Is GS-15 a good salary?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $113,000 and as low as $23,000, the majority of Gs 15 salaries currently range between $60,000 (25th percentile) to $81,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $103,000 annually across the United States.
This classification system covers the majority of civilian federal employees, of which there are about 1.5 million worldwide. These employees work in all manner of professional, technical, administrative, and clerical positions, and are ranked out of 15 grades â from GS-1, the lowest level, to GS-15, the highest level.
The GS-15 pay grade is generally reserved for top-level positions such as supervisors, high-level technical specialists, and top professionals holding advanced degrees.
| Pay Grade | Army Rank | GS Grade |
|---|---|---|
| O-4 | Major | GS-12 |
| O-5 | Lieutenant Colonel | GS-13 |
| O-5 | Lieutenant Colonel | GS-14 |
| O-6 | Colonel | GS-15 |
Positions beyond GS-15 are part of the Senior Executive Service. Members of the SES lead the federal workforce and serve in the key positions just below the top presidential appointees.
Attorney promotions are generally performance-based, and are subject to time-in-grade requirements. It is possible for attorneys starting at the GS-11 grade level to reach the GS-15 level in three and one-half years.
The GS-15 pay grade is generally reserved for top-level positions such as supervisors, high-level technical specialists, and top professionals holding advanced degrees.
Currently, SES level IV pay is slightly above $160,000 per year. This is the maximum limit anyone can earn in the General Schedule pay system. However, this limit only applies to GS-15 employees with a high pay step in high-paying localities like San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
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Is It Hard to Get Fired from a Government Job? Firing a federal employee is significantly more difficult than firing an employee in the private sector. Whereas private sector employers can often fire their employees without any cause whatsoever, federal employers must abide by federal law and regulations.
How do you get a GS-15 position?
How do I get a promotion to GS-15? Within the GS scale, promotions between grades (like a promotion from GS-14 to GS-15) come from advancing up the "career ladder" associated with a position, or by moving to a job with a higher starting pay grade then your current GS grade.
The 2023 salary cap for all GS employees is $183,500 per year. You cannot be offered more than this under any circumstance.
GS-14 is the 14th paygrade in the General Schedule (GS) payscale, the payscale used to determine the salaries of most civilian government employees. The GS-14 pay grade is generally reserved for top-level positions such as supervisors, high-level technical specialists, and top professionals holding advanced degrees.
Minimum retirement age (55 to 57, based on your year of birth) with 30 or more years of creditable service. Age 60 with 20 years or more of creditable service. Age 62 with five or more years of creditable service.
Using your military rank
GS-1 through GS-4 is equivalent the rank E-1 through E-4. A GS-5 position would equate to E-5 or E-6, depending on the position. GS-6 then compares to E-7, GS-7 to E-8, and GS-8 to E-9. Above GS-8 begins incorporating the knowledge and experience of officer classes.
A: Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) is provided to reimburse employees for suitable, adequate living quarters at posts where the U.S. Government does not provide quarters. LQA may be used to pay for rent, utilities, taxes, and related fees (see DSSR 131.2 for a complete listing).
This is a provision that allows you to retire with benefits beginning immediately if you have ten years of service and have reached the Minimum Retirement Age (at least 55). However, the annuity is reduced for each month you are under age 62.
| GS Grade | Step 1 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|
| GS-12 | $94,199 | $122,459 |
| GS-13 | $112,015 | $145,617 |
| GS-14 | $132,368 | $172,075 |
| GS-15 | $155,700 | $183,500* |
| GS Grade | Step 1 | Step 3 |
|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $21,545 | $22,983 |
| GS-2 | $24,226 | $25,605 |
| GS-3 | $26,434 | $28,197 |
| GS-4 | $29,673 | $31,651 |
D. GS-13 is the 13th paygrade in the General Schedule (GS) payscale, the payscale used to determine the salaries of most civilian government employees. The GS-13 pay grade is generally reserved for top-level positions such as supervisors, high-level technical specialists, and top professionals holding advanced degrees.
