FederalPay.org
Civilian - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Civilian"
How much does a Civilian in the federal government get paid? $47,655.67* *Based on the 2021 average.Civilian was the 174th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 917 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.
In 2021, the Veterans Health Administration hired the most employees titled Civilian Pay, with an average salary of $47,182.
Government Civilian Pay jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Civilian Pay job is GS-1, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is GS-9. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
Clerical, secretary, and administrative positions fall under this category. No specialized technical background is needed for positions in this category except for stenographers which require a proficiency exam before being hired. Strong organizational and communication skills are the primary requirements for this job category. Military experience can often be applied as relevant experience when calculating starting grade. Employees in the job category receive promotions of 1 grade increase at a time.
Agencies that have hired a Civilian
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Health Administration | 680 | $47,181.88 |
| Office of the Secretary of the Interior | 80 | $48,856.16 |
| Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System | 61 | $49,974.30 |
| Internal Revenue Service | 40 | $40,344.62 |
| Indian Health Service | 10 | $50,525.00 |
| Immigration and Customs Enforcement | 9 | $0.00 |
| Office of the Chief Financial Officer (General Services Administration) | 7 | $59,191.71 |
| Bureau of the Census | 6 | $43,232.83 |
| Deputy Assistant Secretary for Finance | 6 | $37,344.00 |
| Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service | 3 | $45,289.00 |
| Department of State | 3 | $58,687.00 |
| Government Printing Office | 2 | $68,145.50 |
| National Institute of Standards and Technology | 2 | $55,617.50 |
| U.S. Secret Service | 2 | $69,852.00 |
| Federal Aviation Administration | 2 | $67,314.50 |
| National Gallery of Art | 1 | $164,861.00 |
| International Boundary & Water Commission: U.S. & Mexico | 1 | $58,776.00 |
| Office of the Chief Financial Officer (Department of Agriculture) | 1 | $79,738.00 |
| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | 1 | $68,958.00 |
Civilian Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Civilian is $47,655.67. The highest paid Civilian made $164,861 in 2021.
Common Civilian Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Civilian Pay Employees |
|---|---|
| GS - General Schedule | 846 |
| GL - Gs Employees In Grades 3 Through 10 Paid A Law Enforcement Officer Special Base Rate | 61 |
| ZS - Administrative Support | 3 |
| GG - Grades Similar To General Schedule | 3 |
| PG - Printing Office Grades | 2 |
| FV - Federal Aviation Administration Core Compensation Plan | 2 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $20,999.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-1, Step 1 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $63,734.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-9, Step 10 |
| Category: | Clerical and Administrative Support |
| Occupation Family: | 0500 ACCOUNTING AND BUDGET GROUP |
Other Jobs at the GS-1 Paygrade
GS-1 is the starting paygrade for Civilian Pay jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the GS-1 paygrade.
| Occupation | Occupation Category | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation Clerk and Assistant | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Military Pay | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Recreation Aid and Assistant | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Security Clerical and Assistance | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Messenger | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
Average Civilian Pay Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for a Civilian was $37,718. Since then, the average pay has increased to $47,656 in 2021.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 0544.