Government Pay Scale The federal government pay scale is presented in the General Schedule (G.S) . Designed to establish salaries for all position levels throughout all Federal agencies, the General Schedule is divided into 15 grades, which each have 10 levels. The table however doesn't include SES (Senior Executive Service) positions, which used to be listed as GS-16, GS-17 and GS-18. Federal Government Pay Scale table Grade
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9
Step 10
1
16630
17185
17739
18289
18842
19167
19713
20264
20286
20798
2
18698
19142
19761
20286
20512
21115
21718
22321
22924
23527
3
20401
21081
21761
22441
23121
23801
24481
25161
25841
26521
4
22902
23665
24428
25191
25954
26717
27480
28243
29006
29769
5
25623
26477
27331
28185
29039
29893
30747
31601
32455
33309
6
28562
29514
30466
31418
32370
33322
34274
35226
36178
37130
7
31740
32798
33856
34914
35972
37030
38088
39146
40204
41262
8
35151
36323
37495
38667
39839
41011
42183
43355
44527
45699
9
38824
40118
41412
42706
44000
45294
46588
47882
49176
50470
10
42755
44180
45605
47030
48455
49880
51305
52730
54155
55580
11
46974
48540
50106
51672
53238
54804
56370
57936
59502
61068
12
56301
58178
60055
61932
63809
65686
67563
69440
71317
73194
13
66951
69183
71415
73647
75879
78111
80343
82575
84807
87039
14
79115
81752
84389
87026
89663
92300
94937
97574
100211
102848
15
93063
96165
99267
102369
105471
108573
111675
114777
117879
120981
What you should know about the Federal Government Pay scale The qualifications required for each position are listed in the job announcements. Each job features a code that establishes to the minimum requirements. Most government positions require a Federal resume in formats such as OF 612, Resumix or a SES resume depending on the position level. GS levels are based on your work experience, with usually 1 year of experience corresponding to 1 GS level, when it comes to clerical and technician positions. In administrative, professional, and scientific positions, GS level increase by 2 points at a time until you reach the GS-12 level. Once you're at 12, it increases one level at a time. GS levels by education: l l l l l
l l l l
GS-1: No high school diploma GS-2 (GS-3 for clerk-steno positions): High school diploma GS-3: 1 year of full-time study after high school GS-4: Associate degree or 2 years of full-time study after high school GS-5 or GS-7: depending on agency policy and applicant's academic credentials Bachelor's degree or 4 years of education after high school GS-7: Bachelor's degree + 1 year GS-9 (or GS-11 for some research positions): Master's degree or 2 years of graduate study GS-9: Law degree GS-11 (or GS-12 for some research positions): PhD., doctorate or advanced law degree
When applying to a government position, you should be familiar with the GS levels and what they stand for. Ensure that you are qualified for the position and that your resume is appropriately formatted for that level. Need help writing your Federal resume? Let a Professional Federal Resume Writer prepare your Resume & Get More Interviews & Job Offers 100% Guaranteed ...