What is the lowest GS level?

The lowest General Schedule (GS) level is GS-1, which is the starting point on the 15-grade federal pay scale, representing positions with the least responsibility, while GS-15 is the highest, with each grade having 10 steps for pay increases based on experience and locality. GS-1 jobs typically require minimal formal education and are entry-level, often clerical or trainee roles.

What GS level can you start at?

GS-5 to GS-7: mostly entry-level and administrative positions. GS-8 to GS-12: mostly mid-level technical and first level supervisory positions.

Is GS 7 entry-level?

GS Levels by Education

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.

What is the GS level pay scale?

The General Schedule (GS) pay scale is one of many pay systems in the federal government. 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, from GS-1 (lowest grade) to GS-15 (highest grade).

What GS level is a master's degree?

To qualify for jobs at the GS-9 grade (or equivalent) level you need a master's degree, and for the GS-11 grade (or equivalent) level you need a doctoral degree. At these levels, the advanced degree must be directly related to the work of the job you're applying to.

What GS Grade Should You Aim For? 💸

What GS level does a PhD get you?

Grades higher than 7 are determined based on advanced education, and/or work experience. You may qualify for GS-9 positions if you have already completed a master's degree and for GS-11 positions if you have completed a doctorate degree.

Which is harder, MS or MA?

Neither an MA (Master of Arts) nor an MS (Master of Science) is inherently harder; difficulty depends on the field, university, curriculum (thesis vs. non-thesis), and your own strengths, as MA programs often lean theoretical/humanities (writing/discussion) while MS programs focus on quantitative/technical skills (lab work/data), though exceptions exist within specific disciplines like Psychology where an MS might be more research-heavy and an MA more applied. 

What GS level is a bachelor's degree?

A baccalaureate degree typically qualifies you for entry-level federal positions at GS-5 to GS-7. With a bachelor's degree and relevant work experience, you can advance to GS-8.

Is GS 5 a good salary?

A GS-5 is an entry-level federal job salary, starting low but offering significant potential for raises through promotions (to GS-7, 9, etc.) and locality pay, making it a solid career base, though the initial pay may feel low compared to private sector jobs requiring similar skills, especially in high-cost-of-living areas like DC, where it can be tight until you move up. 

How long does it take to move up GS steps?

A step increase is the most common kind of raise for GS employees, and the amount of time between step increases is dependent on the step. As a GS employee, you have to wait one year to increase to a step 2, 3, or 4. You must wait two years before increasing to step 5, 6, or 7.

What is the 70 rule of hiring?

The 70% rule in hiring is a guideline suggesting you should hire candidates who meet about 70% of the job's requirements, focusing on potential, trainability, and transferable skills for the missing 30%. It encourages hiring for growth and new perspectives rather than waiting for a "perfect" candidate who checks every box, which can slow down the hiring process and lead to understaffed teams. The missing skills are expected to be learned on the job, fostering employee loyalty and development. 

What job titles are entry-level?

Entry-level job titles often include keywords like "Assistant," "Coordinator," "Associate," "Trainee," or "Junior," appearing in roles such as Administrative Assistant, Customer Service Representative, Marketing Assistant, Sales Associate, Data Entry Clerk, HR Assistant, or IT Technician, and can also be found as Interns or Apprentices in various fields, designed for those with little to no experience. 

Is GS 7 good pay?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $131,258 and as low as $75,005, the majority of Gs 7 salaries currently range between $88,800 (25th percentile) to $123,400 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $130,271 annually in California.

What is an entry-level GS job?

Job applicants usually enter these jobs at the entry grade levels (typically GS-05 or GS-07 grade levels or equivalent) and acquire on-the-job training and work experience before advancing to higher grade levels. These jobs are sometimes advertised as “trainee,” “intern,” or “student program” positions.

How much is GS Basic pay 2025?

The 2025 GS base pay scale reflects a 1.7% across-the-board increase effective January 2025, with rates varying by grade and step, starting from around $22,360 (GS-1, Step 1) up to $162,672 (GS-15, Step 10) in the Rest of U.S. (RUS) locality, plus locality pay adjustments, though the finalized locality percentages were subject to presidential/congressional approval later in the year. The base rate for GS-1, Step 1, began at $22,360, while higher steps like GS-15, Step 10 reached $162,672, with locality pay adding significant geographic variations.
 

What GS level is equivalent to military?

GS and military rank

For enlisted service members, rank E-1 through E-4 is equivalent to GS-1 through GS-4. Moving up in rank, 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 aligns to E-8, and GS-8 corresponds to E-9.

How much is $70,000 a year hourly?

$70,000 a year is approximately $33.65 per hour, assuming a standard 40-hour work week (2080 working hours per year), calculated by dividing $70,000 by 2080. This figure is your gross hourly wage before taxes and deductions. 

What salary is $40 an hour?

$40 an hour is $83,200 per year ($40 x 40 hours x 52 weeks), which breaks down to about $1,600 weekly, $3,200 bi-weekly, or roughly $6,933 monthly, assuming a standard 40-hour workweek. To calculate, multiply your hourly rate by 2080 (40 hours x 52 weeks) for the annual salary. 

How many years from GS 5 to GS 6?

The normal progression is 52 weeks (one year) between steps 1–2, 2–3, and 3–4, then 104 weeks (two years) between steps 4–5, 5–6, and 6–7, and finally 156 weeks (three years) between steps 7–8, 8–9, and 9–10.

Do you put GS level on a resume?

General Schedule Grade (Series/Pay Grade) If you worked for the Federal Government previously, include the highest GS level you held. Otherwise not applicable.

What degree is lowest to highest?

The standard order of college degrees from lowest to highest is: Associate Degree, followed by a Bachelor's Degree, then a Master's Degree, and finally a Doctoral Degree, with professional degrees often grouped with doctorates or as a specialized track, representing increasing levels of depth, specialization, and research.
 

Can you be a GS-13 without a degree?

In order to qualify for positions at grades GS-13 and above, you must possess a bachelor's degree AND at least 24 semester hours of coursework in certain business-related fields. The 24 hours may be included in, or in addition to, coursework taken to complete the degree program.

Why is a PhD harder than a Masters?

A PhD is much harder than a masters. It takes more time, more research, and a lot more independence. It demands perseverance, self-motivation, and the ability to tackle complex problems without much guidance. It's a whole different level of commitment.

What are the 4 types of degrees?

The four main types of college degrees, in ascending order of study, are Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral (or Doctorate), with associate and bachelor's being undergraduate, and master's and doctoral degrees being graduate-level, representing increasing specialization and advanced study.
 

Is a 2.8 GPA bad for grad school?

Yes, a 2.8 GPA is generally considered low for graduate school, as many programs require a 3.0 minimum, but it's not impossible; you can still get in by showing strong potential through excellent GRE scores, powerful essays, strong letters of recommendation, relevant work/research experience, or improving your grades in your major or final terms, often by targeting programs that value holistic reviews or offer conditional admission.