Home / Federal careers / GS-2101
Transportation Specialist
Performs transportation work including traffic management, transportation planning, and logistics coordination.
What GS-2101 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-5 | $34,454 | $35,603 | $36,752 | $37,901 | $39,050 | $40,199 | $41,348 | $42,497 | $43,646 | $44,786 |
| GS-7 | $42,679 | $44,102 | $45,525 | $46,948 | $48,371 | $49,794 | $51,217 | $52,640 | $54,063 | $55,486 |
| 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 |
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-2101, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in transportation, logistics, or business
OR
Experience: Experience in transportation management, traffic management, or logistics.
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-2101
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
Aircraft Loadmaster
Transportation Specialist. Shipment planning, carrier selection, and regulatory compliance. DLA, SDDC, and USTRANSCOM positions.
Skills that carry over: Shipment coordination, Regulatory compliance, Documentation, Carrier management.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7, GS-9.
Motor Transport Operator
Transportation Specialist. 88Ms who worked in transportation operations centers or managed movement requests are strong candidates. DOT, DOD, and GSA all hire for these positions.
Skills that carry over: Transportation planning, Movement coordination, Cargo documentation, Regulatory compliance, Route analysis.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7, GS-9.
Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) Specialist
7316s fit GS-2101 Transportation Specialist for UAS program and operations roles across DOT, Interior, and DoD. Mission planning, airspace coordination, and operational risk management map directly.
Skills that carry over: Mission planning, Airspace coordination, Operational risk management, UAS operations.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9, GS-11.
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
- Plan and coordinate transportation operations
- Analyze transportation requirements
- Manage traffic flow and routing
- Coordinate with carriers
- Monitor shipment status
- Resolve transportation problems
Key competencies
Transportation Planning
Ability to plan transportation operations.
Regulations
Knowledge of transportation regulations.
Carrier Management
Skill in working with carriers.
Cost Analysis
Ability to analyze transportation costs.
Routing
Skill in determining optimal routes.
Documentation
Knowledge of shipping documentation.
Problem Solving
Ability to resolve transportation issues.
Communication
Skill in coordinating shipments.
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-2101
What is a Transportation Specialist?
A Transportation Specialist (GS-2101) is a federal professional who manages traffic operations, transportation planning, and logistics coordination for government agencies. They analyze transportation requirements, coordinate with carriers, plan routing, and ensure efficient movement of personnel and cargo across federal operations.
How much does a federal Transportation Specialist make?
Federal Transportation Specialists earn between $34,454 (GS-5 Step 1) and $117,034 (GS-13 Step 10) annually on the base pay scale. Most mid-career specialists at GS-11/12 earn $63,163-$98,422. Locality pay adjustments can increase total compensation by 15-30% depending on duty location.
What are the requirements for GS-2101 positions?
GS-2101 positions require either a bachelor's degree in transportation, logistics, or business, OR equivalent experience in transportation management. No specific degree is required - experience in traffic management or logistics operations can substitute for education. Higher grades require one year of specialized experience at each preceding level.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-2101?
Absolutely. Military transportation experience directly translates to GS-2101 requirements. MOSs like Army 88M (Motor Transport Operator), 88N (Transportation Management Coordinator), Navy LS (Logistics Specialist), or Air Force 2T1 (Vehicle Operations) provide qualifying experience. Movement control, convoy operations, and logistics planning all count toward specialized experience.
What is the career progression for Transportation Specialist?
Transportation Specialists follow a two-grade interval career ladder: GS-5/7/9/11/12/13. Entry-level positions typically start at GS-5 or GS-7, with journey-level at GS-11/12. Senior transportation specialists and supervisory positions can reach GS-13. Progression typically takes 4-7 years from entry to journey level with satisfactory performance.
How do I apply for GS-2101 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS for 'Transportation Specialist' or series '2101.' Federal resumes should detail your traffic management experience, carrier coordination, cost analysis skills, and transportation regulations knowledge. Veterans receive preference points - ensure your DD-214 reflects any transportation-related duties. Many positions are with DOD, GSA, and DHS.
Ready to apply for GS-2101?
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.