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Public Affairs Worker - Federal Salaries of 2021

Pay Rates for "Public Affairs Worker"

How much does a Public Affairs Worker in the federal government get paid? $112,302.26* *Based on the 2021 average.
4,057 EMPLOYEES
$433.94M TOTAL SALARY
GS MOST COMMON PAYSCALE

Public Affairs Worker was the 70th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 4,057 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.

In 2021, the Federal Emergency Management Agency hired the most employees titled Public Affairs, with an average salary of $93,028.

Government Public Affairs jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Public Affairs job is GS-4, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is GS-15. 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.

Job Description

This occupation includes positions responsible for administering, supervising, or performing work involved in establishing and maintaining mutual communication between Federal agencies and the general public and various other pertinent publics including internal or external, foreign or domestic audiences. Positions in this occupation advise agency management on policy formulation and the potential public reaction to proposed policy, and identify and carry out the public communication requirements inherent in disseminating policy decisions. The work involves identifying communication needs and developing informational materials that inform appropriate publics of the agency's policies, programs, services and activities, and plan, execute, and evaluate the effectiveness of information and communication programs in furthering agency goals. Work in the occupation requires skills in written and oral communication, analysis, and interpersonal relations.

Agencies that have hired a Public Affairs Worker

Agency Employees Hired Average Salary
Federal Emergency Management Agency 324 $93,027.85
Veterans Health Administration 310 $90,081.94
Forest Service 287 $89,663.74
Environmental Protection Agency 212 $123,584.21
Department of State 202 $124,472.24
Internal Revenue Service 175 $123,407.46
Social Security Administration 144 $115,275.97
Small Business Administration 137 $90,307.96
Bureau of Land Management 111 $95,930.14
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 102 $105,290.86
National Institutes of Health 87 $136,162.51
Federal Bureau of Investigation 86 $139,080.79
Department of Energy 75 $112,704.19
National Park Service 65 $100,231.57
Food and Drug Administration 64 $130,215.47
Natural Resources Conservation Service 63 $87,243.79
Rural Housing Service 50 $87,471.24
Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys and the Office of U.s Attorneys 48 $116,115.83
Customs and Border Protection 46 $125,472.26
Office Secretary Health and Human Services 42 $124,899.90
Immigration and Customs Enforcement 40 $131,979.17
Transportation Security Administration 39 $106,425.59
John F. Kennedy Space Center 36 $97,522.92
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs 36 $134,636.39
Bureau of Reclamation 35 $101,895.14
Food and Nutrition Service 34 $122,609.53
Smithsonian Institution (Exchange Sep Boards of Trust) 31 $90,850.26
Fpac Business Center 31 $121,926.03
Health Resources and Services Administration 30 $136,847.33
Drug Enforcement Administration 28 $134,003.60
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 27 $124,619.89
Goddard Space Flight Center 27 $124,895.85
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 25 $142,626.28
Office of Public Affairs 25 $134,052.96
Headquarters, Nasa 23 $124,155.30
Bureau of the Census 22 $120,667.55
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 22 $133,350.95
U.S. Agency for International Development 20 $126,694.75
National Archives and Records Administration 19 $104,282.26
U.S. Mint 19 $115,833.53
U.S. Coast Guard 19 $111,363.89
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center 18 $110,981.33
Federal Election Commission 18 $118,897.50
Office of Communications and Outreach 17 $137,392.41
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 17 $133,318.24
Federal Aviation Administration 16 $138,829.00
Agricultural Research Service 16 $118,014.81
National Institute of Standards and Technology 16 $121,188.13
National Science Foundation 16 $139,440.75
Ames Research Center 16 $113,935.75
Citizenship and Immigration Services 16 $141,381.88
Bureau of Engraving and Printing 16 $121,123.38
Office of the Secretary of the Interior 15 $126,599.00
Food Safety and Inspection Service 15 $103,268.33
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives 14 $145,196.33
Geological Survey 14 $114,307.36
Administration for Children and Families 14 $128,590.64
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 12 $145,181.92
U.S. Marshals Service 12 $128,507.42
Offices, Boards and Divisions 12 $135,638.33
Nuclear Regulatory Commission 12 $157,558.58
John Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field 11 $112,500.27
Peace Corps 11 $87,639.45
Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System 11 $141,659.73
Office of Communications and Marketing 11 $117,418.91
Langley Research Center 10 $105,548.00
Agricultural Marketing Service 10 $117,933.30
Office of Communications (Department of Agriculture) 10 $124,939.10
Economic Research Service 10 $120,602.60
National Agricultural Statistics Service 10 $114,784.20
National Institute of Food & Agriculture 10 $106,122.80
Economic Development Administration 10 $120,073.80
Department of Homeland Security Headquarters 10 $143,532.90
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection 10 $172,589.30
Federal Student Aid 9 $132,334.22
Presidio Trust 9 $127,153.56
Veterans Benefits Administration 9 $127,714.22
National Cemetery Administration 9 $116,290.78
Indian Health Service 9 $99,047.44
International Trade Administration 9 $124,019.11
Office of Assistant Secretary Public & Intergovernmental Affairs 8 $135,168.38
Executive Office for Immigration Review 8 $143,523.25
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center 8 $110,472.25
John C. Stennis Space Center 8 $103,125.50
Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement 8 $116,916.75
Broadcasting Board of Governors 7 $138,594.86
Office of Justice Programs 7 $135,779.43
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 7 $149,076.00
Federal Trade Commission 7 $158,394.00
Foreign Agricultural Service 7 $137,086.00
Patent and Trademark Office 7 $99,855.57
U.S. Secret Service 7 $121,267.17
Consumer Product Safety Commission 7 $126,572.43
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 7 $134,830.29
Securities and Exchange Commission 6 $159,711.00
National Gallery of Art 6 $111,517.67
Office of Secretary of Transportation 6 $124,781.33
National Endowment for the Arts 6 $118,646.33
Office of the Secretary (Department of Commerce) 6 $139,028.33
Export-Import Bank of the United States 6 $121,070.67
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 6 $199,194.50
Administration for Community Living 6 $144,324.50
Office of Inspector General (Department of Health and Human Services) 6 $107,462.17
Office of Comptroller of Currency 6 $170,184.67
Veterans Customer Exper (Vce) 5 $115,044.40
Selective Service System 5 $116,488.40
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation 5 $133,815.80
Minority Business Development Agency 5 $114,891.20
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Service Administration 5 $148,202.20
Overseas Private Investment Corporation 5 $103,629.60
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 4 $132,419.25
Federal Communications Commission 4 $140,946.25
Dryden Flight Research Center 4 $122,478.00
Office of Personnel Management 4 $143,031.00
National Transportation Safety Board 4 $159,460.00
Maritime Administration 4 $123,828.25
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology 4 $134,486.00
Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement 4 $99,812.75
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers 4 $86,203.25
National Endowment for the Humanities 4 $98,752.00
Office of the Secretary of Agriculture 3 $127,374.67
National Telecommunications and Information Administration 3 $131,213.33
Departmental Offices 3 $119,331.33
Bureau of the Fiscal Service 3 $129,597.67
Electronic Health Record Modernization 3 $130,432.33
Office of the Inspector General (Department of Justice) 3 $90,057.67
Railroad Retirement Board 3 $132,962.67
Federal Highway Administration 3 $142,058.33
Federal Railroad Administration 3 $102,173.33
Federal Transit Administration 3 $137,902.00
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 3 $120,031.33
Office of Inspector General (Department of Housing and Urban Development) 3 $160,256.33
Corporation for National and Community Service 3 $87,296.33
Office of Senior Coordinator for New England 2 $153,302.00
Office of Senior Coordinator for Southeast/Caribbean 2 $128,881.50
Office of Senior Coordinator for Southwest 2 $144,721.00
Office of Senior Coordinator for Pacific/Hawaii 2 $149,171.00
Indian Affairs 2 $85,605.00
Government Printing Office 2 $132,294.00
Trade and Development Agency 2 $131,303.00
Farm Credit Administration 2 $366.00
Office of the Director 2 $166,041.00
American Battle Monuments Commission 2 $155,149.00
Bureau of Economic Analysis 2 $129,593.00
Commodity Futures Trading Commission 2 $220,260.50
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network 2 $140,463.00
Office of Inspector General for Tax Administration 2 $136,449.00
Inspector General (Department of Veterans Affairs) 2 $130,566.00
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau 2 $165,351.00
National Capital Planning Commission 1 $131,560.00
Office of National Drug Control Policy 1 $124,428.00
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board 1 $201,000.00
Armed Forces Retirement Home 1 $130,698.00
U.S. International Trade Commission 1 $172,500.00
St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation 1 $91,556.00
Pipeline/Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1 $138,866.00
1 $130,698.00
Department of Veterans Affairs 1 $159,286.00
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Finance 1 $93,907.00
1 $151,118.00
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Service 1 $134,782.00
Office of Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs 1 $127,364.00
National Assessment Governing Board 1 $148,932.00
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service 1 $145,700.00
Office of Special Counsel 1 $163,345.00
Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council 1 $104,429.00
Election Assistance Commission 1 $75,750.00
Office of Inspector General (General Services Administration) 1 $172,500.00
Offices of the Regional Administrators 1 $124,428.00
Science and Technology Directorate 1 $159,286.00
Office of Senior Coordinator for New York/New Jersey 1 $153,478.00
Office of Senior Coordinator for Mid-Atlantic 1 $150,921.00
Office of Senior Coordinator for Midwest 1 $120,755.00
Office of Senior Coordinator for Northwest/Alaska 1 $132,458.00
Office of the Chief Human Capital Office 1 $110,749.00
Office of Field Policy and Management 1 $143,489.00
Office of Healthy Homes & Lead Hazard Control 1 $174,000.00
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs 1 $147,334.00
Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency 1 $131,841.00
Office of the Inspector General (Department of Interior) 1 $172,500.00
1 $120,541.00
National Council on Disability 1 $103,690.00
National Labor Relations Board 1 $94,581.00
International Boundary & Water Commission: U.S. & Mexico 1 $87,822.00
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 1 $120,972.00
Federal Housing Finance Agency 1 $261,168.00
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 1 $151,118.00
Office of the Inspector General (Department of Homeland Security) 1 $122,530.00
National Protection and Programs Directorate 1 $117,516.00
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office 1 $122,530.00
Office of the Chief Economist 1 $149,784.00
Office of the Chief Information Officer (Department of Agriculture) 1 $143,048.00
Commission on Civil Rights 1 $112,146.00
National Credit Union Administration 1 $0.00

