Home / Federal careers / GS-0089
Emergency Management
Positions that involve planning, coordinating, and directing emergency preparedness and response activities including disaster response, continuity of operations, and recovery operations.
What GS-0089 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 |
| GS-14 | $106,382 | $109,928 | $113,474 | $117,020 | $120,566 | $124,112 | $127,658 | $131,204 | $134,750 | $138,296 |
| GS-15 | $125,133 | $129,304 | $133,475 | $137,646 | $141,817 | $145,988 | $150,159 | $154,330 | $158,501 | $162,672 |
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-0089, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements: There are no Individual Occupational Requirements for this series.
Education and Experience Requirements (Group Standard):
This is a two-grade interval series. Positions follow the GS-5, GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12 progression pattern.
| Grade | Education | Experience | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | Bachelor's degree in any field from accredited college/university | 3 years progressively responsible experience, 1 year equivalent to GS-4 | Equivalent combinations qualifying |
| GS-7 | 1 full year graduate education OR Superior Academic Achievement | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 | Combinations of graduate education and experience |
| GS-9 | 2 years graduate education or master's degree | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 | Combinations of graduate education (excess of GS-7 requirement) and experience |
| GS-11 | 3 years graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 | Combinations of graduate education (excess of GS-9 requirement) and experience |
| GS-12+ | Not applicable | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to next lower grade | N/A |
Superior Academic Achievement (for GS-7):
- Upper third of graduating class in college/university or major subdivision
- GPA of 3.0 or higher out of 4.0 as recorded on official transcript, OR 3.5 or higher in major field
- Election to membership in national scholastic honor society
Graduate Education: One year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours the school determines represents 1 year of full-time study. If unavailable, 18 semester hours satisfies the 1-year requirement.
Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.
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-0089
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.
Military jobs that map to this series
Firefighter
Firefighters who ran installation emergency response and incident command map to GS-0089 Emergency Management, working preparedness, continuity, and response coordination for FEMA and DoD components.
Skills that carry over: Incident command, Emergency preparedness, Response coordination, Continuity planning.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9, GS-11.
Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)
TACP TOC and JTAC experience is direct qualifying experience for GS-0089 Emergency Management. Running an EOC, coordinating across agencies, and deciding under pressure are the core duties.
Skills that carry over: Emergency operations center management, Multi-agency coordination, Decision-making under pressure, Incident command (ICS).
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12.
CBRN Specialist
Emergency Management. Strong match — 74Ds plan for CBRN incidents, coordinate response operations, and develop contingency plans. WMD Civil Support Team veterans are especially competitive. FEMA, DoD installations, and state agencies hire for this series.
Skills that carry over: Emergency planning, Incident coordination, Contingency operations, Mass casualty response, Multi-agency coordination, Disaster preparedness.
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 emergency response plans and procedures
- Coordinate emergency preparedness activities
- Conduct emergency exercises and drills
- Manage incident response operations
- Coordinate with emergency response agencies
- Develop continuity of operations plans
- Train personnel on emergency procedures
- Analyze hazards and vulnerabilities
- Manage emergency communications
- Support disaster recovery operations
Key competencies
Emergency Planning
Ability to develop comprehensive emergency response plans.
Disaster Response
Skill in coordinating response activities during emergencies.
Risk Assessment
Knowledge of hazard identification and vulnerability analysis.
Continuity Planning
Ability to develop continuity of operations plans.
Interagency Coordination
Skill in working with federal, state, and local agencies.
Training Development
Ability to develop and conduct emergency preparedness exercises.
Communication
Skill in crisis communication and public information.
Resource Management
Knowledge of emergency resource allocation and logistics.
Recovery Operations
Understanding of disaster recovery and mitigation strategies.
Regulatory Knowledge
Knowledge of Stafford Act and emergency management regulations.
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-0089
What is an Emergency Management Specialist?
A GS-0089 Emergency Management Specialist plans, coordinates, and directs emergency preparedness and response activities. These professionals develop disaster response plans, manage emergency operations centers, coordinate with first responders, and ensure continuity of operations for federal agencies.
How much does a federal Emergency Management Specialist make?
Emergency Management Specialists earn between $42,679 (GS-7 Step 1) and $117,034 (GS-13 Step 10) under the 2025 GS pay scale following two-grade intervals. Most full-performance positions are GS-11/12/13, earning $63,163-$117,034 annually plus locality adjustments.
What are the requirements for GS-0089 positions?
GS-0089 positions require education and/or experience in emergency management, homeland security, or related fields. Entry-level positions accept relevant degrees or experience. Higher grades require progressively more specialized experience in disaster planning, response coordination, or continuity of operations.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0089?
Yes, military experience is highly valued for Emergency Management. Operations officers, CBRN specialists, civil affairs, and those with tactical operations center experience have directly transferable skills. Military planning, coordination, and crisis response experience demonstrates the competencies needed for federal emergency management.
What is the career progression for Emergency Management Specialist?
The career ladder follows two-grade intervals (GS-7/9/11/12/13). Entry-level specialists support planning and exercises. GS-11/12 specialists lead program areas. GS-13/14 positions involve directing agency emergency programs. FEMA, DoD, and DHS have the largest emergency management workforces.
How do I apply for GS-0089 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for 'Emergency Management' or '0089' series. Every federal agency has emergency management positions. Your federal resume should detail COOP planning, disaster response experience, ICS certifications, and exercise coordination. FEMA certifications (IS-100, IS-700, etc.) strengthen applications.
Ready to apply for GS-0089?
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.