Does FAA pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, FAA employees rate their compensation and benefits as 4.1 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at FAA. This rating has decreased by 2% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at FAA?

71% of FAA employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated FAA 3.6 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.6 for culture and values and 3.7 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at FAA?

Air Traffic Control Specialist (153) , Air Traffic Controller (122) , Airway Transportation Systems Specialist (47) , Aviation Safety Inspector (40) , Management and Program Analyst (33) , ATC Specialist (29) , Aerospace Engineer (29) , ATSS FG-2101 (28) , Intern (24) , Engineer (23) , Civil Engineer (20) , Program Manager (20) , Manager (17) , Air Traffic Controller Trainee (14) , Computer Specialist (14)

What are the pros of working at FAA according to real employee reviews?

"benefits are great and day to day work is great" ((in 208 reviews)); "Pay is good but not great unless you are a controller or have been in for a while." ((in 153 reviews)); "Great people that care about aviation and the work they do." ((in 67 reviews)); ""Job security" is great and once you know what you are supposed to do you can then explore other areas or job functions." ((in 55 reviews)); "Great work/life balance" ((in 54 reviews))

What are the cons of working at FAA according to real employee reviews?

"Management is incompetent and often take the path of least resistance to progress their own careers." ((in 57 reviews)); "Initial training could be great or it could be terrible depending on your location." ((in 25 reviews)); "bureaucracy Upper management is on their own power trip, often forget to do their actual JOB." ((in 16 reviews)); "Shift work or rotating schedule." ((in 15 reviews)); "Rotating shifts are brutal, stressful, low staffing, no standards, heavy workload at busy facilities." ((in 14 reviews))

What are employees saying about FAA layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about FAA layoffs and their outlook for job security at FAA in 2026.

FAA reviews

3.8

71% would recommend to a friend

(1,455 total reviews)

Pete Buttigieg | Michael G. Whitaker | Kathryn “Katie” Thomson

68% approve of CEO

50% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

4.1

Compensation and benefits

3.8

Diversity & inclusion

3.7

Career opportunities

3.6

Culture & values

3.6

Work/Life balance

3.3

Senior management

FAA has an employee rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars, based on 1,455 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The FAA employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Gobierno y administración pública industry (3.6 stars).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

1K reviews

2.0

Dec 4, 2025

Government Controlled

Air traffic control specialist

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Fun and enjoyable job mixing traffic

Cons

Just a number, controlled by government rules and restrictions

4.0

Nov 4, 2025

great opportunity for learning

Air traffic controller trainee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

if you can handle the program, you get lots of benefits basically getting paid to study many helpful instructors

Cons

need a really strong work ethic and talent to pass the final stages of the program, not suitable for everyone, fast paced, need to put in more time after classes to study, negative reinforcement style teaching during simulation problems (not for everyone) need to relocate

4.0

Oct 19, 2025

It’s OK. Work/life balance could be better

Air traffic control specialist

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

It’s government work. There’s job security in, at least that is until the government decides to shutdown then you must show up to work without receiving a paycheck because you’re considered an essential employee.

Cons

Our union, NATCA, doesn’t fight hard enough on negotiating for a better contract with equitable pay for the line of work we do and the stresses and pressure that come along with the profession. Also, the agency has been understaffed for years, thus forcing mandatory overtime throughout the years causing controller burnout.

Viewing 82 - 84 of 1,455 Reviews

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FAA

FAA reviews

Ratings by category

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

Government Controlled

great opportunity for learning

It’s OK. Work/life balance could be better

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