Public Affairs Worker - Federal Salaries of 2014

Pay Rates for "Public Affairs Worker"

How much does a Public Affairs Worker in the federal government get paid? $99,624.69* *Based on the 2014 average.

3,296 EMPLOYEES

$327.37M TOTAL SALARY

GS MOST COMMON PAYSCALE

Public Affairs Worker was the 104th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2014, with 3,296 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.

In 2014, the Forest Service hired the most employees titled Public Affairs, with an average salary of $80,213.

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
Forest Service	250	$80,212.89
Veterans Health Administration	230	$80,986.05
Environmental Protection Agency	173	$109,191.20
Internal Revenue Service	168	$110,477.29
Department of State	165	$107,257.38
Social Security Administration	144	$100,335.88
Small Business Administration	139	$73,756.83
Bureau of Land Management	104	$87,051.12
Natural Resources Conservation Service	87	$82,274.55
Department of Energy	83	$101,649.52
Federal Emergency Management Agency	81	$97,586.33
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	80	$95,499.49
National Institutes of Health	79	$111,095.73
Federal Bureau of Investigation	62	$96,406.26
Food and Drug Administration	60	$109,518.58
National Park Service	54	$90,822.56
Rural Housing Service	43	$79,616.44
Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys and the Office of U.s Attorneys	39	$90,150.21
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs	38	$110,471.63
Office Secretary Health and Human Services	35	$97,501.26
Food and Nutrition Service	34	$101,542.59
Customs and Border Protection	31	$109,097.81
Immigration and Customs Enforcement	29	$108,807.10
Bureau of Reclamation	28	$87,986.86
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration	28	$123,222.36
Smithsonian Institution (Exchange Sep Boards of Trust)	25	$86,446.24
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention	24	$121,010.25
Goddard Space Flight Center	23	$111,379.09
Food Safety and Inspection Service	22	$92,900.45
Peace Corps	21	$63,137.48
Health Resources and Services Administration	20	$115,883.25
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center	20	$104,055.70
John F. Kennedy Space Center	20	$84,636.65
Office of Public Affairs	20	$113,943.00
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services	19	$108,280.95
Bureau of the Census	19	$98,660.37
Office of Communications and Outreach	18	$113,330.22
Federal Aviation Administration	18	$147,919.83
Federal Election Commission	18	$95,598.89
Transportation Security Administration	18	$113,950.44
Bureau of Engraving and Printing	17	$102,660.88
Office of Communications and Marketing	17	$106,724.29
Citizenship and Immigration Services	17	$123,177.24
U.S. Coast Guard	17	$105,646.24
Geological Survey	15	$101,883.20
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service	15	$98,525.00
Headquarters, Nasa	14	$132,627.29
Nuclear Regulatory Commission	14	$127,591.29
Drug Enforcement Administration	14	$123,314.36
U.S. Mint	14	$95,261.93
National Science Foundation	13	$116,458.77
Office of Communications (Department of Agriculture)	13	$108,915.69
Economic Research Service	13	$122,631.31
National Institute of Standards and Technology	13	$117,753.92
Department of Homeland Security Headquarters	12	$108,823.83
Office of the Secretary of the Interior	12	$122,437.75
National Archives and Records Administration	12	$82,921.33
Offices, Boards and Divisions	11	$118,316.09
Agricultural Research Service	11	$93,341.64
National Protection and Programs Directorate	10	$119,687.20
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management	10	$124,119.30
John Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field	9	$102,820.78
Office of Personnel Management	9	$100,676.22
U.S. Agency for International Development	9	$112,576.00
Consumer Product Safety Commission	9	$109,243.00
National Cemetery Administration	9	$97,361.33
Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement	8	$100,150.38
Farm Service Agency	8	$100,032.13
Langley Research Center	8	$106,973.63
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center	8	$89,227.75
Office of Justice Programs	8	$111,725.00
Office of Assistant Secretary Public & Intergovernmental Affairs	8	$105,554.63
Veterans Benefits Administration	8	$104,953.88
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Service Administration	7	$117,913.29
Agricultural Marketing Service	7	$110,627.43
National Telecommunications and Information Administration	7	$95,542.29
Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System	7	$113,738.71
U.S. Marshals Service	7	$115,102.71
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection	7	$0.00
Office of Comptroller of Currency	7	$147,681.29
Federal Trade Commission	6	$127,491.17
Indian Health Service	6	$93,149.00
Administration for Children and Families	6	$107,686.33
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission	6	$137,591.83
Export-Import Bank of the United States	6	$124,391.50
Federal Communications Commission	6	$118,488.33
Risk Management Agency	6	$89,824.00
Foreign Agricultural Service	6	$112,379.50
Office of Secretary of Transportation	6	$105,682.50
Federal Railroad Administration	6	$89,805.67
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration	6	$100,386.83
National Transportation Safety Board	5	$131,174.80
