Home / Federal careers / GS-0018
Safety and Occupational Health Management
Performs safety and occupational health work including hazard identification, safety program management, and compliance enforcement.
What GS-0018 pays
2025 base rates, before locality. Most federal employees add a locality adjustment on top.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $34,454 | $35,603 | $36,752 | $37,901 | $39,050 | $40,199 | $41,348 | $42,497 | $43,646 | $44,786 |
| GS-7 | $42,679 | $44,102 | $45,525 | $46,948 | $48,371 | $49,794 | $51,217 | $52,640 | $54,063 | $55,486 |
| GS-9 | $52,205 | $53,945 | $55,685 | $57,425 | $59,165 | $60,905 | $62,645 | $64,385 | $66,125 | $67,865 |
| GS-11 | $63,163 | $65,268 | $67,373 | $69,478 | $71,583 | $73,688 | $75,793 | $77,898 | $80,003 | $82,108 |
| GS-12 | $75,706 | $78,229 | $80,752 | $83,275 | $85,798 | $88,321 | $90,844 | $93,367 | $95,890 | $98,422 |
| GS-13 | $90,025 | $93,026 | $96,027 | $99,028 | $102,029 | $105,030 | $108,031 | $111,032 | $114,033 | $117,034 |
Base pay only. Locality pay adds 15 to 40 percent or more depending on where the job sits. Source: OPM 2025 General Schedule.
Qualification requirements
OPM's standard for GS-0018, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:
Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or degree in other related fields that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours of study from among the following (or closely related) disciplines: safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, public health, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, and industrial psychology.
OR
Experience:
-
GS-5: Experience in scientific or technical work that provided an understanding of the basic principles and concepts of the safety and occupational health field. Creditable specialized experience may have been gained in safety engineering, safety inspection, occupational health, fire prevention, public health, industrial hygiene, accident investigation, or other fields related to safety and health.
-
Above GS-5: Specialized experience that demonstrated the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the full range of duties of the position. Examples include:
- Managing safety or occupational health program elements
- Developing and recommending safety and occupational health policy to higher levels of management
- Applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices, and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety and health requirements
- Developing safety and occupational health standards, regulations, practices, and procedures to eliminate or control potential hazards
- Developing or implementing programs to reduce accidents, occupational illnesses, or losses
- Analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to identify potential hazards
- Designing or modifying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems to control or eliminate hazards
- Inspecting or surveying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems for compliance with established safety and occupational health policies or standards and to identify potential hazards
- Training workers, supervisors, managers, or safety and occupational health personnel in safety or occupational health subjects
- Work in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, or occupational health nurse
OR
Certificates: Certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or Certified Health Physicist (CHP), or similar certification that included successful completion of a written examination meets the requirements for GS-5.
Education and Experience Requirements (Group Standard):
| Grade | Education | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | Bachelor's degree with major in safety/occupational health OR degree plus 24 semester hours in related fields | 3 years progressive experience with understanding of safety/occupational health principles |
| GS-7 | 1 year graduate education in safety/occupational health OR Superior Academic Achievement | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 |
| GS-9 | 2 years graduate education or master's in safety/occupational health | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 |
| GS-11 | 3 years graduate education or Ph.D. in safety/occupational health | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 |
| GS-12+ | N/A | 1 year specialized experience at next lower grade |
What this means if you served
- Write the duties, not the billet. OPM credits military experience on the work performed, and does not use rank or pay to judge specialized experience.
- Put the training and certifications you earned in service on the page. They count here.
- Claim your veterans preference on the application. It is not applied for you.
- No positive education requirement here, so qualifying experience can stand in for the education.
How to qualify for GS-0018
1Review Qualification Requirements
Read the OPM qualification standards above to understand the education and experience requirements for your target grade level.
2Find Your Grade Level
Grade follows the scope and complexity of the work you can document against the announcement, not the rank you held. OPM does not use military rank or pay when it evaluates specialized experience. Roughly: GS-5 entry, GS-7/9 junior, GS-11/12 journey, GS-13 and up senior.
3Gather Documentation
Collect your DD-214, SF-50 (if applicable), transcripts, certifications, and any training records that demonstrate your qualifications.
4Build Your Federal Resume
Two pages. USAJOBS has enforced that limit since 27 September 2025 and will not accept a longer resume from a Title 5 agency posting, so the space has to answer every qualification requirement. Include hours worked per week, supervisor contact details, and the accomplishments with numbers on them.
5Apply on USAJOBS
Search for open positions, carefully answer all assessment questions, and submit your application before the closing date.
