PublicPay

Aircraft Operation federal salary series 2181

Full-time federal employees in the Aircraft Operation series earned a median of $159,559 in annualized adjusted basic pay in September 2026, 46% above the all-federal median of $109,641. The middle half earned between $125,656 and $188,451.

Median pay
$159,559
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$125,656–$188,451
25th–75th percentile
Employees
2,417
in this series, all schedules
Change in median
-1.4%
vs. September 2025
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Aircraft Operation
All federal (full-time)

What shapes aircraft operation pay

The most common grade with published pay is GS-13 (1,369 employees, median $157,346). The largest employer of this series with published pay is the Department of Agriculture (118 employees). Federal pay depends mostly on grade and step, plus a locality adjustment for where the job is located; see the GS pay scale explainer.

OPM withheld pay for 89% of employees in this series. The figures here describe only employees with published pay; withholding is concentrated in certain agencies (see data coverage).

Aircraft Operation pay by grade

Grades with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay. GS grades are listed first; other pay plans follow.

Aircraft Operation pay by grade
Pay plan–grade Employees Median pay Middle 50%
GS-12 687 $114,567 $101,443–$125,656
GS-13 1,369 $157,346 $145,026–$167,001

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Aircraft Operation pay by agency

Aircraft Operation pay by agency
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of Agriculture 118 $118,263 $102,935–$145,026
Department of Transportation 80 $190,322 $169,860–$205,136

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Aircraft Operation pay by state

The 1 states with the most employees in this series and published pay.

Aircraft Operation pay by state
State Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Oklahoma 42 $174,212 $167,001–$190,322

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Change since September 2025

The median moved −1.4% from $161,899 in September 2025 to $159,559 in September 2026. Headcount went from 2,646 to 2,417 (−8.7%). A change in the median reflects both pay adjustments and who joined or left the workforce, so it is not the same as a pay raise.

Related occupations in Transportation Group