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Equipment Operator - Federal Salaries of 2020
Pay Rates for "Equipment Operator"
How much does an Equipment Operator in the federal government get paid? $42,932.21* *Based on the 2020 average.Equipment Operator was the 303rd most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2020, with 266 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.
In 2020, the Bureau of the Census hired the most employees titled Equipment Operator, with an average salary of $43,399.
Government Equipment Operator jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Equipment Operator 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.
This occupation covers positions that involve supervising, leading, or operating microfilm equipment, peripheral equipment, mail processing equipment, duplicating equipment, and copier/duplicating equipment requiring a knowledge of the operating characteristics of the equipment and controls, the skill and knowledge to set up and adjust the equipment and controls to produce acceptable products or services on a timely basis, and the skill to perform normal operator maintenance.
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 an Equipment Operator
Equipment Operator Pay Distribution
The average pay for an Equipment Operator is $42,932.21. The highest paid Equipment Operator made $82,130 in 2020.
Common Equipment Operator Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Equipment Operator Employees |
|---|---|
| GS - General Schedule | 231 |
| GG - Grades Similar To General Schedule | 27 |
| IR - Internal Revenue Service Broadband Classification And Pay System Positions Only | 6 |
| ZS - Administrative Support | 1 |
| PG - Printing Office Grades | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $20,172.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-1, Step 1 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $61,227.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-9, Step 10 |
| Category: | Clerical and Administrative Support |
| Occupation Family: | 0300 GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE, CLERICAL, AND OFFICE SERVICES GROUP |
Other Jobs at the GS-1 Paygrade
GS-1 is the starting paygrade for Equipment Operator 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pathology Technician | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Autopsy Assistant | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Sales Store Clerical | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Medical Instrument Technician | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Dispatching | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
Average Equipment Operator Pay Trend from 2004 to 2020
In 2004, the average pay for an Equipment Operator was $31,708. Since then, the average pay has increased to $42,932 in 2020.
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 0350.