Why Veterans Search for the GS-11 Military Rank Equivalent

You served. You led people. You managed budgets, ran operations, and made decisions that mattered. Now you are looking at USAJOBS and wondering where you fit on the GS pay scale.

GS-11 is one of the most common entry points for veterans with leadership experience. It sits right at the line between mid-level and senior work in federal service. But figuring out which military rank lines up with GS-11 is not as simple as checking a chart.

I spent 1.5 years applying to federal jobs after I separated as a Navy Diver. Zero callbacks. One of the things that tripped me up early was not knowing which GS level my experience actually qualified me for. I kept aiming too low or too high because the rank-to-GS connection was unclear.

This article breaks down exactly which military ranks match GS-11 across all branches. You will also learn what actually determines your GS level (hint: rank alone is not enough) and how to position your resume for a GS-11 role.

What Is the GS-11 Grade Level?

GS-11 is an upper-mid-level position in the federal General Schedule pay system. It falls between GS-9 (journey level) and GS-12 (full performance or senior specialist). Most GS-11 jobs require either a master's degree or one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.

In 2026, the GS-11 base pay ranges from $59,966 (Step 1) to $77,955 (Step 10) before locality adjustments. With locality pay in a place like Washington, D.C., that jumps to roughly $73,000 to $95,000.

GS-11 positions often carry titles like Program Analyst, Management Analyst, Contract Specialist, Logistics Management Specialist, or IT Specialist. These are jobs where the federal government expects you to work with some independence and apply judgment to complex tasks.

Your Federal Resume
Should Look Like This

We built OPM data directly into our AI so your federal resume goes beyond just matching the job announcement. It pulls in the right competencies, KSAs, and specialized experience details that get you referred — formatted in the 2-page federal layout USAJOBS expects.

OPM data built in — goes beyond the job announcement Full 2-page federal format for USAJOBS Tailored to every GS position you apply for

Build Your Resume Free

2 free tailored resumes, cover letters & LinkedIn optimization

Which Military Ranks Equal GS-11?

The rough equivalency depends on whether you are enlisted or an officer. Here is how it breaks down across all branches. Keep in mind: these are approximate comparisons based on responsibility level, not official OPM policy.

Officer Ranks That Map to GS-11

For commissioned officers, GS-11 typically lines up with O-1 through O-2. That is Second Lieutenant or First Lieutenant in the Army, Marines, and Air Force. In the Navy and Coast Guard, that is Ensign (O-1) or Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2).

Company-grade officers at these levels manage small teams, run specific programs, and report to higher-ranking officers. The scope of work is similar to what federal agencies expect from a GS-11: independent work with supervision on bigger decisions.

Senior NCO Ranks That Map to GS-11

For enlisted members, GS-11 aligns with senior NCOs in the E-7 to E-8 range. Think Sergeant First Class (E-7) or Master Sergeant (E-8) in the Army. In the Navy, that is Chief Petty Officer (E-7) or Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8).

These senior NCOs run sections, manage dozens of people, handle budgets, and make decisions that affect entire units. That level of responsibility fits the GS-11 job description well.

Full Cross-Branch GS-11 Comparison

Here is a quick reference for all branches. For deeper detail on every GS level, check the full military rank to GS level conversion chart.

Why Military Rank Alone Does Not Determine Your GS Level

This is where most veterans get confused. You might be an E-7 and assume you automatically qualify for GS-11. That is not how it works.

OPM qualification standards care about three things: your specialized experience, your education, and sometimes your time in a specific type of role. Your rank tells the hiring manager something about your leadership level. But OPM needs to see that you did the actual work described in the job announcement.

A Sergeant First Class (E-7) who spent 10 years in logistics has a strong case for a GS-11 Logistics Management Specialist position. But an E-7 in infantry would need to show how their experience translates to the specific duties in the announcement.

The Three Things That Actually Set Your GS Level

1. Specialized experience. OPM wants one year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-9 for a GS-11 position). That experience must be directly related to the job. "Led a team of 30" does not count unless the work you did matches the duties on the announcement.

2. Education. A master's degree or equivalent graduate education can qualify you for GS-11. Some veterans use their GI Bill to earn a graduate degree and qualify this way. You can also combine education and experience.

3. The job announcement itself. Every USAJOBS posting lists the exact qualifications needed. Two GS-11 jobs can have completely different requirements based on the job series. A GS-11 IT Specialist (GS-2210) has different quals than a GS-11 Contract Specialist (GS-1102).

If you want to understand OPM qualification standards in more detail, our guide on specialized experience for federal resumes walks through exactly what counts.

How GS-11 Compares to Other GS Levels for Veterans

Understanding where GS-11 sits in the overall pay scale helps you target the right jobs. Here is a quick look at the GS levels most relevant to separating military members.

Many veterans find that GS-11 is either their entry point into federal service or a stepping stone they move through quickly. If you are an E-7 or O-2 with strong specialized experience, you might qualify for GS-12 right away. Check our guide on what GS level to apply for to figure out where you should aim.

How to Qualify for GS-11 Jobs With Military Experience

Qualifying for GS-11 comes down to proving your experience matches OPM standards. Here is the step-by-step process.

