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U.S. Department of Transportation salaries
U.S. Department of Transportation salary estimate
$59,868yearly
U.S. Department of Transportation Salary Overview
The U.S. Department of Transportation reports an average annual salary of $59,868, varying by role, location, and department. Employees in specialized positions or leadership roles typically earn more, reflecting the importance of experience and qualifications. For example, the highest paying jobs include roles in administration and engineering.
Salary Variations by Location
Geographic location significantly influences salary levels, with higher compensation often found in urban areas or regions with a higher cost of living. Understanding these dynamics can assist candidates in making informed career decisions.
Explore salary breakdowns by department to identify competitive opportunities tailored to your skills and interests.
Highest paying jobs at U.S. Department of Transportation
The highest paying jobs at U.S. Department of Transportation are assistant secretary, director of public affairs, deputy chief counsel, and general counsel. Assistant secretary jobs at U.S. Department of Transportation earn an average yearly salary of $191,167, U.S. Department of Transportation director of public affairs jobs average $132,720, and U.S. Department of Transportation deputy chief counsel jobs average $129,381.
The lowest paying U.S. Department of Transportation roles include internship and security officer. U.S. Department of Transportation internship average salary is $34,367 per year. So while the average U.S. Department of Transportation salary is $59,868 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.
Highest paying jobs at U.S. Department of Transportation
| Rank | Job title | Average U.S. Department of Transportation salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assistant Secretary | $191,167 | $91.91 |
| 2 | Director Of Public Affairs | $132,720 | $63.81 |
| 3 | Deputy Chief Counsel | $129,381 | $62.20 |
| 4 | General Counsel | $118,548 | $56.99 |
| 5 | Senior Software Engineer | $103,606 | $49.81 |
| 6 | Regional Administrator | $86,978 | $41.82 |
| 7 | Law Clerk | $85,140 | $40.93 |
| 8 | Contracts Specialist | $84,415 | $40.58 |
| 9 | Legal Extern | $84,168 | $40.47 |
| 10 | Sharepoint Developer | $82,993 | $39.90 |
| 11 | Generation Engineer | $77,862 | $37.43 |
| 12 | Program Manager | $76,342 | $36.70 |
| 13 | Senior Attorney | $75,977 | $36.53 |
| 14 | Program Analyst | $75,728 | $36.41 |
| 15 | Policy Analyst | $75,578 | $36.34 |
| 16 | Writer And Editor | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| 17 | Traffic Safety Administrator | $70,811 | $34.04 |
| 18 | Consultant | $69,281 | $33.31 |
| 19 | Safety Investigator | $68,303 | $32.84 |
| 20 | Project Manager | $68,106 | $32.74 |
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Average U.S. Department of Transportation salary by state
U.S. Department of Transportation pays the highest salaries in District of Columbia due to higher costs of living and competition in the state.
How much does U.S. Department of Transportation pay by location?
Highest paying U.S. Department of Transportation locations
| Rank | Location | Average U.S. Department of Transportation salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $66,479 | $31.96 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $66,162 | $31.81 |
| 3 | Auburn, WA | $63,126 | $30.35 |
| 4 | Sterling, VA | $62,187 | $29.90 |
| 5 | Des Plaines, IL | $60,622 | $29.15 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $59,479 | $28.60 |
| 7 | Fort Worth, TX | $55,276 | $26.58 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $54,915 | $26.40 |
| 9 | Sevierville, TN | $54,793 | $26.34 |
| 10 | Fairbanks, AK | $54,675 | $26.29 |
| 11 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $53,363 | $25.66 |
| 12 | Olathe, KS | $52,723 | $25.35 |
| 13 | Salt Lake City, UT | $52,123 | $25.06 |
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U.S. Department of Transportation salaries by department
Salaries at U.S. Department of Transportation vary depending on the department you work in. U.S. Department of Transportation salaries in the legal department are the highest with an average salary of $88,555. Employees in the it department at U.S. Department of Transportation receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $81,929 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at U.S. Department of Transportation include the administrative and the human resources organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $44,060 and $51,019, respectively.
Average U.S. Department of Transportation salary by department
| Rank | Department | Average U.S. Department of Transportation salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legal | $88,555 | $42.57 |
| 2 | IT | $81,929 | $39.39 |
| 3 | Marketing | $79,190 | $38.07 |
| 4 | Finance | $74,846 | $35.98 |
| 5 | Engineering | $73,824 | $35.49 |
| 6 | Healthcare | $68,575 | $32.97 |
| 7 | Art/Design | $68,527 | $32.95 |
| 8 | Non Profit/Government | $65,291 | $31.39 |
| 9 | Plant/Manufacturing | $62,611 | $30.10 |
| 10 | Research & Development | $61,679 | $29.65 |
| 11 | Accounting | $60,975 | $29.31 |
| 12 | Facilities | $51,821 | $24.91 |
| 13 | Human Resources | $51,020 | $24.53 |
| 14 | Administrative | $44,060 | $21.18 |
How much does U.S. Department of Transportation pay by department?
