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?

72% of FAA employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated FAA 3.5 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) , Aerospace Engineer (30) , ATC Specialist (29) , ATSS FG-2101 (29) , 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 210 reviews)); "Pay is good but not great unless you are a controller or have been in for a while." ((in 148 reviews)); "Great people that care about aviation and the work they do." ((in 65 reviews)); "Good job security if you can tolerate the abuse and toxic environment." ((in 59 reviews)); "Great Work Life Balance" ((in 53 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 55 reviews)); "bureaucracy Upper management is on their own power trip, often forget to do their actual JOB." ((in 16 reviews)); "rotating shifts, poor management, stress" ((in 13 reviews)); "I had seen where other reviews pointed out poor leadership caused by people being promoted due to poor performance." ((in 13 reviews)); "Shift work or rotating schedule." ((in 13 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

72% would recommend to a friend

(1,458 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

3.5

Work/Life balance

3.3

Senior management

FAA has an employee rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars, based on 1,458 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

5.0

Dec 25, 2017

Life as an Air Traffic Controller

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Pension, exciting job every day, great co workers, free flight in jump seat, power over all aircraft.

Cons

Working for giant government arm. You are a number. Promotions based on minority status. Blacks, gays, trans, latinos, women all go first. The hours are horrific. You start the week 3-11, 12-8, 7-3, 6-2, and end on a mid shift 10pm to 6am. You will work weekends for the first 15 years of your career. You will work every holiday.

5.0

Dec 17, 2017

Air Traffic Control

Operations manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Most exciting job in the world. Fast paced and full of the most advanced technologies out there. Great pay and benefits. If you have what it takes, there's nothing else like it.

Cons

Schedules can be a bit difficult, especially until you raise your seniority number since most larger facilities are 365/24/7. And training is long and arduous. But otherwise, it's a career for life.

5.0

Dec 13, 2017

Great Agency

Management & program assistant

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great benefits (TSP, health, retirement, etc.), competitive salary, my manager is wonderful - laid back and not a micro-manager

Cons

Very old agency which can be good, but sometimes the systems are antiquated and won't talk to each other.

Viewing 1030 - 1032 of 1,458 Reviews

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Public Notice for Air Traffic Control Specialist (Direct Hire)

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FAA

FAA reviews

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Ratings by demographic groups

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Life as an Air Traffic Controller

Air Traffic Control

Great Agency

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