FederalPay.org
Guide - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Guide"
How much does a Guide in the federal government get paid? $40,104.58* *Based on the 2021 average.Guide was the 198th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 702 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.
In 2021, the National Park Service hired the most employees titled Guide, with an average salary of $39,924.
Government Guide jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Guide 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 includes all classes of positions the duties of which are to provide or supervise nonprofessional interpretive and guide services to visitors to parks, dams, and other sites of public interest. The work involves giving formal talks, interpreting natural and historic features, explaining engineering structures and related water resource developments, answering questions, guiding tours, and providing miscellaneous services to visitors. Incidental duties are performed in connection with responsibility for visitor safety and protection of historic and scientific objects and natural or engineering features.
Agencies that have hired a Guide
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| National Park Service | 658 | $39,924.37 |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 33 | $43,961.79 |
| Forest Service | 8 | $35,664.50 |
| U.S. Mint | 3 | $49,040.67 |
Guide Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Guide is $40,104.58. The highest paid Guide made $57,178 in 2021.
Common Guide Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Guide Employees |
|---|---|
| GS - General Schedule | 702 |
| 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: | Technical and Medical Support |
| Occupation Family: | 0000 MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS GROUP |
Other Jobs at the GS-1 Paygrade
GS-1 is the starting paygrade for Guide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Dental Laboratory Aid and Technician | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Animal Health Technician | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Legal Assistance | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Cargo Scheduling | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
Average Guide Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for a Guide was $26,655. Since then, the average pay has increased to $40,105 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 0090.