Home / Federal careers / GS-0203
Human Resources Assistance
Provides support for human resources functions including processing personnel actions and maintaining records.
What GS-0203 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-0203, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Clerical and Administrative Support Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements: There are no Individual Occupational Requirements for this series.
Experience and Education Requirements by Grade Level:
| Grade | General Experience | Specialized Experience | Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | None | None | None |
| GS-2 | 3 months | None | High school diploma or equivalent |
| GS-3 | 6 months | None | 1 year above high school |
| GS-4 | 1 year | None | 2 years above high school |
| GS-5 | None | 1 year at GS-4 level | 4 years above high school |
| GS-6+ | None | 1 year at next lower grade | Generally not applicable |
General Experience: Progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position to be filled.
Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.
Education: One year of full-time academic study equals 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or approximately 36 weeks at 20+ classroom hours per week. Education above high school is generally acceptable through GS-5; graduate education is rarely creditable above this level.
Combining Education and Experience: For grades GS-3 through GS-5, applicants may substitute education for experience. Express both as percentages; combined must equal at least 100%.
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-0203
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
Human Resources and Administration
HR Assistant path for entry-level federal positions.
Skills that carry over: Personnel Processing, Customer Service, Data Entry, Records Management.
Usually opens at: GS-4, GS-5, GS-6, GS-7.
Personnel Specialist
HR Assistance series. Direct match for junior PSs. Same personnel processing work at entry level.
Skills that carry over: Personnel processing, Records management, Customer service.
Usually opens at: GS-4, GS-5, GS-6.
Personnel Clerk
Direct translation to HR assistant roles. Highlight personnel administration, records management, and customer service.
Skills that carry over: Personnel Administration, Records Management, Customer Service, Data Entry, Correspondence.
Usually opens at: GS-4, GS-5, GS-6.
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
- Process personnel actions
- Maintain HR records
- Assist with recruitment
- Respond to employee inquiries
- Support HR specialists
Key competencies
Personnel Processing
Skill in processing personnel actions and documents.
Records Management
Ability to maintain employee records accurately.
Benefits Support
Knowledge of benefits enrollment and administration.
Customer Service
Skill in assisting employees with HR inquiries.
Data Entry
Ability to enter and retrieve HR data accurately.
HRIS Systems
Proficiency in HR information systems.
Payroll Support
Knowledge of pay and leave administration.
Onboarding
Skill in processing new employee paperwork.
Correspondence
Ability to prepare HR correspondence and documents.
Confidentiality
Understanding of privacy requirements for personnel data.
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-0203
What is a Human Resources Assistant?
A GS-0203 Human Resources Assistant provides clerical and technical support for HR operations including processing personnel actions, maintaining records, and assisting with recruitment. These paraprofessionals support HR specialists across federal agencies.
How much does an HR Assistant make?
HR Assistants earn between $30,795 (GS-4 Step 1) and $55,486 (GS-7 Step 10) under the 2025 GS pay scale. Most positions are GS-5/6/7, earning $34,454-$55,486 annually plus locality adjustments.
What are the requirements for GS-0203 positions?
Entry-level positions require general clerical experience or education. Higher grades require progressively more specialized experience processing personnel actions, using HR systems, and supporting specific HR functions.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0203?
Military HR experience directly qualifies for these positions. Personnel clerks, admin specialists who processed personnel actions, and those who worked in military HR offices have immediately transferable skills and systems knowledge.
What is the career progression for HR Assistant?
HR Assistants progress from GS-4/5 (entry) through GS-6/7 (senior). Many advance to GS-0201 HR Specialist positions with additional experience. The assistant track provides foundation for HR careers.
How do I apply for GS-0203 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for 'Human Resources Assistant' or '0203' series. Every agency has HR assistant positions. Your federal resume should detail personnel action processing, HR systems experience, and customer service skills.
Ready to apply for GS-0203?
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.