Home / Federal careers / GS-1815
Air Safety Investigating
Performs air safety investigation work including accident investigation, safety analysis, and aviation compliance.
What GS-1815 pays
2025 base rates, before locality. Most federal employees add a locality adjustment on top.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 | $52,205 | $53,945 | $55,685 | $57,425 | $59,165 | $60,905 | $62,645 | $64,385 | $66,125 | $67,865 |
| GS-11 | $63,163 | $65,268 | $67,373 | $69,478 | $71,583 | $73,688 | $75,793 | $77,898 | $80,003 | $82,108 |
| GS-12 | $75,706 | $78,229 | $80,752 | $83,275 | $85,798 | $88,321 | $90,844 | $93,367 | $95,890 | $98,422 |
| GS-13 | $90,025 | $93,026 | $96,027 | $99,028 | $102,029 | $105,030 | $108,031 | $111,032 | $114,033 | $117,034 |
| GS-14 | $106,382 | $109,928 | $113,474 | $117,020 | $120,566 | $124,112 | $127,658 | $131,204 | $134,750 | $138,296 |
Base pay only. Locality pay adds 15 to 40 percent or more depending on where the job sits. Source: OPM 2025 General Schedule.
Qualification requirements
OPM's standard for GS-1815, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in aviation, aerospace engineering, or related field
OR
Experience: Experience in aviation safety, accident investigation, or flight operations.
Education and Experience Requirements (Group Standard):
This is a two-grade interval series. Positions follow the GS-5, GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12 progression pattern.
| Grade | Education | Experience | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | Bachelor's degree in any field from accredited college/university | 3 years progressively responsible experience, 1 year equivalent to GS-4 | Equivalent combinations qualifying |
| GS-7 | 1 full year graduate education OR Superior Academic Achievement | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 | Combinations of graduate education and experience |
| GS-9 | 2 years graduate education or master's degree | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 | Combinations of graduate education (excess of GS-7 requirement) and experience |
| GS-11 | 3 years graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 | Combinations of graduate education (excess of GS-9 requirement) and experience |
| GS-12+ | Not applicable | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to next lower grade | N/A |
Superior Academic Achievement (for GS-7):
- Upper third of graduating class in college/university or major subdivision
- GPA of 3.0 or higher out of 4.0 as recorded on official transcript, OR 3.5 or higher in major field
- Election to membership in national scholastic honor society
Graduate Education: One year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours the school determines represents 1 year of full-time study. If unavailable, 18 semester hours satisfies the 1-year requirement.
Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.
What this means if you served
- Write the duties, not the billet. OPM credits military experience on the work performed, and does not use rank or pay to judge specialized experience.
- Put the training and certifications you earned in service on the page. They count here.
- Claim your veterans preference on the application. It is not applied for you.
- No positive education requirement here, so qualifying experience can stand in for the education.
How to qualify for GS-1815
1Review Qualification Requirements
Read the OPM qualification standards above to understand the education and experience requirements for your target grade level.
2Find Your Grade Level
Grade follows the scope and complexity of the work you can document against the announcement, not the rank you held. OPM does not use military rank or pay when it evaluates specialized experience. Roughly: GS-5 entry, GS-7/9 junior, GS-11/12 journey, GS-13 and up senior.
3Gather Documentation
Collect your DD-214, SF-50 (if applicable), transcripts, certifications, and any training records that demonstrate your qualifications.
4Build Your Federal Resume
Two pages. USAJOBS has enforced that limit since 27 September 2025 and will not accept a longer resume from a Title 5 agency posting, so the space has to answer every qualification requirement. Include hours worked per week, supervisor contact details, and the accomplishments with numbers on them.
5Apply on USAJOBS
Search for open positions, carefully answer all assessment questions, and submit your application before the closing date.
Military jobs that map to this series
Airborne Mission Systems Specialist
This role involves monitoring and analyzing aircraft systems, which aligns with technical analysis and safety inspection duties.
