WhatTheyArePaid

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this free?

Yes. No account, no paywall, no fees. Always free.

Where does the data come from?

All data comes from official federal employment records — the authoritative source for federal workforce statistics.

Does this include my specific salary?

No. We show aggregate averages by agency and occupation. We do not display individual employee names or personal salary information.

How often is the data updated?

We refresh data periodically. Federal salary tables are typically updated annually. For the most current figures, verify with the employing agency.

What does the grade breakdown mean?

Most federal employees are on the General Schedule (GS) pay system, with grades from GS-1 (entry level) to GS-15 (senior professional). Each grade has multiple steps with different pay rates. We show the average salary within each grade level.

What is the General Schedule?

The GS pay system is the primary pay scale for white-collar federal employees. It has 15 grade levels and 10 steps per grade. Locality pay adjustments are added on top of base GS rates and vary by geographic area.

Why does the salary look lower than what I've seen posted?

We display base salary from employment records. Total compensation includes locality pay adjustments, which can be substantial — 20% or more in high-cost areas like Washington DC or San Francisco.

Do you store my searches?

No. We don't log, store, or share your search queries.