What is the GS two step rule?
The two-step promotion rule states that a GS employee promoted to a position in a higher grade is entitled to basic pay at the lowest rate of the higher grade that exceeds his or her existing rate of basic pay by not less than two step increases of the grade from which promoted.
How does the salary as a GS-12 at United States Federal Government compare with the base salary range for this job? The average salary for a GS-12 is $119,179 per year in United States, which is 20% higher than the average United States Federal Government salary of $99,101 per year for this job.
Non-executive employees on the General Schedule (GS), for the most part, are subjected to pay cap, which equals the pay cap for political appointees and those on Level IV of the Executive Schedule. In 2023, this annual limit is $183,500.
Starting salary for a GS-14 employee is $99,908.00 per year at Step 1, with a maximum possible base pay of $129,878.00 per year at Step 10.
Most of us can withstand up to 4-6G. Fighter pilots can manage up to about 9G for a second or two. But sustained G-forces of even 6G would be fatal.
GS employees can be paid up to the biweekly pay limit, which is the equivalent of a GS-15, step 10, biweekly rate of $6,758.40. AD employees with salaries in excess of the GS-15, step 10, are not eligible for overtime or compensatory time.
A GS pay grade is a rate of basic pay based on the specific level of work or range of difficulty, responsibility and qualifications. The GS pay schedule has 15 pay grades and 10 steps in each grade. A salary can vary within a pay grade depending if you're at step 1 (the starting salary) or step 10 (the maximum salary).
To qualify for a position at the GS-14 level, you must have a minimum of one year of experience at the GS-13 level. Depending on the position, candidates may be able to substitute education for some of the required experience. Job titles for GS-14 employees include the following: Administrative officer.
Under the government pay system, it can be difficult to negotiate a higher GS levelâas the pay grades are called under the government's General Scheduleâthan the one listed in the job description. But each grade has 10 steps that come with a higher salary and career advancement, and those step levels are more flexible.
Resignation, Transfer or Termination:
You must notify your supervisor at least two weeks in advance of your last day. You must submit your reason for leaving on a Standard Form 52 (Request for Personnel Action).
Is it better to resign or be fired from federal government?
Most people see resignation from a federal job as a much less severe action than removal. Therefore, resigning can maintain the integrity of your employment record. In addition, when you resign, you can give notice and prepare for your departure. This can help you leave on good terms with your employer.
The §3304 DHA can be used for one or more occupations, grades (GS- 15 or below), and/or geographic locations. Agencies may hire candidates into competitive service career, career-conditional, term, temporary, emergency indefinite, or overseas limited appointments.
Basic Requirements for GS-13 and Above
At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position.
Federal employees received a 4.6% average pay raise at the start of 2023 and a 2.7% raise in 2022. Biden said the 5.2% pay raise percentage will help attract, recruit and retain a skilled federal workforce.
The memo stressed that although there are 27 pay periods in 2023 for most agencies for the purposes of leave accrual calculations, there are still only 26 pay days, meaning feds will still receive the normal number of pay checks in 2023 and those checks will be in the normal amount.
5304 and special rates under 5 U.S.C. 5305 for most GS employees are capped at the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule (EX-IV), which is $183,500 in 2023.
The GS-1 through GS-7 range generally marks entry-level positions, while mid-level positions are in the GS-8 to GS-12 range and top-level positions (senior managers, high-level technical specialists, or physicians) are in the GS-13 to GS-15 range.
For example, a GS-12 who intermittently acted in GS-13 jobs for a cumulative total of one year could land a GS-14 job without ever working a permanent GS-13 job. Note that non-SESers may act or be detailed into SES jobs.
The GS has a rank system of its own and in those cases where a GS employee is in charge of a military organization, section, or work center then those military assigned to it do indeed answer to that individual just as they would have to answer to someone if they were in the military.
Can I retire at 50 with 20 years of federal?