Skills that carry over: Aviation Knowledge, Technical Analysis, Safety Inspections.
Usually opens at: GS-9, GS-11.
Aviation Warfare Systems Operator
Experience in monitoring aviation systems and conducting safety checks provides a strong foundation for air safety investigation roles.
Skills that carry over: Aviation Knowledge, Accident Investigation, Evidence Analysis.
Usually opens at: GS-9, GS-11.
Air Traffic Controller
GS-1815 Air Safety Investigating covers FAA and NTSB roles examining incidents, procedures, and airspace design. A rated controller who knows separation standards from the inside is a credible aviation-safety candidate.
Skills that carry over: Aviation safety analysis, Airspace procedures, Incident review, Regulatory compliance.
Usually opens at: GS-9, GS-11, GS-12.
Your record can qualify you even when your code is not on this list. The crosswalk is a starting point, not the gate.
Typical duties
- Investigate aviation accidents
- Analyze flight data
- Conduct safety inspections
- Review compliance with regulations
- Prepare investigation reports
- Recommend safety improvements
Key competencies
Aviation Knowledge
Deep understanding of aviation operations and systems.
Accident Investigation
Skill in investigating aviation accidents and incidents.
Evidence Analysis
Ability to analyze physical and electronic evidence.
Technical Analysis
Skill in analyzing aircraft systems and failures.
Report Writing
Ability to prepare detailed investigation reports.
Regulatory Knowledge
Understanding of FAA regulations and standards.
Interviewing
Skill in interviewing witnesses and crew members.
Collaboration
Ability to work with NTSB, FAA, and other agencies.
Words the announcement will use
Use the ones your record actually supports. A rater is matching your experience against the specialized experience statement, and a keyword with nothing behind it does not survive that.
Questions about GS-1815
What is an Air Safety Investigator?
A GS-1815 Air Safety Investigator investigates aviation accidents and incidents to determine probable cause and prevent future occurrences. These specialists analyze flight data, examine aircraft wreckage, interview witnesses and crew members, review maintenance records, and prepare detailed investigation reports—primarily working at the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and FAA.
How much does a federal Air Safety Investigator make?
Federal Air Safety Investigators earn between $52,205 (GS-9 Step 1) and $138,296 (GS-14 Step 10) on the 2025 GS scale. Most positions are at GS-12 through GS-14. A GS-13 Air Safety Investigator earns $90,025-$117,034. NTSB and FAA are primary employers. Positions often require on-call availability and travel to accident sites.
What are the requirements for GS-1815 positions?
GS-1815 typically requires aviation expertise—a degree in aviation, aerospace engineering, or related field combined with significant flight operations, maintenance, or aviation safety experience. Pilot certificates, aircraft maintenance experience, and accident investigation training are highly valued. Deep technical knowledge of aircraft systems and operations is essential.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1815?
Military aviation experience is highly valued. Veterans with pilot experience, aircraft maintenance backgrounds, aviation safety officer roles, or accident investigation training have excellent qualifications. Experience with military aircraft systems, flight operations, or safety programs provides directly relevant background. Military mishap investigation experience is particularly valuable.
What is the career progression for Air Safety Investigator?
Air Safety Investigators typically enter at GS-9 or GS-11 and progress to GS-12/13. Senior investigators and team leads reach GS-14. Career paths include specializing in specific aircraft types or systems, advancing to Investigator-in-Charge positions at NTSB, or transitioning to FAA aviation safety oversight roles.
How do I apply for GS-1815 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for "Air Safety Investigator" or "Aviation Safety Investigator" under series 1815. NTSB and FAA are primary employers. Highlight aviation credentials (pilot certificates, A&P licenses), flight hours, maintenance experience, and any safety or investigation training. Include specific aircraft types and aviation systems expertise in your federal resume.
Ready to apply for GS-1815?
A rater matches your record against the announcement's specialized experience statement, inside two pages. BMR writes that shape from your own experience: competency headers, real scope, hours per week, and the supervisor detail the rater checks.