For 2024, the General Schedule (GS) 15 pay scale typically starts at $123,041 for Step 1 and goes up to $127,142 for Step 2.
USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development), like many other U.S. federal agencies, primarily utilizes the General Schedule (GS) pay system for its white-collar employees. The GS pay scale determines the base salary for a wide range of positions across the federal government, with variations based on grade level, step within that grade, and the geographical locality of the position.
Understanding the GS 15 Pay Scale
The General Schedule (GS) system has 15 grades (GS-1 to GS-15), with each grade having 10 steps. Higher grades and steps correspond to higher pay. GS-15 represents one of the highest non-senior executive service (SES) pay grades within the federal government.
Here is a breakdown of the 2024 General Schedule (GS) Grade 15 base pay, as applicable to USAID positions:
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | $123,041 | $127,142 |
It's important to note that these figures represent the base pay and do not include locality adjustments. Locality pay is an additional percentage added to the base pay, varying by geographic area, to account for differences in the cost of living. Therefore, the actual take-home pay for a GS-15 employee at USAID will be higher depending on their duty station (e.g., Washington D.C., various overseas posts).
Key Aspects of the GS Pay System
- Grade Levels: Represent the level of responsibility, complexity, and qualifications required for a position.
- Steps: Each grade has 10 steps. Employees typically advance one step annually for the first few years based on satisfactory performance, leading to a pay raise.
- Locality Pay: An essential component of the GS pay system, locality pay is added to the base salary to adjust for cost-of-living differences across various geographic areas within the United States. While the base GS scale is uniform nationwide, the locality pay component ensures that federal salaries are competitive with local private sector wages.
- Overseas Positions: For USAID positions overseas, the pay structure might also include additional allowances and benefits (e.g., housing, cost-of-living allowances) that are not part of the standard GS base or locality pay, designed to compensate for the unique challenges and costs associated with international assignments.
For more detailed information on the General Schedule pay scales, you can refer to resources like Federal Jobs.