Regular (Immediate) Retirement
Under FERS, an employee who meets one of the following age and service requirements is entitled to an immediate retirement benefit: age 62 with five years of service, 60 with 20, minimum retirement age (MRA) with 30 or MRA with 10 (but with reduced benefits).
Generally, your FERS benefit is 1% of your âhigh-3â average salary multiplied by your years and months of service. If you were at least age 62 at separation and had at least 20 years of service, your annuity is 1.1% of your âhigh-3â average salary multiplied by your years and months of service.
GS-15: This is the highest grade available for Federal employees, typically reserved for supervisors or managers, and extremely specialized. Any advancement past this grade would be going into the Senior Executive Service.
General Schedule Classification and Pay
The General Schedule has 15 grades--GS-1 (lowest) to GS-15 (highest). Agencies establish (classify) the grade of each job based on the level of difficulty, responsibility, and qualifications required.
For federal civilian employees, GS-13 is where pay grades begin to correspond to senior officers in the army or navy. That's equivalent to a major in the army, or a commander in the navy.
The government is a highly regulated and procedure-driven organization. As such, it can take much longer to achieve goals or affect change in some roles than it does in the private sector. The slow-moving bureaucracy of the government can impact some employees' job satisfaction.
You must work at least 5 years with the Federal Government before you are eligible for a FERS Federal Pension, and for every year you work, you will be eligible for at least 1% of your High-3 Average Salary History.
Leave, Holidays and Flexible Work Arrangements
The federal government offers generous vacation, sick leave and holiday policies. Federal employees start with 13 paid vacation days a year, and the number of days increases with length of service. Employees may carry up to vacation 30 days into the following year.
Analyst (GS-15) Salaries in Washington, DC , United States
The average salary for Analyst (GS-15) is $1,96,175 per year in the Washington, DC , United States. The average additional cash compensation for a Analyst (GS-15) in the Washington, DC , United States is $79,035, with a range from $59,277 - $1,10,650.
The 2023 salary cap for all GS employees is $183,500 per year. You cannot be offered more than this under any circumstance.
What is a GS rank equivalent to in the military?
Using your military rank
GS-1 through GS-4 is equivalent the rank E-1 through E-4. A GS-5 position would equate to E-5 or E-6, depending on the position. GS-6 then compares to E-7, GS-7 to E-8, and GS-8 to E-9.
Federal workers can be fired for poor performance (those who simply can't do the job) or misconduct (those who break the rules, including while off the clock), but in either case they are entitled to due process and other rights.
Starting salary for a GS-14 employee is $99,908.00 per year at Step 1, with a maximum possible base pay of $129,878.00 per year at Step 10.
| Military | Civilian Grade Group | |
|---|---|---|
| O-3 | Captain | GS 10/11 |
| O-2 | 1st Lieutenant | GS 9 |
| O-1 | 2nd Lieutenant | GS 7 |
| W-4 | Chief Warrent Officer | GS 8 |
How do I get a promotion to GS-15? Within the GS scale, promotions between grades (like a promotion from GS-14 to GS-15) come from advancing up the "career ladder" associated with a position, or by moving to a job with a higher starting pay grade then your current GS grade.
Under the government pay system, it can be difficult to negotiate a higher GS levelâas the pay grades are called under the government's General Scheduleâthan the one listed in the job description. But each grade has 10 steps that come with a higher salary and career advancement, and those step levels are more flexible.
Currently, SES level IV pay is slightly above $160,000 per year. This is the maximum limit anyone can earn in the General Schedule pay system. However, this limit only applies to GS-15 employees with a high pay step in high-paying localities like San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | |
|---|---|---|
| Top Earners | $106,104 | $8,842 |
| 75th Percentile | $102,043 | $8,503 |
| Average | $78,774 | $6,564 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,504 | $4,625 |
The median salary in Washington, DC is $76,908, with 80% of salaries falling between $34,800 and $167,040. Salaries in Washington, DC are generally above the national average.