For a detailed walkthrough on building a GS-11 resume that actually gets referred, check our GS-11 federal resume guide.

Common GS-11 Job Series for Veterans

Certain federal job series at the GS-11 level hire veterans at a higher rate than others. If you are targeting GS-11, these are the series worth looking at based on your military background.

GS-0343 (Management and Program Analyst): Perfect for NCOs and officers who ran programs, tracked metrics, or managed operations. Military units generate mountains of data, and that analytical experience transfers directly.

GS-1102 (Contract Specialist): If you worked with government contracts, purchase orders, or acquisition in the military, this series is a strong fit. Defense Acquisition Workforce experience is especially valuable here.

GS-2210 (IT Specialist): Signal Corps, communications, and cyber MOS veterans often land here. The military trains IT skills that civilian employers pay well for.

GS-0346 (Logistics Management): Supply, transportation, and logistics NCOs have a natural path into this series. Your experience managing equipment accountability, supply chains, and distribution maps straight to GS-0346 duties.

GS-0080 (Security Administration): Military police, intelligence, and security forces personnel fit this series well. Physical security, personnel security, and information security experience all count.

GS-1801 (General Inspection): Veterans with quality assurance, safety inspection, or compliance experience find opportunities here. The military's inspection standards are often stricter than civilian ones.

For help translating your specific MOS or rating to the right federal job series, use our military-to-civilian career crosswalk tool. It maps your military job to civilian roles including federal positions.

GS-11 Pay: What Veterans Should Expect in 2026

GS-11 pay varies a lot based on where you work. The base pay table from OPM sets the floor. Locality pay adjustments push the actual salary higher in most metro areas.

Here are some examples for GS-11, Step 1 in popular federal employment areas.

These numbers do not include FEHB health insurance, FERS retirement, TSP matching, or paid leave. When you add federal benefits, the total compensation package at GS-11 often beats comparable private sector salaries. For a detailed look at how the full GS pay scale works, see our GS pay scale calculator for veterans.

Should You Aim for GS-11 or Go Higher?

Some veterans sell themselves short by only targeting GS-11 when they qualify for GS-12. Others aim too high and get screened out because they cannot prove specialized experience at the required level.

Here is a simple way to figure out where you should aim.

Target GS-11 if:

• You are an E-6 to E-7 with relevant specialized experience
• You are a junior officer (O-1 or O-2) with a few years of program or project work
• You have a master's degree and limited work experience in the specific job series
• You are transitioning career fields and your military experience only partially matches the job

Target GS-12 or higher if:

• You are an E-8 or above with deep specialized experience in the field
• You are an O-3 or higher with direct program management or leadership experience
• You have worked in the exact field the federal job covers (contracting, IT, logistics, etc.)
• You have a graduate degree plus years of related work experience

The biggest mistake is applying to only one grade level. USAJOBS announcements often list multiple grades (like GS-9/11/12). Apply at the highest grade you can justify with your experience. If you do not get selected at GS-12, you might still get picked up at GS-11.

If you are an E-7 or O-2 aiming to move up quickly, our GS-11 to GS-13 promotion strategy covers exactly how to position yourself for faster advancement.

How to Write a Federal Resume for GS-11 Positions

A federal resume for a GS-11 job is different from what you used in the private sector. It needs more detail but still has to stay at 2 pages max under the current OPM 2-page format.

Here is what your GS-11 federal resume must include.

Job information block: Job title, dates of employment, hours per week (always 40 for active duty), supervisor name and phone number, and whether they can be contacted.

Duties and accomplishments: This is where you prove you meet the specialized experience requirements. Write detailed bullets that mirror the language from the job announcement. Use numbers to show scale and impact.

For example, if the announcement says "experience managing logistics operations," your resume should say something like "Managed logistics operations for a 200-person battalion including equipment accountability for $12M in government property."

Do not just list your military duties in military language. Translate them. But do not water them down either. Your experience has real value. You need to frame it so a federal HR specialist can match it to OPM qualification standards.

Building a federal resume from scratch takes time. BMR's federal resume builder handles the translation and formatting for you. Paste a USAJOBS announcement, upload your experience, and get a targeted 2-page federal resume built to OPM standards.

What to Do Next

Now you know which military ranks match GS-11 and what actually determines whether you qualify. The rank comparison gives you a starting point. But your resume and specialized experience are what get you referred.

Here is your action plan.

First, figure out your target GS level. Use the rank comparison above and check the job announcements you are interested in. Look at both the grade level and the specialized experience requirements.

Second, check the full GS to military rank chart to see how your rank compares across all GS levels. You might find that GS-12 is a better fit than you thought.

Third, build a federal resume that proves your specialized experience. Do not assume your rank speaks for itself. Federal HR specialists need to see detailed duties, hours worked, and supervisor information on your resume.

If you want the fastest path from military experience to a GS-11 referral, BMR's federal resume builder does the heavy lifting. It translates your military background into OPM-compliant language and formats everything to the 2-page standard. Over 17,500 veterans and military spouses have used BMR to land their next role.