Calling all Feds Pay Grade Scale - How to decrypt?

chuckzito

I'm applying for a job at the Navy for IT and I need to choose which pay grade I want to apply for. I tried to google but it is so confusing. The only thing I think I figured out is that GS7 is 4 year college degree and GS9 is 4 year degree with year or two expierence? Please correct me if wrong. But I did not read about the GS-2210 part? What about the others below? Any good resources to decrypt all this??

DP-2210 -III, IV
DS-2210-II, III
GS-2210-09, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
NH-2210-II, III, IV
NO-2210-II, III, III, IV, IV, V, V
NT-2210-II, III, III, IV, IV, V, V, VI, VI
YA-2210-1, 2, 3
YC-2210-1, 2, 3

Thanks,
Chuck

the_Grinch

GS-5 is a four year degree, GS-7 is a Masters Degree or 3.0 in your BA/BS, GS-9 or above you need experience. Some don't require a four year degree for GS-5, they may take experience. I came in as a GS-5 in Immigration and Customs Enforcement with a combination of college credits and job experience. Two full years of work experience can get you a GS-5 grade, but it depends on the requirement. USAJobs always post the requirements to obtain a grade level. Don't know about the Navy grades....

Kasor

First thing being IT Prof and the different that you get hire or not is all about what you can do for the job.

If you know how to do a search on internet, then you should know that everything from DoD (non classified) can be find on the internet. Here is the website that will resolve all your problem no matter what field that you are applying.

NSPS Conversion Calculator

carboncopy

the_Grinch wrote: »

GS-5 is a four year degree, GS-7 is a Masters Degree or 3.0 in your BA/BS, GS-9 or above you need experience.

I know a few GS12/13 that have never been to college. It all depends how badly they need people.

carboncopy

chuckzito wrote: »

I'm applying for a job at the Navy for IT and I need to choose which pay grade I want to apply for. I tried to google but it is so confusing. The only thing I think I figured out is that GS7 is 4 year college degree and GS9 is 4 year degree with year or two expierence? Please correct me if wrong. But I did not read about the GS-2210 part? What about the others below? Any good resources to decrypt all this??

DP-2210 -III, IV
DS-2210-II, III
GS-2210-09, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
NH-2210-II, III, IV
NO-2210-II, III, III, IV, IV, V, V
NT-2210-II, III, III, IV, IV, V, V, VI, VI
YA-2210-1, 2, 3
YC-2210-1, 2, 3

Thanks,
Chuck

GS-2210: Information Technology Management Series
The Information Technology Management Series, GS-2210, has replaced the GS-334, Computer Specialist Series. This standard covers GS-2210 positions and any remaining GS-334 positions.

brandon1109

carboncopy wrote: »

I know a few GS12/13 that have never been to college. It all depends how badly they need people.

I would say it is more who you know than what you know in the GS system.....buddy system


also the YC 2210 1 2 3 is upper managment like GS 12 13 15 level.....

the_Grinch

Fair enough, but I'd say that those people most likely do have a ton of experience. A lot of Federal jobs take the experience over formal schooling. Case in point when I was with ICE one guy at my office had an offer from FPS to be a GS-9 or GS-11. He had an associates, ran his own security/fire system based company, and had been a paid/volunteer fire chief. But you are correct, once you hit the GS-11 grade then your promotions depend on who you know and who likes you.

ashb

I know this is an old post, but here's a chart that shows how most of those pay grades compare.

https://chart.donhr.navy.mil/myresume/ResumeHelp.asp?HelpID=18

7lowe

I must've applied for the same job. LOL I just checked them all since I want to be considered for any and everything. :P

7

pipemajor

I just posted to a 2210-12 position (GS-12). I spent 5 years active duty and worked with many civil servants. I was an O-3 grade which I considered equivalent to a GS-12. For entry as O-1 (2nd Lt or Ensign) you needed a 4 year degree and no experience (my guesstimate of a GS-09 equivalent level). We had GS-12s coming in with a BSEE and no experience as direct hires but there was a big demand for that degree. I knew some GS/GM-14 and higher types who were PhD calibre. I think all SES (Senior Executive Service) required doctorates.

I'm confused as well about current education requirements since the job descriptions say GS-9 and above require equivalent of PhD. That's a bit disconcerting since I have 30 years experience and a masters degree and am pretty much shooting blanks with the few federal positions I've applied for. We'll have a fed employment rep coming to visit our workforce center week after next (I'm currently laid off status).

I will have to admit back in '03 (my previous layoff period) I applied for an IT Director (GS-14) position with Army Corps of Engineers. Eight weeks went by and I was offered a good civilian sector position, then got a notification that I had been selected to interview for the ACE position. Some major general from down south would fly in to interview me and the other candidates. I thought about it then respectfully withdrew from consideration. That good civilian job lasted 2.5 years before the company was sold and I was again out on the street.

I can post some followup information in a few weeks after meeting the fed rep.

As a veteran, I "could" qualify for 5pts veteran's preference consideration. Federal jobs are a bit more finicky in this regard since my service dates are post Vietnam and pre-Gulf war. I will likely get zero preference. Local city, county and state positions don't seem to have that restriction.

7lowe

Anybody know an average time frame for applying for these federal jobs? I mean I only started applying about 3 weeks ago so what is the min time I should expect to hear something or the max time at which I should just give up and assume I wasn't selected?

