire Roycroft

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$97,079

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Transportation
Base pay: $97,079
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $97,079
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Chicago
Work county: Cook
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $97,079
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 171670031
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Claire Roycroft is a Economist at Department of Transportation based in Chicago, Illinois. 2024 total compensation came to $97,079. They are classified at grade 12.

Azza Mansour

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$96,684

Sub-department: Federal Highway Administration
Base pay: $96,684
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $96,684
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Centennial
Work county: Arapahoe
Work state: Colorado

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $96,684
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 080345005
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Azza Mansour is a Economist at Department of Transportation based in Centennial, Colorado. 2024 total compensation came to $96,684. They are classified at grade 12.

Samuel Pascoe

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$87,500

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $87,500
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,500
Pay grade: H
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $87,500
Basic Pay (before locality): $65,661
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

Samuel Pascoe holds the role of Economist at Department of Transportation based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $87,500. Their pay grade is H.

Nicholas Miller

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$85,593

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $85,593
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,593
Pay grade: G
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $85,593
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,230
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): FV

Nicholas Miller holds the role of Economist at Department of Transportation based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $85,593. Their pay grade is G.

Katya Garcia-Israel

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$84,694

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Transportation
Base pay: $84,694
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $84,694
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Cambridge
Work county: Middlesex
Work state: Massachusetts

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $84,694
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 250170017
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Katya Garcia-Israel holds the role of Economist at Department of Transportation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 2024, their total compensation was $84,694. Their pay grade is 11.

Isaac Wisthuff

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$82,764

Sub-department: Federal Transit Administration
Base pay: $82,764
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,764
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $82,764
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Isaac Wisthuff holds the role of Economist at Department of Transportation based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $82,764. Their pay grade is 11.

Anthony Manucci

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$82,764

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Transportation
Base pay: $82,764
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,764
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $82,764
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Anthony Manucci works as a Economist for Department of Transportation based in Washington, District of Columbia. Anthony earned $82,764 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.

Joseph Reed

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$81,963

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Transportation
Base pay: $81,963
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $81,963
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Cambridge
Work county: Middlesex
Work state: Massachusetts

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $81,963
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 250170017
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Joseph Reed is a Economist at Department of Transportation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 2024 total compensation came to $81,963. They are classified at grade 11.

Arielle Herman

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$72,259

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Transportation
Base pay: $72,259
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,259
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Cambridge
Work county: Middlesex
Work state: Massachusetts

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,259
Basic Pay (before locality): $54,754
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 250170017
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Arielle Herman is a Economist at Department of Transportation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 2024 total compensation came to $72,259. They are classified at grade 09.

Kevin Kelly

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$68,405

Sub-department: Federal Railroad Administration
Base pay: $68,405
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $68,405
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $68,405
Basic Pay (before locality): $51,332
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Kevin Kelly works as a Economist for Department of Transportation based in Washington, District of Columbia. Kevin earned $68,405 in 2024. Their pay grade is 09.

Kaitlyn Granger

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$68,405

Sub-department: Federal Railroad Administration
Base pay: $68,405
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $68,405
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $68,405
Basic Pay (before locality): $51,332
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Kaitlyn Granger is a Economist at Department of Transportation based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2024 total compensation came to $68,405. They are classified at grade 09.

Jake Tsubota

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$68,405

Sub-department: Maritime Administration
Base pay: $68,405
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $68,405
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $68,405
Basic Pay (before locality): $51,332
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Jake Tsubota holds the role of Economist at Department of Transportation based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $68,405. Their pay grade is 09.

Robin Wilkinson

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$55,924

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Transportation
Base pay: $55,924
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $55,924
Pay grade: 07
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $55,924
Basic Pay (before locality): $41,966
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Robin Wilkinson works as a Economist for Department of Transportation based in Washington, District of Columbia. Robin earned $55,924 in 2024. Their pay grade is 07.

Christian Tatu

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$55,383

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Transportation
Base pay: $55,383
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $55,383
Pay grade: 07
Work city: Cambridge
Work county: Middlesex
Work state: Massachusetts

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $55,383
Basic Pay (before locality): $41,966
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 250170017
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Christian Tatu holds the role of Economist at Department of Transportation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 2024, their total compensation was $55,383. Their pay grade is 07.

Samuel Lynch

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$55,383

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Transportation
Base pay: $55,383
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $55,383
Pay grade: 07
Work city: Cambridge
Work county: Middlesex
Work state: Massachusetts

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $55,383
Basic Pay (before locality): $41,966
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 250170017
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Samuel Lynch works as a Economist for Department of Transportation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Samuel earned $55,383 in 2024. Their pay grade is 07.

Nataka Neely

Economist/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$53,259

Sub-department: Federal Railroad Administration
Base pay: $53,259
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,259
Pay grade: 07
Work city: Fort Worth
Work county: Tarrant
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $53,259
Basic Pay (before locality): $41,966
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 482450439
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Nataka Neely is a Economist at Department of Transportation based in Fort Worth, Texas. 2024 total compensation came to $53,259. They are classified at grade 07.