Federal Highway Administration	5	$127,379.60
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers	5	$90,714.40
National Institute of Food & Agriculture	5	$111,719.60
National Endowment for the Arts	5	$105,904.40
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation	5	$103,049.20
Office of the Secretary (Department of Commerce)	5	$127,150.40
International Trade Administration	5	$93,640.80
Patent and Trademark Office	5	$94,870.40
Commodity Futures Trading Commission	5	$148,702.40
Ames Research Center	5	$100,099.20
John C. Stennis Space Center	5	$96,337.80
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives	4	$113,215.00
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission	4	$88,448.25
National Gallery of Art	4	$118,633.50
Selective Service System	4	$131,797.75
Maritime Administration	4	$92,578.50
Office of Inspector General (Department of Health and Human Services)	4	$99,968.25
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs	4	$108,277.25
Broadcasting Board of Governors	4	$94,391.25
National Endowment for the Humanities	4	$119,431.75
Economic Development Administration	4	$117,264.50
Minority Business Development Agency	4	$101,159.25
Bureau of Economic Analysis	3	$92,539.33
National Credit Union Administration	3	$139,809.67
Office of National Drug Control Policy	3	$99,444.33
Railroad Retirement Board	3	$99,499.00
Pipeline/Hazardous Materials Safety Administration	3	$114,801.33
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation	3	$170,344.00
International-American Foundation	3	$107,931.67
Overseas Private Investment Corporation	3	$118,601.67
Election Assistance Commission	3	$123,432.33
Administration for Community Living	3	$108,711.00
Millennium Challenge Corporation	3	$124,694.00
National Labor Relations Board	3	$115,364.33
Dryden Flight Research Center	3	$113,109.00
Corporation for National and Community Service	2	$71,546.50
Government Printing Office	2	$122,381.50
Trade and Development Agency	2	$82,772.50
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service	2	$129,507.00
Office of the Director	2	$154,240.00
National Agricultural Statistics Service	2	$96,302.00
Institute of Museum and Library Services	2	$71,876.50
Armed Forces Retirement Home	2	$99,453.00
Securities and Exchange Commission	2	$137,199.50
Office of the Secretary, Research and Technology	2	$135,223.00
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration	2	$118,671.50
Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program	2	$123,837.00
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality	2	$84,283.00
U.S. Secret Service	2	$105,155.50
Office of the Inspector General (Department of Homeland Security)	2	$92,712.50
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network	2	$129,851.50
Bureau of the Fiscal Service	2	$124,249.50
Office of Inspector General for Tax Administration	2	$144,164.50
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology	2	$120,010.00
Office of Senior Coordinator for New York/New Jersey	2	$113,782.00
Office of Senior Coordinator for Mid-Atlantic	2	$118,448.00
Office of Senior Coordinator for Southeast/Caribbean	2	$122,065.50
Office of Senior Coordinator for Southwest	2	$140,998.50
Science and Technology Directorate	1	$123,970.00
Office of Senior Coordinator for New England	1	$128,857.00
Office of Senior Coordinator for Great Plains	1	$104,166.00
Office of Senior Coordinator for Rocky Mountains	1	$108,899.00
Office of Senior Coordinator for Pacific/Hawaii	1	$127,172.00
Office of Senior Coordinator for Northwest/Alaska	1	$157,600.00
Office of Inspector General (Department of Housing and Urban Development)	1	$145,827.00
Office of Healthy Homes & Lead Hazard Control	1	$149,993.00
Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement	1	$101,914.00
Presidio Trust	1	$117,800.00
Valles Caldera Trust	1	$94,787.00
International Joint Commission: U.S. & Canada	1	$149,993.00
Committee for Purchase from People Blind or Severely Disabled	1	$88,224.00
Office of Inspector General (Federal Housing Finance Agency)	1	$177,040.00
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation	1	$134,595.00
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board	1	$178,631.00
U.S. International Trade Commission	1	$157,100.00
St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation	1	$98,759.00
Federal Transit Administration	1	$137,494.00
Surface Transportation Board	1	$138,136.00
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau	1	$142,660.00
Departmental Offices	1	$63,091.00
U.S. Trustee Program	1	$157,100.00
Executive Office for Immigration Review	1	$127,512.00
Denali Commission	1	$78,437.00
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Service	1	$135,285.00
National Assessment Governing Board	1	$113,846.00
Farm Credit Administration	1	$194,930.00
National Council on Disability	1	$98,916.00
National Capital Planning Commission	1	$101,914.00
Veteran Employment Services Office	1	$116,887.00
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Logistics	1	$110,906.00
Deputy Assistant Secretary Intergovernmental Affairs	1	$133,328.00
Administrative Conference of the United States	1	$120,429.00
American Battle Monuments Commission	1	$155,500.00
Office of the Chief Economist	1	$127,512.00
Economics and Statistics Administration	1	$157,100.00
Bureau of Industry and Security	1	$116,901.00