Public Affairs Worker Pay Distribution

The average pay for a Public Affairs Worker is $112,302.26. The highest paid Public Affairs Worker made $261,168 in 2021.

Common Public Affairs Worker Payscales

Payscale Number of Public Affairs Employees
GS - General Schedule 3,536
IM - Employees Holding Incident Management Positions And Appointed And Compensated Under Section 306(b)(1) 113
IC - Employees Holding Incident Management Cadre Of On-call Response/recovery Employees(core)positions 96
IT - Employees Appointed And Compensated Under Section 306(b)(1) Of The Robert T Stafford Disaster Relief 64
ZA - Administrative 47
SV - Transportation Security Administration Employees Other Than Executives 38
AD - Administratively Determined Rates, Not Elsewhere Specified 24
IR - Internal Revenue Service Broadband Classification And Pay System Positions Only 24
GG - Grades Similar To General Schedule 16
FV - Federal Aviation Administration Core Compensation Plan 16
ES - Senior Executive Service 11
FP - Foreign Service Personnel 11
CN - Bureau Of Consumer Financial Protect(cfpb) Independent Agcy Within The Fed Res Syst(use By Cfpb Only) 10
NQ - Employees In The National Nuclear Secuirty Administration's Professional, Technical, And Admin Career Path 9
EN - National Nuclear Security Administration Excepted Service Only 7
CG - Corporate Graded 6
NB - Office Of The Comptroller Of The Currency Only 6
SK - Non-supervisorty Postions Employed By The Securities And Exchange Commission (sec) And Formerly Under Gs Pay 6
NY - All Other Positions In The Corporation For National And Community Service, P.l. 103-82, Subtitle G, Section 3
VH - Professional, Administrative, And Managerial 2
CT - Commodity Futures Trading Commission Positions Previously Defined Under Pay Plan Codes Ad, Es, Gm, And Gs 2
PG - Printing Office Grades 2
SL - Senior Level Positions 2
VC - Canteen Service 1
SN - Senior Level System 1
SW - Transportation Security Administration Executives 1
LL - Executives At The Federal Housing Finance Agency 1
CU - Credit Union Employees 1
GM - Employees Covered By The Performance Management And Recognition System (pmrs) Termination Provisions 1

Starting Paygrade: $28,921.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-4, Step 1
Maximum Paygrade: $152,771.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-15, Step 10
Category: Administrative and Management
Occupation Family: 1000 INFORMATION AND ARTS GROUP

Other Jobs at the GS-4 Paygrade

GS-4 is the starting paygrade for Public Affairs jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the GS-4 paygrade.

Occupation Occupation Category Starting Paygrade Maximum Paygrade
Construction Control TechnicalTechnical and Medical SupportGS-1GS-9
Medical Records AdministrationAdministrative and ManagementGS-4GS-15
Language ClericalClerical and Administrative SupportGS-1GS-9
Quality AssuranceAdministrative and ManagementGS-4GS-15
Audiovisual ProductionAdministrative and ManagementGS-4GS-15

Average Public Affairs Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021

In 2004, the average pay for a Public Affairs Worker was $80,179. Since then, the average pay has increased to $112,302 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 1035.

** This Document Provided By www.FederalPay.org - The Civil Employee's Resource **
Source: www.federalpay.org/employees/occupations/public-affairs