You found the GS-0343 Management and Program Analyst series on USAJOBS. You know the job looks like a fit. But before you spend hours tailoring a federal resume, you want to know the actual numbers. What does this series pay at GS-7? At GS-12? At GS-13 with locality? And how fast can you actually move up?

I spent years in federal service across six different career fields, and the 0343 series was one I watched closely because it overlaps with so many of the functions I worked in -- logistics, contracting, property management, environmental management. Management analysts touch every agency. The pay range is wide, and where you land on it depends on things most veterans never think to check before they apply.

This is the full breakdown of the 0343 pay scale for 2026 -- base pay by grade, locality adjustments, how promotions actually work, and what the salary trajectory looks like from entry level through senior positions. If you are trying to figure out whether this series is worth targeting, this answers that question with real numbers.

What Is the GS-0343 Series and Why Does It Pay Well?

The 0343 Management and Program Analysis series covers positions that evaluate, improve, and manage federal programs and operations. These are the people who analyze whether an agency program is working, recommend fixes, and track whether those fixes actually produce results. OPM classifies it under the administrative and management group, and it exists in virtually every federal agency.

What makes the 0343 series attractive from a pay standpoint is the grade range. Entry-level positions start at GS-5 or GS-7 depending on education and experience. But unlike some specialized series that cap out at GS-12, the 0343 series regularly has positions at GS-13, GS-14, and even GS-15. Senior management analysts at large agencies or in oversight roles can hit six figures without ever becoming a supervisor.

For veterans, this series is especially relevant because the analytical and organizational skills from military service translate directly. If you managed readiness reports, tracked maintenance programs, coordinated multi-unit operations, or evaluated training effectiveness -- that is 0343 work in federal language. The challenge is not whether you can do the job. The challenge is getting your GS-0343 federal resume to reflect that experience in terms the hiring panel recognizes.

What Does Each GS Grade Pay in the 0343 Series?

The 0343 series uses the standard General Schedule pay table. Here are the 2025 base pay figures (2026 tables typically release in January with the annual adjustment, but the structure stays the same). These are Step 1 base salaries before locality:

• GS-5: $33,906 -- Entry level with a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• GS-7: $38,317 -- One year of graduate education or Superior Academic Achievement, or one year of specialized experience at GS-5
• GS-9: $42,870 -- Master's degree or two years of graduate education, or one year at GS-7
• GS-11: $51,332 -- Doctoral-level education or one year of specialized experience at GS-9
• GS-12: $61,518 -- Full performance level for many 0343 positions. One year at GS-11
• GS-13: $73,150 -- Senior analyst, team lead, or program-level positions. One year at GS-12
• GS-14: $86,426 -- Division-level analysis, oversight, or specialized program evaluation
• GS-15: $101,676 -- Senior advisory or directorate-level management analysis

These base pay numbers look modest until you factor in locality. A GS-12 Step 1 in the DC metro area (which uses the "Rest of US" locality or the DC locality, depending on your exact location) jumps significantly. In the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington locality area, that GS-12 Step 1 goes from $61,518 base to roughly $80,000+. In San Francisco, it pushes past $84,000.

If you want a complete breakdown of how the General Schedule works across all series, including step increases and how Within-Grade Increases (WGIs) add up, check the federal GS pay scale veterans guide.

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How Does Locality Pay Change Your 0343 Salary?

Locality pay is where the real money shows up. The base GS table is just the starting point. OPM sets locality percentages for different geographic areas, and in 2025 those adjustments range from about 17.5% (Rest of US) to over 36% in high-cost areas like San Francisco, New York, and Washington DC.

Here is what a GS-13 Step 5 management analyst actually takes home in different locations:

• Washington-Baltimore-Arlington: ~$117,000
• San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose: ~$122,000
• New York-Newark-Jersey City: ~$119,000
• Houston-The Woodlands: ~$109,000
• Rest of US (non-locality area): ~$98,000

That is a $24,000 difference between the lowest and highest locality for the exact same grade and step. This matters when you are deciding where to apply. A GS-12 in DC might pay the same as a GS-13 in a Rest of US area, but the cost of living difference could make the lower-grade position the better financial move.

Veterans who want to understand the difference between Wage Grade and General Schedule systems -- especially if you are coming from a hands-on military job and deciding which federal path to take -- should read the WG vs GS pay comparison for veterans.

How Fast Can You Promote Through 0343 Grades?

