FederalPay.org
Utility Systems Operator - Federal Salaries of 2022
Pay Rates for "Utility Systems Operator"
How much does an Utility Systems Operator in the federal government get paid? $64,518.42* *Based on the 2022 average.Utility Systems Operator was the 311th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2022, with 236 employed. The most common payscale was the nonsupervisory pay schedules - federal wage system payscale.
In 2022, the Veterans Health Administration hired the most employees titled Utility Systems Operating, with an average salary of $64,137.
Government Utility Systems Operating jobs are classified under the Federal Wage Schedule, Wage Grade (FWS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Utility Systems Operating job is FWS-9, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is FWS-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 standard covers nonsupervisory work concerned primarily with operating two or more utility systems such as boiler plants, air conditioning, wastewater treatment, water treatment, and natural gas distribution systems for large buildings or small complexes, on a continuing basis. Operators must be familiar with and have the abilities to adjust and regulate a variety of automatic or manually controlled auxiliary equipment to insure maximum operating efficiency of the systems. This standard covers those jobs that entail operation of two or more utility systems, evaluated at the same grade level, when no single skill or knowledge of a single utility is predominant for recruitment, promotion, reduction-in-force, paysetting, and other personnel processes.
Agencies that have hired an Utility Systems Operator
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Health Administration | 158 | $64,137.26 |
| National Park Service | 52 | $63,531.17 |
| Indian Health Service | 9 | $66,691.33 |
| Federal Emergency Management Agency | 6 | $77,845.00 |
| Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers | 5 | $67,727.20 |
| Forest Service | 3 | $56,683.00 |
| National Cemetery Administration | 2 | $69,570.50 |
| Agricultural Research Service | 1 | $73,922.00 |
Utility Systems Operator Pay Distribution
The average pay for an Utility Systems Operator is $64,518.42. The highest paid Utility Systems Operator made $108,879 in 2022.
Common Utility Systems Operator Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Utility Systems Operating Employees |
|---|---|
| WG - Nonsupervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 193 |
| WS - Supervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 29 |
| WL - Leader Pay Schedule - Federal Wage System | 8 |
| XA - Special Overlap Area Rate Schedule - Nonsupervisory - Federal Wage System | 4 |
| BB - Nonsupervisory - Negotiated Pay Employees | 2 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $11.13 to $30.53 / hour at paygrade FWS-9 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $11.13 to $30.53 / hour at paygrade FWS-9 |
| Occupation Family: | INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT OPERATION FAMILY |
Other Jobs at the FWS-9 Paygrade
FWS-9 is the starting paygrade for Utility Systems Operating jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the FWS-9 paygrade.
| Occupation | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Equipment Mechanic | FWS-8 | FWS-10 |
| Wastewater Treatment Plant Operating | FWS-7 | FWS-9 |
| Electrician | FWS-8 | FWS-11 |
| High Voltage Electrician | FWS-8 | FWS-10 |
| Carpentry | FWS-7 | FWS-9 |
Average Utility Systems Operating Pay Trend from 2004 to 2022
In 2004, the average pay for an Utility Systems Operator was $48,310. Since then, the average pay has increased to $64,518 in 2022.
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 5406.