See it done: GS-0018 Safety and Occupational Health resume example (GS-11, 2 pages), a fictional veteran's two-page resume for this series, with every required field and the announcement's words.
Military jobs that map to this series
CBRN Defense Specialist
5711s map directly to GS-0018 Safety and Occupational Health Management. Detection, exposure control, and PPE program experience is qualifying experience for EHS specialist roles across DoD, the VA, and OSHA.
Skills that carry over: Hazard recognition, Exposure control, PPE program administration, Safety training.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9, GS-11.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician
EOD render-safe and hazard-analysis experience maps directly to GS-0018 Safety and Occupational Health Management. Explosives-safety billets at DoD installations, depots, and ammunition plants are the strongest federal fit.
Skills that carry over: Hazard analysis, Explosives safety, Risk mitigation, Inspection and compliance.
Usually opens at: GS-9, GS-11, GS-12.
CBRN Specialist
Safety and Occupational Health Management. Direct match for 74Ds with supervisory CBRN experience. Risk assessment, safety program management, and hazard mitigation work translates immediately. DoD installations, EPA, and OSHA hire into these roles.
Skills that carry over: Risk assessment, Safety program management, Hazard identification, Regulatory compliance, Incident investigation, Safety training.
Usually opens at: GS-9, GS-11, GS-12.
Your record can qualify you even when your code is not on this list. The crosswalk is a starting point, not the gate.
Typical duties
- Develop safety programs and policies
- Conduct workplace inspections
- Investigate accidents and incidents
- Analyze safety data
- Ensure OSHA compliance
- Train employees on safety
Key competencies
Safety Program Management
Ability to plan, develop, and administer comprehensive safety programs.
Hazard Analysis
Skill in identifying workplace hazards and conducting risk assessments.
Regulatory Knowledge
Expert knowledge of OSHA standards and federal safety regulations.
Accident Investigation
Ability to investigate workplace accidents and determine root causes.
Training Development
Skill in developing and delivering safety training programs.
Inspection Techniques
Ability to conduct thorough workplace safety inspections.
Data Analysis
Skill in analyzing safety statistics and identifying trends.
Communication
Ability to communicate safety requirements to all levels of an organization.
Compliance Monitoring
Skill in monitoring and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Emergency Planning
Knowledge of emergency response planning and procedures.
Words the announcement will use
Use the ones your record actually supports. A rater is matching your experience against the specialized experience statement, and a keyword with nothing behind it does not survive that.
Questions about GS-0018
What is a Safety and Occupational Health Manager?
A GS-0018 Safety and Occupational Health Manager develops and administers workplace safety programs to protect federal employees and ensure OSHA compliance. These professionals conduct hazard analyses, investigate accidents, develop safety training, and implement policies that prevent workplace injuries across federal agencies.
How much does a federal Safety and Occupational Health Manager make?
Safety and Occupational Health Managers earn between $34,454 (GS-5 Step 1) and $117,034 (GS-13 Step 10) under the 2025 GS pay scale, depending on grade level. Most full-performance positions are GS-11/12/13, earning $63,163-$117,034. Senior program managers at GS-14 can exceed $106,000 base pay plus locality adjustments.
What are the requirements for GS-0018 positions?
GS-0018 positions require education and/or experience in safety management, industrial hygiene, or occupational health. Entry-level positions (GS-5/7) accept relevant degrees or general experience. Higher grades require progressively more specialized experience in safety program management, OSHA compliance, accident investigation, and risk assessment.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0018?
Yes, military safety experience translates directly to federal civilian safety positions. Ground Safety Officers, Aviation Safety Officers, Occupational Health NCOs, and unit safety representatives have applicable experience. Your training in risk management, mishap investigation, and safety program implementation demonstrates the competencies OPM requires for these positions.
What is the career progression for Safety and Occupational Health Manager?
The career ladder typically follows GS-5/7/9/11/12/13 intervals. Entry-level specialists conduct inspections and support programs, while GS-12/13 managers oversee agency-wide safety programs. Advancement to GS-14/15 leads to regional or headquarters safety director positions. Certifications like CSP (Certified Safety Professional) enhance advancement opportunities.
How do I apply for GS-0018 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for 'Safety and Occupational Health' or '0018' series. Positions exist at virtually every federal agency. Your federal resume should emphasize specific safety program experience, OSHA knowledge, accident investigation skills, and any certifications. Veterans should highlight military safety training and any collateral duty safety assignments.
Ready to apply for GS-0018?
A rater matches your record against the announcement's specialized experience statement, inside two pages. BMR writes that shape from your own experience: competency headers, real scope, hours per week, and the supervisor detail the rater checks.