Federal job classification systems vary by agency, but the most widely used is the General Schedule (GS), which covers most civilian white-collar positions. Most federal employees must be U.S. citizens or nationals, though limited exceptions exist under specific legal authorities. Beyond that, qualification standards depend on the occupation and agency.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers a General Schedule Overview that highlights how the GS is the most common federal pay/classification system for white-collar employees.
“GS employees may advance to higher grades by promotion at certain intervals (generally after at least a year), as determined by OPM regulations and qualification standards and agency policies, up to the full promotion potential advertised in the job announcement,” according to the OPM. “After that, competition under merit system principles is necessary to advance to a higher GS grade.”
Qualifications
The federal government employs people at nearly every education and experience level — from students and entry-level applicants to seasoned professionals with advanced degrees. Some occupations, such as engineers, ecologists and attorneys, require specific degrees and coursework. Others accept relevant work experience, education, or a combination of both. Certain support or administrative positions may have minimal formal requirements, focusing instead on basic competencies or aptitude.
USAJOBS explains more about how the government hires people with a wide range of education and experience, from high school to advanced degrees, and discusses how requirements depend on the position.
Each federal job announcement on USAJOBS clearly describes the minimum qualifications, including required education, experience, and specialized skills. Every occupation also has a classification code (known as a “series”) that determines its qualification standards and pay structure. Understanding these occupational series codes can help you target jobs that match your background more efficiently.
For more information, refer to the OPM – Handbook of Occupational Groups and Families, which details occupational series codes and how they determine qualification standards and grade structure.
Shortcut to Matching Your Qualifications: Cracking the GS Code
Although agencies may use different classification systems, the most common is the General Schedule (GS). The GS system ranks white-collar jobs from GS-1 through GS-15 based on the complexity, responsibility, and qualifications required. Entry-level grades depend on both education and experience. For instance, jobs requiring only a high school diploma may start around GS-2 or GS-3, while those requiring a bachelor’s degree often begin at GS-5 or GS-7, depending on academic achievement and agency policy. The following table offers a general guide to entry levels by education, though exact requirements vary by occupation.
A college degree only qualifies you for a particular grade level if it meets the education requirements for that occupation. Some positions — such as administrative or analytical roles — accept a bachelor’s degree in any field, since they value general academic skills. Others, especially in professional or scientific series, require a degree in a specific field or with particular coursework spelled out in the official qualification standards.
With additional specialized experience, employees can qualify for higher GS levels. Typically, to qualify for a higher grade, applicants must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in scope and responsibility to the next lower grade level. Some occupations, such as professional, scientific, or administrative positions, use two-grade intervals (for example, GS-5 → GS-7 → GS-9 → GS-11), while others progress in single-grade steps. Advancement depends not only on experience and performance but also on available positions and agency promotion policies.
GS Levels by Education
Approximate Entry-Level GS Grades by Education (guidelines may vary by occupation and agency):
- GS-1 through GS-4: Clerical, assistant, or trainee positions — generally requiring a high school diploma to associate degree.
- GS-5 to GS-7: Entry-level professional positions — usually requiring a bachelor’s degree or a combination of education and experience.
- GS-9 to GS-11: Positions requiring graduate education (master’s, law, or Ph.D.) or specialized experience.
- GS-12 to GS-15: Advanced professional, managerial, and policy positions — requiring extensive specialized experience and often leadership or supervisory responsibilities.
- Above GS-15: Senior Executive Service (SES) — top management roles directing major programs or policy areas.
Note: These levels are general benchmarks. Actual qualification requirements depend on the occupational series and the official OPM qualification standards for that job.
The OPM’s General Schedule Qualification Standards page provides examples of how different education levels (associate, bachelor’s, master’s, Ph.D.) generally correspond to GS grades and specifies that actual qualifications depend on occupational series.
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