Home / Federal careers / GS-2130
Traffic Management
Positions involving management of transportation and traffic operations including freight and passenger movement.
What GS-2130 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 |
| GS-14 | $106,382 | $109,928 | $113,474 | $117,020 | $120,566 | $124,112 | $127,658 | $131,204 | $134,750 | $138,296 |
| GS-15 | $125,133 | $129,304 | $133,475 | $137,646 | $141,817 | $145,988 | $150,159 | $154,330 | $158,501 | $162,672 |
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-2130, 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 traffic management, transportation, or freight 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-2130
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
Transportation Management Coordinator
This role directly aligns with traffic management duties, involving planning and coordinating transportation operations.
Skills that carry over: Traffic Planning, Carrier Selection, Rate Analysis, Regulations, Routing.
Usually opens at: GS-9, GS-11.
Cargo Movement
Traffic management pathway.
Skills that carry over: Cargo Operations, Logistics, Documentation, Equipment Operation, Customer Service.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Distribution Management Specialist
Carrier selection, rate analysis, mode optimization, and freight documentation are the core of both MOS 3112 and the GS-2130 Traffic Management series. This is the closest federal match.
Skills that carry over: Carrier procurement, Mode selection, Rate analysis, Freight documentation.
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 transportation operations
- Coordinate shipments
- Negotiate rates with carriers
- Monitor traffic flows
- Resolve shipping problems
- Ensure regulatory compliance
- Manage freight programs
- Analyze transportation costs
- Develop routing plans
- Prepare reports
Key competencies
Traffic Planning
Ability to plan traffic operations.
Carrier Selection
Skill in selecting transportation modes.
Rate Analysis
Ability to analyze freight rates.
Regulations
Knowledge of traffic regulations.
Routing
Skill in determining shipping routes.
Cost Control
Ability to manage transportation costs.
Documentation
Knowledge of traffic documentation.
Negotiation
Skill in negotiating rates and services.
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-2130
What is a Traffic Management Specialist?
A Traffic Management Specialist (GS-2130) manages transportation and traffic operations for federal agencies, overseeing freight and passenger movement. They negotiate rates with carriers, coordinate shipments, analyze transportation costs, develop routing plans, and ensure regulatory compliance across government logistics operations.
How much does a federal Traffic Management Specialist make?
Federal Traffic Management Specialists earn between $34,454 (GS-5 Step 1) and $117,034 (GS-13 Step 10) on the base pay scale. Journey-level positions at GS-11/12 earn $63,163-$98,422 annually. Locality pay adjustments increase total compensation by 15-30% based on geographic location.
What are the requirements for GS-2130 positions?
GS-2130 positions require a bachelor's degree in transportation, logistics, or business, OR equivalent experience in traffic management or freight operations. This is a two-grade interval series where education can substitute for experience through GS-11. Higher grades require demonstrated specialized experience at each level.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-2130?
Yes, military traffic management experience is highly valued. MOSs like Army 88N (Transportation Management Coordinator), Air Force 2T0 (Traffic Management), or Navy logistics ratings involving freight coordination directly qualify. Experience with military shipment routing, carrier negotiation, and Defense Transportation System counts as specialized experience.
What is the career progression for Traffic Management?
Traffic Management follows a two-grade interval ladder: GS-5/7/9/11/12/13. Entry positions typically start at GS-5 or GS-7. Journey-level is GS-11/12, handling complex rate negotiations and traffic program management. Senior positions at GS-13 involve program oversight and policy development.
How do I apply for GS-2130 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS for 'Traffic Management' or series '2130.' Your federal resume should emphasize carrier selection experience, rate analysis, regulatory knowledge, and cost control achievements. Major employers include Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), GSA, and DHS. Veterans preference applies.
Ready to apply for GS-2130?
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.