When it comes to applying to federal jobs, you need to seriously consider which level of job you will take (such as GS grade), job series that fit your skills best, and the promotional potential of the job you’re interested in. In this post I will focus on the job level and salary.
One of the most common ways the federal government differentiates between levels is through a chart of sorts called the General Schedule or GS. The GS is further divided into Grades. Each grade has 10 Steps and the pay is also different depending on the geographic location of your work site. In most cases you must have 52 weeks of experience at a Step before being promoted to the next Step. Different federal agencies may uses other scales for setting salary besides the GS, but you can measure where they fall by comparing them to the GS.
Where you land on the GS is determined by a number of factors including, but not limited to your education, experience, GPA, certificates, etc. If you have less than a high school diploma, a high school diploma or are a college graduate, you may qualify for positions within the GS 1-GS 5 rage, depending on any other experience, certifications, etc. you have.
For the DC metropolitan area (MD, VA, DC) GS1-GS5 salary can range from $22,115-$44,293. If you have a college degree with a high GPA or a graduate degree, you may want to consider positions within the GS 7-GS 9 range. Additionally, you’re very likely to start at the first Step of the Grade you actually qualify for. Always prioritize your job applications towards positions that offer you a promotional career ladder, such as a position that hires at the GS 5 or GS7, with a “promotional potential” to a GS9 or higher.
The Federal Government is also known for “Matching” your current salary, especially if you can verify it through your latest paystub or tax return. Some agencies will not max your former salary if you’re currently unemployed (they figure – now that you’re unemployed, you should be happy to get what you’re offered – not what you ‘use’ to get).
Don’t waste your time applying to a federal job without a solid, updated, federal style resume. Read the vacancy announcements carefully and submit any required documentation. Be ready to upload your transcripts, one of the most commonly requested supplemental required documentation.
To see the General Schedule and what exactly in means for you in your specific geographic location, visit: http://www.opm.gov/oca/11tables/indexGS.asp