FederalPay.org
FederalPay.org
Top 100 Federal Occupations in 2015
This table shows the top 100 most well-paid occupations in the federal government in 2015, ranked by average pay. In 2015, the number one most well-paid job was "Medical Officer," with an average yearly pay of $206,180. The runner-up job, "Securities Compliance Examining," follows with an average of $176,189, which is a 14.55% decrease.
| Rank | Occupation Title | Average Pay | Highest Paid Individual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical Officer | $206,179.59 | $400,000 |
| 2 | Securities Compliance Examiner | $176,189.36 | $240,700 |
| 3 | Patent Attorney | $166,659.04 | $210,500 |
| 4 | Patent Administrator | $162,919.64 | $183,300 |
| 5 | Administrative Law Judge | $160,045.49 | $168,700 |
| 6 | Nurse Anesthetist (title 38) | $158,706.41 | $203,700 |
| 7 | Dental Officer | $156,440.00 | $321,833 |
| 8 | Technical Systems Program Manager | $146,315.22 | $193,996 |
| 9 | General Mathematican/Statistician | $144,268.23 | $210,200 |
| 10 | Chief Engineer | $141,903.30 | $160,636 |
| 11 | Astronomy and Space Scientist | $139,631.49 | $183,300 |
| 12 | Metallurgist | $138,035.28 | $182,532 |
| 13 | Patent Adviser | $136,614.91 | $158,700 |
| 14 | General Attorney | $135,943.24 | $279,766 |
| 15 | Program Manager | $135,594.30 | $385,000 |
| 16 | Nuclear Engineer | $133,283.03 | $219,960 |
| 17 | Mathematician | $132,846.68 | $244,430 |
| 18 | Fish and Wildlife Administrator | $131,714.07 | $247,455 |
| 19 | Physicist | $131,646.67 | $250,000 |
| 20 | Patent Classifying | $130,429.68 | $160,727 |
| 21 | Financial Manager | $129,109.68 | $258,270 |
| 22 | Foreign Affairs Personnel | $128,916.43 | $185,800 |
| 23 | Health System Administrator | $126,538.28 | $183,300 |
| 24 | Financial Analyst | $126,092.95 | $269,394 |
| 25 | Air Traffic Controller | $125,687.78 | $192,651 |
| 26 | General Engineer | $125,558.93 | $316,850 |
| 27 | Financial Institution Examiner | $125,504.27 | $279,766 |
| 28 | Computer Scientist | $125,058.81 | $212,000 |
| 29 | Aerospace Engineer | $124,390.55 | $187,448 |
| 30 | Pharmacologist | $123,540.59 | $245,192 |
| 31 | Foreign Agricultural Affairs Personnel | $123,315.93 | $183,300 |
| 32 | Photographic Technology | $123,153.27 | $165,354 |
| 33 | Electronics Engineer | $122,077.99 | $187,987 |
| 34 | Mediator | $122,033.53 | $168,700 |
| 35 | Zoologist | $121,864.76 | $166,683 |
| 36 | Computer Engineer | $121,394.46 | $201,369 |
| 37 | Actuarial Scientist | $121,346.44 | $183,550 |
| 38 | Transportation Industry Analyst | $118,067.70 | $159,700 |
| 39 | General Physical Scientist | $117,718.74 | $240,300 |
| 40 | Materials Engineer | $117,587.76 | $168,700 |
| 41 | Cryptanalyst | $117,515.71 | $152,261 |
| 42 | Plant Physiologist | $117,255.01 | $192,671 |
| 43 | Toxicologist | $117,122.06 | $250,000 |
| 44 | Oceanographer | $117,031.86 | $183,300 |
| 45 | Air Safety Investigator | $116,543.93 | $158,700 |
| 46 | Economist | $116,378.01 | $257,500 |
| 47 | Geophysicist | $116,341.94 | $171,175 |
| 48 | Naval Architect | $116,254.24 | $158,700 |
| 49 | Operations Researcher | $116,068.80 | $187,058 |
| 50 | Health Physicist | $116,038.16 | $168,700 |
| 51 | Geodesist | $115,582.65 | $158,700 |
| 52 | Mathematical Statistician | $115,220.95 | $262,731 |
| 53 | Fire Protection Engineer | $115,193.45 | $161,413 |
| 54 | Marine Survey Technician | $114,918.26 | $151,799 |
| 55 | Patent Examiner | $114,752.58 | $175,829 |
| 56 | Chemical Engineer | $114,328.49 | $225,000 |
| 57 | Employee Benefits Lawyer | $114,092.41 | $183,300 |
| 58 | Pharmacist | $113,962.96 | $204,978 |
| 59 | Civil Rights Analyst | $113,574.75 | $162,950 |
| 60 | Document Analyst | $113,384.56 | $159,399 |
| 61 | International Relations Personnel | $112,886.85 | $181,716 |
| 62 | Aviation Safety Personnel | $112,142.83 | $185,800 |
| 63 | Education Researcher | $112,094.29 | $183,800 |
| 64 | Insurance Examiner | $111,663.47 | $158,700 |
| 65 | Food Technologist | $111,662.17 | $229,443 |
| 66 | Sociologist | $111,651.29 | $158,700 |
| 67 | Physiologist | $111,648.08 | $268,324 |
| 68 | Environmental Engineer | $111,230.54 | $201,980 |
| 69 | International Cooperation Personnel | $110,951.71 | $158,700 |
| 70 | Credit Union Examiner | $110,930.64 | $260,000 |
| 71 | Labor-Management Relations Examiner | $110,344.36 | $158,700 |
| 72 | Environmental Protection Specialist | $109,706.84 | $185,800 |
| 73 | Chemist | $109,577.58 | $268,324 |
| 74 | Industrial Specialist | $108,751.93 | $175,658 |
| 75 | Plant Pathologist | $108,662.15 | $202,526 |
| 76 | Geneticist | $108,626.62 | $250,000 |
| 77 | Accountant | $108,563.92 | $266,894 |
| 78 | Forest Products Technology Personnel | $108,228.90 | $152,230 |
| 79 | Health Insurance Administrator | $108,012.20 | $164,122 |
| 80 | Aircraft Operator | $107,598.24 | $179,798 |
| 81 | Electrical Engineer | $107,330.68 | $203,700 |
| 82 | Podiatrist | $106,975.27 | $170,623 |
| 83 | Architect | $106,815.27 | $202,636 |
| 84 | Mechanical Engineer | $106,791.19 | $183,300 |
| 85 | Intaglio Press Operator | $106,571.84 | $148,967 |
| 86 | Trade Specialist | $106,548.61 | $159,700 |
| 87 | Clothing Designer | $106,450.67 | $118,609 |
| 88 | Education Programmer | $105,668.71 | $199,700 |
| 89 | Navigational Information Personnel | $105,257.39 | $174,964 |
| 90 | Information Technology Manager | $105,227.16 | $264,171 |
| 91 | Highway Safety Personnel | $105,048.16 | $158,700 |
| 92 | Animal Scientist | $104,937.37 | $161,453 |
| 93 | Safety Engineer | $104,852.67 | $185,300 |
| 94 | Auditor | $104,820.64 | $262,500 |
| 95 | Design Patent Examier | $104,820.47 | $168,126 |
| 96 | Customs and Border Protection Interdiction Agent | $104,783.77 | $151,496 |
| 97 | Public Health Program Specialist | $104,408.04 | $204,000 |
| 98 | Criminal Investigator | $104,316.75 | $247,455 |
| 99 | Electrolytic Intaglio Platemaker | $104,307.38 | $135,071 |
| 100 | Microbiologist | $104,301.71 | $244,600 |
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.