7

the_Grinch

It depends on a couple of things. When was the posting ended? As in, it was good from this date to this date. If you applied before the posting had ended it may take some time. Second, what are the requirements for the position? There's the application and usually a bunch of paperwork they need to have sent in. Finally, how badly do they need someone? For ICE it took me a little over a year from testing to hire date. I applied for an IT position with the VA and it took them about 3 days to say I wasn't qualified. Some positions I never heard back from (some due to a lack a paperwork, some because other people were more qualified). Overall, I'd say expect 2 week to a month and a half before being contacted.

pipemajor

When I was contacted for my interview, 90 days had elapsed since I had made my application. They're the government after all...

jonathag

Sorry everyone, all of this info is so crappin confusing.

I have the exact same problem as the op and don't know what to pick.

I have a diploma from a technical school, an mcp, an mcsa in 2000 and 2003 server, and 13 years of experience in the IT industry.

So, what the heck should I pick out of these????

DP2210

III
IV

DS2210

II
III

GS2210

09
11
12
13
14
15

NH2210

II
III
IV

NT2210

II
III
IV
V
VI

YA2210

2
3

YC2210

2
3



Stupid government crap, they have to make everything so friggin hard..

AKAcornman

Give this a try <http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/Docs/Training/DTA_App_M.pdf> it has a good break down

If your in IT and have a good background and certs for server (security+ MCITP) start as GS-11/2210 same for networks with Cisco and/or broadcom. IA and desktop Gs-07 or 09 2210. A GS-12 is going to be a product specialist with supervisory experience and that role is going away and will simply be a supervisor. GET YOUR CERTS!! Good Luck

CharlestonGuy2020

chuckzito wrote: »

I'm applying for a job at the Navy for IT and I need to choose which pay grade I want to apply for. I tried to google but it is so confusing. The only thing I think I figured out is that GS7 is 4 year college degree and GS9 is 4 year degree with year or two expierence? Please correct me if wrong. But I did not read about the GS-2210 part? What about the others below? Any good resources to decrypt all this??

DP-2210 -III, IV
DS-2210-II, III
GS-2210-09, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
NH-2210-II, III, IV
NO-2210-II, III, III, IV, IV, V, V
NT-2210-II, III, III, IV, IV, V, V, VI, VI
YA-2210-1, 2, 3
YC-2210-1, 2, 3

Thanks,
Chuck

The first two letters represent the organization's "pay plan code" and are determined by the "Data, Analysis & Documentation" data standards office within the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).


After the dash "-" delimiter, the 4 digit code referes to the occupational series that are sometimes also referenced by their occupational group. For instance the Computer Science (1550) series belongs to the "Mathematics and Statistics Group" and Information Technology Management (2210) series belongs to the Information Technology Group (2200) group.


The last set of numbers refers to the grade, level class, rank or pay band which is an indicator of hierarchical relationships among positions covered by the same pay plan or system. Organizations don't always follow the same standard for this, however all government organizations are required by law to post information pertaining to the breakdown of this publicly. The Federal Register as well as the U.S. Government Publishing Office (hosting site for Fed Reg) is a great place to source this type of information if your unable to locate it with a simple Google Search. Pro tip, both of these sites are indexed heavily by Google so just narrow your search down by adding "site:gpo.gov" to your search and you'll find what you're looking for. It's also better to narrow your search to the root actual organization that is using the pay plan code before searching for the grade (salary) band.

Reference URL list:

Pay Plan Code standards
https://dw.opm.gov/datastandards/referenceData/1497/current?category=&q=pay+plan


Position Classification Standards for White Collar Work
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/classifying-general-schedule-positions/#url=Standards


Grade, level class, rank or pay band definition
https://dw.opm.gov/datastandards/dataStandard/1463?category=&q=pay+plan


U.S. Government Publising Office
https://www.gpo.gov


U.S. Federal Regster
https://www.federalregister.gov

TechGromit

the_Grinch wrote: »

GS-5 is a four year degree, GS-7 is a Masters Degree or 3.0 in your BA/BS, GS-9 or above you need experience.

When they posted positions at the FAA when I was there, the lowest grade was GS-09, which paid around 50k a year, next highest level was a GS11 paid around 70k, GS12 80 to 90k and a GS13 was a supervisors level. Usually GS13 level required a four year college degree. Unfortunately I didn't land one of those positions, but any contractor that was there doing the job for more than 2 years and applied did.

Khaos1911

I think IT/Cyber aren't necessarily tied to these "standards" per say. I spent a year as a fed contractor, got on as a 2210-13, 5 months later got a 2210-14 doing the exact same job. Right place, right time? Maybe, but I know I wasn't the only one in my agency that got promoted this way. My advice, don't get discouraged by what all those sites say you need to have to get the level that you desire. Tighten up resume, apply, and sell your skills when you interview.

EANx

There are a number of agencies and professions that have their own pay-scale as well as potential bonuses. In addition to the miltary and GS, you have Foreign Service as well as certain law enforcement professionals (and others).

The GS scale goes from 1-15 in grade, the higher the grade, the more authority you have. Beyond 15, there's Senior Executive Service (the civilian gov't version of generals). Within 1-15, there are "steps", these represent pay bumps for experience. You typically get a "step increase" every year from step 1-4, a step increase every other year from 5-7 and every third year from 8-10.

Then there are ladders that say that after "X" time, the person doing this job moves from one GS grade to another. It's often used to start someone at say GS-12 and after a year, rather than giving them a small step increase, it gives them a larger bump to GS-13. This might be what @Khaos1911 is referring to.

A GS-13 might be a first-line supervisor or it could be a talented tech. Within IT, 14s and higher tend to be supervisors with 15s (or their equivalent) supervising up to 100+ people (including contractors). 15 is also used for non-supervisory positions like those that require PhDs.

Another thing to consider / ask about: Many agencies offer a bonus for certain certifications achieved after the date of employment. Some do 15%, some do 25%.