Home / Federal careers / GS-0187
Social Services
Federal position delivering direct social services to individuals, families, and communities including case management, counseling referrals, and support services at VA facilities and federal agencies.
What GS-0187 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-0187, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:
Education:
GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree, in an accredited college or university.
GS-7: One full year of graduate-level education. Major study -- social sciences. Graduate education is not creditable for positions above GS-7.
OR
Experience:
GS-5 (General Experience): Three years of progressively responsible experience, one year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4. Such experience may have been gained in work involving interviewing, working with individuals or groups, collecting and analyzing facts, providing information and assistance, and preparing reports in social welfare programs or situations involving social welfare problems.
Above GS-5 (Specialized Experience): One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Specialized experience is experience in providing direct social welfare services that required the application of program policy and operations knowledge in providing social welfare services and/or assisting social workers.
Combining Education and Experience: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable.
Education and Experience Requirements (Group Standard):
| Grade | Education | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | Bachelor's degree in any field | 3 years progressive experience including interviewing, social services work |
| GS-7 | 1 year graduate education in social sciences | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 |
| GS-9+ | N/A (graduate education not creditable above GS-7) | 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-0187
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.
Typical duties
- Provide direct social services
- Assess client needs
- Develop service plans
- Coordinate community resources
- Monitor client progress
Key competencies
Case Management
Ability to manage social services cases effectively.
Client Assessment
Skill in assessing client needs and developing service plans.
Counseling
Ability to provide supportive counseling to clients.
Crisis Response
Skill in responding to client emergencies and crises.
Resource Coordination
Knowledge of community services and resources.
Documentation
Ability to maintain comprehensive case documentation.
Program Administration
Skill in administering social services programs.
Cultural Competence
Ability to serve diverse client populations.
Advocacy
Skill in advocating for client needs and services.
Compliance
Understanding of program regulations and requirements.
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-0187
What is a Social Services Specialist?
A GS-0187 Social Services Specialist administers social service programs including case management, client advocacy, and program coordination. These specialists work at VA, military family programs, and agencies providing social services without requiring clinical social work licensure.
How much does a Social Services Specialist make?
Social Services Specialists earn between $42,679 (GS-7 Step 1) and $98,422 (GS-12 Step 10) under the 2025 GS pay scale. Most positions are GS-9/11, earning $52,205-$82,108 annually plus locality adjustments.
What are the requirements for GS-0187 positions?
GS-0187 positions require education and/or experience in social services, human services, or related fields. Entry-level accepts degrees or equivalent experience. Higher grades require progressively more specialized experience in program administration and client services.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0187?
Military experience with family support, transition assistance, or personnel services provides relevant preparation. Those who worked in military family programs, AFAP, or soldier/family readiness have directly applicable experience helping service members and families.
What is the career progression for Social Services Specialist?
The career ladder typically follows GS-7/9/11/12 intervals. Entry-level specialists manage cases and coordinate services. GS-11/12 specialists lead programs. Advancement may lead to program management or GS-0185 Social Worker with additional education.
How do I apply for GS-0187 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for 'Social Services' or '0187' series. Positions exist at VA, military installations, and social service agencies. Your federal resume should highlight case management, program coordination, and experience working with diverse populations.
Ready to apply for GS-0187?
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.