Promotion speed in the 0343 series depends on two things: the position's promotion potential and whether you are in a career ladder.

Many 0343 positions are posted as career ladder positions -- GS-7/9/11/12 or GS-9/11/12 -- which means you start at the lower grade and promote annually (assuming satisfactory performance) until you hit the full performance level. A GS-7 target 12 career ladder gets you from $38,317 base to $61,518 base in about four years without competing for a new position.

Beyond the career ladder, promotions to GS-13 and above require competitive applications. You have to find and apply for an open GS-13 position, go through the full hiring process, and get selected. Some agencies have internal merit promotion programs that give current employees an advantage, but you still have to submit a tailored application.

The typical progression for a veteran entering at GS-9 looks like this:

Step increases add another layer. Within each grade, you move from Step 1 to Step 10 over time. Steps 1-3 come every year, Steps 4-6 every two years, and Steps 7-10 every three years. A GS-12 Step 10 earns $79,971 base -- over $18,000 more than a GS-12 Step 1. Factor in locality and that Step 10 GS-12 in DC is clearing $104,000+.

For veterans trying to figure out what GS level to apply for, the 0343 series is one where starting a grade lower in a career ladder position can be smarter than holding out for a higher-grade position with no promotion potential.

Which Agencies Hire the Most 0343 Management Analysts?

The 0343 series is one of the most common across the federal government. Almost every agency needs people who can evaluate programs, analyze operations, and recommend improvements. But some agencies hire significantly more than others, and the grade distribution varies.

The Department of Defense is the single largest employer of 0343 management analysts. Every military branch has civilian management analyst positions at installations, commands, and headquarters offices worldwide. The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Defense agencies like DCMA, DFAS, and DLA all have 0343 billets from GS-7 through GS-15.

Other heavy hitters include:

• Department of Veterans Affairs -- program analysts across VHA, VBA, and NCA evaluating benefits delivery and healthcare programs
• Department of Homeland Security -- management analysts at FEMA, CBP, TSA, and USCIS analyzing operational effectiveness
• Department of Health and Human Services -- program analysts evaluating CMS, CDC, and NIH programs
• General Services Administration -- management analysts focused on acquisition, property, and technology program evaluation
• Office of Management and Budget -- some of the highest-graded 0343 positions in government, with GS-14 and GS-15 budget and program analysts

Veterans with a security clearance have an additional advantage. DoD 0343 positions often require a Secret or Top Secret clearance, and having one already active cuts months off the hiring timeline. If you held a clearance during service, search for 0343 positions at defense agencies first -- the clearance requirement thins out the competition significantly.

What Qualifications Do You Need for Each 0343 Grade?

OPM sets the qualification standards for the 0343 series. The requirements combine education and experience, and veterans can use military experience to qualify at every grade level.

For GS-5, you need a bachelor's degree in any field or three years of general experience. For GS-7, you need one year of specialized experience at the GS-5 level, or a bachelor's with Superior Academic Achievement (3.0+ GPA), or one year of graduate education. For GS-9, it is one year of specialized experience at GS-7, or a master's degree or two years of graduate work.

At GS-11 and above, education alone does not qualify you (with rare exceptions for PhD holders at GS-11). You need one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade. This is where your military experience becomes the qualifying factor.

The key phrase in every 0343 job announcement is "specialized experience." For this series, that means experience analyzing programs or operations, evaluating effectiveness using data, recommending improvements, and presenting findings to leadership. Military experience doing any of those things counts -- but only if your resume spells it out in those terms.

That is exactly why federal resume keywords matched to your job series matter so much. The HR specialist reviewing your application is checking whether your experience description matches the specialized experience definition in the announcement. If you described the same work using military jargon instead of federal language, your application ranks lower in the review.

How Do 0343 Salaries Compare to Similar Federal Series?

The 0343 series sits in a cluster of administrative and analytical job series that share similar pay ranges but differ in focus. Understanding where 0343 fits helps you decide whether to target this series or a related one.

The GS-0340 Program Management series is the closest sibling. While 0343 analysts evaluate and recommend, 0340 program managers execute and oversee. The pay tables are identical (same GS scale), but 0340 positions tend to be graded higher on average because they carry direct program authority. If you want to learn more about that path, read about the GS-0340 program manager series for veterans.

