Home / Federal careers / GS-2102
Transportation Clerk and Assistant
Federal position performing transportation support including shipping documentation, freight tracking, carrier coordination, and logistics administration at military and federal facilities.
What GS-2102 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-3 | $27,434 | $28,349 | $29,264 | $30,179 | $31,094 | $32,009 | $32,924 | $33,839 | $34,754 | $35,660 |
| GS-4 | $30,795 | $31,822 | $32,849 | $33,876 | $34,903 | $35,930 | $36,957 | $37,984 | $39,011 | $40,038 |
| GS-5 | $34,454 | $35,603 | $36,752 | $37,901 | $39,050 | $40,199 | $41,348 | $42,497 | $43,646 | $44,786 |
| GS-6 | $38,407 | $39,687 | $40,967 | $42,247 | $43,527 | $44,807 | $46,087 | $47,367 | $48,647 | $49,927 |
| GS-7 | $42,679 | $44,102 | $45,525 | $46,948 | $48,371 | $49,794 | $51,217 | $52,640 | $54,063 | $55,486 |
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-2102, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Clerical and Administrative Support Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements: There are no Individual Occupational Requirements for this series.
Experience and Education Requirements by Grade Level (Group Standard):
| Grade | General Experience | Specialized Experience | Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | None | None | None |
| GS-2 | 3 months | None | High school diploma or equivalent |
| GS-3 | 6 months | None | 1 year above high school |
| GS-4 | 1 year | None | 2 years above high school |
| GS-5 | None | 1 year at GS-4 level | 4 years above high school |
| GS-6+ | None | 1 year at next lower grade | Generally not applicable |
General Experience: Progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position to be filled.
Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.
Education: One year of full-time academic study equals 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or approximately 36 weeks at 20+ classroom hours per week.
Combining Education and Experience: For grades GS-3 through GS-5, applicants may substitute education for experience. Express both as percentages; combined must equal at least 100%.
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-2102
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
Traffic Management
Air Force Traffic Management specialists handle similar duties such as shipment tracking and documentation, aligning well with the GS-2102 role.
Skills that carry over: Documentation, Tracking, Communication, Coordination, Record Keeping.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Flight Attendant
Customer service and safety experience. Highlight passenger services, safety procedures, and protocol.
Skills that carry over: Passenger Services, Safety Procedures, Protocol, Customer Service, Emergency Response.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-6, GS-7.
Cargo Specialist
Transportation Clerk and Assistant series. Entry-level transportation documentation work, often a foothold leading into GS-2150 progression.
Skills that carry over: Transportation documentation, Cargo manifests, Carrier coordination, Records management.
Usually opens at: GS-4, GS-5, GS-6, GS-7.
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
- Process transportation documents
- Track shipments
- Maintain transportation records
- Coordinate with carriers
- Assist with billing
- Provide customer service
Key competencies
Documentation
Skill in processing shipping documents.
Tracking
Ability to track shipments and deliveries.
Data Entry
Skill in entering transportation data.
Communication
Ability to coordinate with carriers.
Record Keeping
Skill in maintaining transport records.
Attention to Detail
Ability to ensure accuracy.
Customer Service
Skill in assisting customers.
Systems
Proficiency in transportation systems.
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-2102
What is a Transportation Clerk and Assistant?
A Transportation Clerk and Assistant (GS-2102) provides administrative support for federal transportation operations. They process shipping documents, track shipments, maintain transportation records, coordinate with carriers, and assist with billing. This clerical series supports the logistics mission at military bases and federal facilities.
How much does a federal Transportation Clerk make?
Federal Transportation Clerks and Assistants earn between $27,434 (GS-3 Step 1) and $55,486 (GS-7 Step 10) on the base pay scale. Most positions are at GS-4/5 levels, earning $30,795-$44,786 annually. Locality pay can add 15-30% to base salary depending on your duty station location.
What are the requirements for GS-2102 positions?
GS-2102 positions follow clerical qualification standards. GS-3 requires 6 months of general experience or 1 year of education above high school. GS-4 requires 1 year of general experience or 2 years above high school. GS-5+ requires specialized experience in transportation documentation or equivalent education.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-2102?
Yes, military clerical and administrative experience qualifies for GS-2102 positions. Experience as a unit supply clerk, movement coordinator, shipping clerk, or logistics admin assistant all count. Any MOS involving transportation documentation, cargo tracking, or carrier coordination directly applies to these requirements.
What is the career progression for Transportation Clerk and Assistant?
Transportation Clerks follow a one-grade interval ladder: GS-3/4/5/6/7. Entry positions start at GS-3 or GS-4, with full performance at GS-5/6. GS-7 represents senior clerk or lead positions. Many clerks transition to the GS-2101 Transportation Specialist series for higher advancement opportunities after gaining experience.
How do I apply for GS-2102 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS for 'Transportation Clerk' or 'Transportation Assistant' or series '2102.' Highlight your documentation processing experience, tracking systems proficiency, and carrier coordination skills. These positions are common at military installations and defense logistics agencies. Veterans receive preference in hiring.
Ready to apply for GS-2102?
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.