Best paying U.S. Department of Transportation administrative salaries
| Rank | Position | Average U.S. Department of Transportation salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Regional Administrator | $86,978 | $41.82 |
| 2 | Staff Associate | $71,413 | $34.33 |
| 3 | General Internship | $56,545 | $27.19 |
| 4 | Staff Assistant | $55,955 | $26.90 |
| 5 | Administrative Specialist | $51,098 | $24.57 |
| 6 | Legal Secretary | $48,606 | $23.37 |
| 7 | Data Entry Associate | $47,363 | $22.77 |
| 8 | Administrative Assistant | $42,367 | $20.37 |
| 9 | Office Automation Clerk | $36,410 | $17.50 |
| 10 | Office Secretary | $36,169 | $17.39 |
| 11 | Data Entry Operator | $36,004 | $17.31 |
| 12 | Student Internship | $35,120 | $16.88 |
| 13 | Receptionist | $34,566 | $16.62 |
| 14 | Mail Clerk | $30,580 | $14.70 |
Best paying U.S. Department of Transportation finance salaries
| Rank | Position | Average U.S. Department of Transportation salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senior Finance Manager | $134,970 | $64.89 |
| 2 | Associate Director | $106,890 | $51.39 |
| 3 | Economist | $105,139 | $50.55 |
| 4 | Contracts Manager | $86,839 | $41.75 |
| 5 | Contracting Officer | $84,697 | $40.72 |
| 6 | Contracts Specialist | $84,415 | $40.58 |
| 7 | Program Analyst | $75,728 | $36.41 |
| 8 | Policy Analyst | $75,578 | $36.34 |
| 9 | Consultant | $69,281 | $33.31 |
| 10 | Voucher Examiner | $57,410 | $27.60 |
| 11 | Traffic Control Specialist | $53,015 | $25.49 |
| 12 | Risk Management Internship | $49,681 | $23.89 |
| 13 | Finance Internship | $43,749 | $21.03 |
Best paying U.S. Department of Transportation engineering salaries
| Rank | Position | Average U.S. Department of Transportation salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senior Software Engineer | $103,606 | $49.81 |
| 2 | Project Leader | $103,274 | $49.65 |
| 3 | Technical Project Manager | $89,208 | $42.89 |
| 4 | Database Administrator | $83,823 | $40.30 |
| 5 | Sharepoint Developer | $82,993 | $39.90 |
| 6 | Oracle Consultant | $81,177 | $39.03 |
| 7 | Generation Engineer | $77,862 | $37.43 |
| 8 | Database Programmer | $73,282 | $35.23 |
| 9 | Safety Specialist | $73,017 | $35.10 |
| 10 | Safety Investigator | $68,303 | $32.84 |
| 11 | Programmer Consultant | $68,066 | $32.72 |
| 12 | GIS Analyst | $63,858 | $30.70 |
| 13 | Civil Engineering Technician | $63,247 | $30.41 |
| 14 | Web Developer | $62,457 | $30.03 |
| 15 | Data Analyst | $61,494 | $29.56 |
| 16 | Engineering Internship | $43,008 | $20.68 |
U.S. Department of Transportation competitors’ average salaries
Average salaries at U.S. Department of Transportation competitors, like U.S. Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Department of State, vary. U.S. Economic Development Administration employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $66,365. The average salary at U.S. Department of Labor is $60,643 per year, and the average salary at U.S. Department of State is $60,373 per year.
Highest paying U.S. Department of Transportation competitors
| Rank | Company name | Zippia score | Average salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | U.S. Economic Development Administration | 3.8 | $66,365 |
| 2 | U.S. Department of Labor | 4.4 | $60,643 |
| 3 | U.S. Department of State | 4.5 | $60,373 |
| 4 | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | 4.7 | $60,138 |
| 5 | U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission | 4.6 | $58,487 |
| 6 | City of Seattle | 4.5 | $58,099 |
| 7 | U.S. Department of Education | 4.6 | $57,710 |
| 8 | U.S. Department of Defense | 4.4 | $56,890 |
| 9 | U.S. Department of Commerce | 4.2 | $56,607 |
| 10 | United States Army Corps of Engineers | 4.4 | $54,073 |
| 11 | City and County of Denver Government | 4.6 | $49,854 |
| 12 | Federal Contractor | 4.0 | $48,711 |
| 13 | HHS.gov | 4.3 | $47,150 |
| 14 | U.S. Department of the Interior | 4.8 | $43,882 |
| 15 | Bureau of Engraving and Printing | 4.5 | $43,147 |
| 16 | Maryland Department Of Business & Economic Development | 3.8 | $40,601 |
| 17 | Nevada Legislature | 3.9 | $39,998 |
| 18 | Orange County Government | 4.1 | $37,613 |
| 19 | Environmental Health Services, Inc. | 4.3 | $35,544 |
| 20 | Maryland State Department of Education | 3.4 | $33,657 |
Recently added U.S. Department of Transportation salaries
| Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronics Engineer | Washington, DC | 06/29/2025 | $76,585 |
| Airport Certification and Safety Inspector | Anchorage, AK | 06/29/2025 | $84,275 |
| Lead General Engineer | Anchorage, AK | 06/29/2025 | $125,138 |
| Aviation Safety Inspector, (AW General Aviation-Maintenance) Principal Maintenance Inspector | Saint Ann, MO | 06/29/2025 | $127,690 |
| General Engineer (Lead Engineer) | College Park, GA | 06/29/2025 | $117,036 |
What employees say about salary at U.S. Department of Transportation
Saving lives and making the highways safer for the traveling public.
No opportunity for advancement
Management and Supervision
The customer service relationships that I form.
The bureaucraticy of the management.
Future benefits for retirement and the benefit that I have now. Health coverage, 401 plan
Pay and benefits
Age discrimination and limited promotional opportunities
Vacation time
Frequently asked questions about U.S. Department of Transportation salaries
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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of U.S. Department of Transportation, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about U.S. Department of Transportation. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at U.S. Department of Transportation. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by U.S. Department of Transportation. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of U.S. Department of Transportation and its employees or that of Zippia.
U.S. Department of Transportation may also be known as or be related to Jacqueline Champion, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.s. Department Of Transportation (dot) and US Transportation Department.