Home / Federal careers / GS-0193
Archeology
Performs professional archeology work including archaeological surveys, excavations, and artifact analysis.
What GS-0193 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-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 |
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-0193, as written.
Education
Degree that included 3 semester hours each in the following course areas:
• History of archeology.
• Archeology of a major geographical area such as North America or Africa.
• Regional archeology, archeological cultures, or sites in a specific part or portion of a major geographical area to acquire or develop a foundation for regional specialization for professional development.
• Theory and methods of archeology. Methods include, but are not limited to, typology, classification, sampling, cultural evolution, diffusion, dating, and analytical techniques. Archeological field school, to provide a basic understanding of theoretical and practical approaches to research design implementation, field preservation techniques, and report preparation by participation in actual field work.
AND
Six semester hours of related course work in:
• geography, geology, or cultural geography;
• history, historiography, or historical archeology;
• environmental studies;
• scientific writing (nonfiction English composition); and/or
• surveying;
AND
Archeological field school.
Related Curriculum: degree in anthropology (with emphasis on ethnology, physical anthropology, or scientific linguistics), history, American studies, or a related discipline may be accepted as satisfying in full the educational requirements, provided the curriculum supplied academic course work sufficiently similar to the requirements in A.1 (including archeological field school).
OR
Combination of Education and Experience
College-level education or training that provided knowledge equivalent to that described in A above, plus appropriate technical experience or additional education.
OR
Experience
Four years of archeological work experience that demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional archeology. The work experience must have included archeology field experience, which may include that gained in an archeological field school. Field experience should have included a combination of professional experience in archeological survey, excavation, laboratory analysis, and preparation of written materials. Applicants with such field experience should, after additional experience under the direction of a higher grade archeologist, be able to demonstrate the ability to be a crew chief, directing the work of others at a single location as a part of a larger archeological project.
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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-0193
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
Geospatial Engineer
Geospatial Engineers have experience in mapping and surveying, which aligns with archaeological survey techniques. Highlight experience in field data collection and analysis.
Skills that carry over: Field Methods, Documentation, Data Analysis.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Geospatial Intelligence Specialist
These specialists are trained in geographic data collection and analysis, which is useful for archaeological site surveys and artifact documentation.
Skills that carry over: Field Methods, Data Collection, Documentation.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
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
- Conduct archaeological surveys
- Excavate archaeological sites
- Analyze artifacts
- Document findings
- Prepare archaeological reports
- Ensure compliance with preservation laws
Key competencies
Field Methods
Skill in archaeological excavation and survey techniques.
Artifact Analysis
Ability to analyze and classify archaeological materials.
Documentation
Skill in documenting archaeological sites and finds.
Report Writing
Ability to prepare archaeological reports and publications.
Preservation
Knowledge of artifact preservation and curation.
GIS Applications
Skill in using GIS for archaeological mapping.
Laboratory Methods
Knowledge of archaeological laboratory techniques.
Regulatory Compliance
Understanding of cultural resource management laws.
Research Design
Ability to develop archaeological research designs.
Public Interpretation
Skill in presenting archaeology to public audiences.
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-0193
What is an Archeologist?
A GS-0193 Archeologist studies past human cultures through excavation and artifact analysis. Federal archeologists protect cultural resources, conduct compliance surveys, and manage historic preservation at agencies including NPS, Forest Service, and Army Corps.
How much does a federal Archeologist make?
Archeologists earn between $42,679 (GS-7 Step 1) and $138,296 (GS-14 Step 10) under the 2025 GS pay scale. Most positions are GS-9/11/12, earning $52,205-$98,422 annually. Fieldwork may include additional per diem.
What are the requirements for GS-0193?
GS-0193 positions require education in archeology or anthropology with specific coursework and field school training. Secretary of Interior Professional Qualification Standards apply. Higher grades require progressively more fieldwork and project management experience.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0193?
Military experience cannot substitute for required archeology education. However, veterans with archeology degrees who served in cultural property protection or civil affairs have applicable experience working with cultural resources in operational environments.
What is the career progression for Archeologist?
The career ladder follows GS-7/9/11/12/13/14 intervals. Entry-level archeologists conduct field surveys. GS-11/12 archeologists manage projects and compliance programs. Senior archeologists direct regional programs and advise on preservation policy.
How do I apply for GS-0193 jobs?
Search USAJOBS.gov for 'Archeologist' or '0193' series. Major employers include NPS, Forest Service, BLM, and Army Corps. Your federal resume should detail fieldwork, project experience, and compliance knowledge. Professional qualifications must be documented.
Ready to apply for GS-0193?
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.