Public Affairs Worker Pay Distribution

The average pay for a Public Affairs Worker is $99,624.69.

Common Public Affairs Worker Payscales

Payscale	Number of Public Affairs Employees
GS - General Schedule	3,071
ZA - Administrative	45
GG - Grades Similar To General Schedule	22
IR - Irs Broadband Class And Pay System Pos	21
FP - Foreign Service Personnel	21
FV - Faa Core Compensation Plan	18
SV - Trans Security Admin Emp Other Than Exec	17
ES - Senior Executive Service	14
AD - Administratively Determined Rates, Not E	12
NQ - Nnsa Professional, Technical, And Admin	7
GM - Emp Covered By Pmrs Termination Provisns	7
NB - Ofc Of Comptroller Of The Currency Only	7
CN - Bur Of (cfpb) An Indep Ag Within Frs	7
CT - Commodity Futures Trading Commission Pos	5
CU - Credit Union Employees	3
SL - Senior Level Positions	2
NY - All Other Positions In The Corporation	2
PG - Printing Office Grades	2
SK - Sec Emp Formerly Under Gs, Gm, And Ez	2
CG - Corporate Graded	2
EJ - Dept Of Energy Org Act Excepted Service	2
EL - Non-executive Positions At Fhfa	1
SW - Transportation Security Admin Executives	1
MC - Emp Of Millennium Challenge Corporation	1
ED - Expert (5 U.s.c. 3109)	1
SN - Senior Level System	1
VH - Professional, Admin., And Managerial	1
CM - Fdic Suprv And Mangr Pos Below Exec Lev	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 Technical	Technical and Medical Support	GS-1	GS-9
Medical Records Administration	Administrative and Management	GS-4	GS-15
Language Clerical	Clerical and Administrative Support	GS-1	GS-9
Quality Assurance	Administrative and Management	GS-4	GS-15
Audiovisual Production	Administrative and Management	GS-4	GS-15

Search for Public Affairs Jobs

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.