Other series in the same orbit:

• GS-0301 Miscellaneous Administration -- the catch-all administrative series. Same pay scale, but less specialized. Can be harder to promote from because the work is less defined.
• GS-0346 Logistics Management -- if your military background is heavy on supply chain, this might pay similarly but be an easier qualification match.
• GS-1102 Contracting -- higher average grades (lots of GS-12 to GS-14 positions) and similar analytical work, but requires specific contracting education or experience.
• GS-0501 Financial Administration -- budget analysis overlaps with 0343 program analysis. Similar grades and pay, different specialization.

For veterans who qualify for multiple series, the smart move is to search USAJOBS for all of them simultaneously. A GS-12 pays the same whether it is in the 0343 or 0340 or 0346 series. Cast a wider net.

What Does the Resume Need to Show for a 0343 Position?

Federal resumes for the 0343 series need to demonstrate analytical thinking, data-driven recommendations, and program evaluation experience. The resume is 2 pages max, but those two pages carry a lot more detail than a civilian resume. You need hours worked per week, supervisor name and phone number, and specific duty descriptions that mirror the specialized experience in the job announcement.

After helping over 17,500 veterans through BMR, I can tell you the number one mistake on 0343 applications is writing about what the unit did rather than what you personally analyzed, recommended, or improved. Hiring panels want to see YOUR analytical contributions, not a summary of your unit's mission.

Your federal resume also needs to account for the specific grade you are targeting. If the announcement says GS-12, your experience descriptions need to show GS-11 equivalent work -- independently leading analysis projects, producing formal reports, briefing senior leaders. If you are targeting GS-9, the bar is lower but still specific: participating in analysis under supervision, compiling data, drafting portions of reports.

The federal resume writing guide for veterans covers the full format, structure, and common mistakes. For 0343 specifically, make sure your resume includes the words "analyzed," "evaluated," "recommended," "program," "data," and "improvement" -- not because you are keyword stuffing, but because that is the language of this series.

How Do Step Increases Affect Your Long-Term 0343 Earnings?

Step increases are the raises you get without changing grade. Each GS grade has 10 steps, and you move through them on a set schedule as long as your performance is satisfactory. The dollar difference between Step 1 and Step 10 is substantial at higher grades.

At GS-12, the difference between Step 1 ($61,518) and Step 10 ($79,971) is $18,453 in base pay. Add DC locality and that Step 10 is earning about $104,000 before overtime or bonuses. At GS-13, Step 1 to Step 10 goes from $73,150 to $95,093 base -- a $21,943 difference.

The step increase schedule works like this: Steps 1 through 3 come every 52 weeks. Steps 4 through 6 come every 104 weeks (two years). Steps 7 through 10 come every 156 weeks (three years). Getting from Step 1 to Step 10 takes 18 years total within the same grade.

But here is where it gets interesting for veterans who promote. When you move from GS-12 to GS-13, OPM uses the "two-step promotion rule" to set your new salary. They take your current salary, add two step increases, and then find the corresponding step in the new grade. So a GS-12 Step 5 promoting to GS-13 does not start at GS-13 Step 1 -- they typically land at Step 3 or Step 4. This means your time building steps at the lower grade carries forward as higher starting pay at the next grade.

If you are debating between building from GS-11 to GS-13, the step increase math is part of why career ladders can be financially smart even if the starting grade feels low.

What Should You Do Next?

The 0343 pay scale makes this one of the best analytical series in federal service for veterans. The grade range is wide, the promotion potential is strong, and the series exists at almost every agency. Whether you are targeting GS-9 as your entry point or aiming for GS-13 positions right away, the money is there if you qualify and apply correctly.

Here is the action plan:

1. Search USAJOBS for 0343 positions in your target location. Filter by grade and look for career ladder positions (GS-7/9/11/12 or GS-9/11/12) that give you built-in promotions.
2. Check the locality pay table on OPM.gov for your area. Base pay numbers are meaningless without locality -- always look at the total.
3. Make sure your federal resume translates your military experience into 0343 language: program analysis, operational evaluation, data-driven recommendations, process improvement.
4. Apply to multiple agencies. The same GS-12 0343 position at the VA pays identically to one at DoD. Cast a wide net and let the first offer win.

If you need help building a federal resume that speaks the 0343 language and hits the specialized experience requirements for the grade you are targeting, BMR's Federal Resume Builder is built for exactly this. Paste the job announcement, and it translates your military experience into the right federal format -- 2 pages, properly structured, with the keywords that get your application ranked at the top.