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 1% 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 197 reviews)); "Pay is good but not great unless you are a controller or have been in for a while." ((in 162 reviews)); "Great people that care about aviation and the work they do." ((in 66 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 44 reviews)); "you make a good salary" ((in 26 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 56 reviews)); "Initial training could be great or it could be terrible depending on your location." ((in 26 reviews)); "Shift work and rotating schedules" ((in 17 reviews)); "bureaucracy Upper management is on their own power trip, often forget to do their actual JOB." ((in 16 reviews)); "Rotating shifts are brutal, stressful, low staffing, no standards, heavy workload at busy facilities." ((in 12 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

Compare 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

4.0

Oct 29, 2008

The FAA is not that bad

Air traffic controller

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

There is some security working for the Federal government. I don't worry about getting downsized. The benefits are pretty good. In addition to the regular vacation days, we get a little over eight hours a month of sick leave, which translates to a little over eight hours a month of extra vacation.

Cons

The Federal Aviation Administration is run like most Government entities; there are a lot burocracies. The managers are a joke. I have to work shiftwork and my days off are in the middle of the week. Getting transferred to another facility is very hard to do. There is currently a dress code.

5.0

Oct 21, 2008

Why I like the FAA

Aviation safety inspector

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The opportunities for professional and personal growth.Excellent pay and working conditions compared to industry.

Cons

The employees that don't pull their own weight are not disciplined because of PASS (the union)

4.0

Jun 16, 2008

A job in aviation in a low stress environment with good benefits where one can help keep/make flying safe.

Attorney

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Subject matter-aviation; 40 hr work week; low stress most of the time; good benefits

Cons

government job--funding is tight, offices are not new and nice, salaries are low; not enough employees to do the work (depending on the department I imagine) because of lack of funding, so quality of work may suffer

Viewing 1453 - 1455 of 1,455 Reviews

Top companies for "Compensation and Benefits" near you

US Army

4.1★Compensation & Benefits

US Air Force

4.2★Compensation & Benefits

UNDP

3.7★Compensation & Benefits

US Navy

4.0★Compensation & Benefits

Jobs at FAA

Environmental Protection Specialist

Public Notice for Air Traffic Control Specialist (Direct Hire)

Public Notice for Chemist (Direct Hire)

Aviation Safety Technician

Air Traffic Control Specialist (Direct Hire Enhanced CTI Program/E-CTI)

FAA

FAA reviews

Ratings by category

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

The FAA is not that bad

Why I like the FAA

A job in aviation in a low stress environment with good benefits where one can help keep/make flying safe.

Top companies for "Compensation and Benefits" near you

Jobs at FAA

FAA reviews FAQs

Followed companies

Job searches

Top companies for "Compensation and Benefits" near you

Bowls

Want the inside scoop on your own company?

FAA reviews FAQs

Jobs at FAA