Home / Federal careers / GS-0260
Equal Employment Opportunity Assistance
Performs EEO support work including complaint processing, counseling support, and administrative assistance.
What GS-0260 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-4 | $30,795 | $31,822 | $32,849 | $33,876 | $34,903 | $35,930 | $36,957 | $37,984 | $39,011 | $40,038 |
| GS-5 | $34,454 | $35,603 | $36,752 | $37,901 | $39,050 | $40,199 | $41,348 | $42,497 | $43,646 | $44,786 |
| GS-6 | $38,407 | $39,687 | $40,967 | $42,247 | $43,527 | $44,807 | $46,087 | $47,367 | $48,647 | $49,927 |
| GS-7 | $42,679 | $44,102 | $45,525 | $46,948 | $48,371 | $49,794 | $51,217 | $52,640 | $54,063 | $55,486 |
| GS-8 | $47,265 | $48,841 | $50,417 | $51,993 | $53,569 | $55,145 | $56,721 | $58,297 | $59,873 | $61,449 |
| GS-9 | $52,205 | $53,945 | $55,685 | $57,425 | $59,165 | $60,905 | $62,645 | $64,385 | $66,125 | $67,865 |
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-0260, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:** There are no Individual Occupational Requirements for this series.
Experience Requirements by Grade Level:
| Grade | Specialized Experience Required |
|---|---|
| GS-5 | 3 years progressively responsible general experience OR equivalent education |
| GS-7 | 1 year equivalent to GS-5 OR Superior Academic Achievement OR 1 year graduate education |
| GS-9 | 1 year equivalent to GS-7 OR 2 years graduate education/master's degree |
| GS-11 | 1 year equivalent to GS-9 OR 3 years graduate education/Ph.D. |
| GS-12+ | 1 year equivalent to next lower grade level |
Education Substitution:
- GS-5: Bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited college or university
- GS-7: 1 full academic year of graduate-level education OR Superior Academic Achievement (upper third of class, 3.0+ GPA, or honor society membership)
- GS-9: Master's degree or equivalent, OR 2 full years of progressively higher graduate education
- GS-11: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, OR 3 full years of progressively higher graduate education
Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) for GS-7: Based on (1) class standing in upper third of graduating class, (2) grade-point average of 3.0+ overall or 3.5+ in major field, or (3) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society.
Academic Year Definition: 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or equivalent in an accredited college or university.
Combining Education and Experience: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for grade levels where both are acceptable. Express both as percentages; combined must equal at least 100%.
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-0260
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
Equal Opportunity
3F4X1 EO complaint processing and counseling maps almost one-to-one to the GS-0260 EEO Assistance series. Military EO casework typically qualifies on specialized experience.
Skills that carry over: EEO complaint processing, Counseling, Case documentation, Regulatory compliance.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9, GS-11.
Equal Opportunity
This role directly involves managing equal opportunity programs, making it a direct fit for EEO assistance positions.
Skills that carry over: EEO Processing, Confidentiality, Customer Service.
Usually opens at: GS-9, GS-11.
Recruiter
GS-0260 Equal Employment Opportunity Assistance; recruiters with diversity outreach experience and strong communication skills are competitive here.
Skills that carry over: Outreach programs, Communication, Public speaking, Conflict resolution, Documentation.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9, GS-11.
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 EEO complaints
- Provide counseling support
- Maintain EEO records
- Prepare EEO reports
- Coordinate EEO activities
- Assist with investigations
Key competencies
EEO Processing
Skill in processing EEO complaints and inquiries.
Case File Management
Ability to maintain EEO case files accurately.
Customer Service
Skill in assisting complainants and employees.
Data Entry
Ability to enter and track EEO case information.
Confidentiality
Understanding of privacy requirements for EEO matters.
Scheduling
Skill in scheduling counseling and mediations.
Report Preparation
Ability to prepare EEO activity reports.
Regulatory Knowledge
Basic understanding of EEO laws and procedures.
Communication
Ability to explain EEO processes to stakeholders.
Office Systems
Proficiency in EEO tracking and management systems.
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-0260
What is an Equal Employment Opportunity Assistant?
GS-0260 EEO Assistants provide administrative support for equal employment opportunity programs. They process EEO complaints, maintain case files, schedule counseling sessions and mediations, prepare activity reports, and assist EEO specialists with investigations. They work at virtually every federal agency supporting civil rights compliance.
How much does a federal EEO Assistant make?
GS-0260 positions range from GS-4 ($30,795) for entry-level to GS-9 ($52,205-$67,865) for senior assistants. Most positions fall in the GS-5 to GS-7 range ($34,454-$55,486). Locality pay adds 15-40% in major metro areas. This is a support series with a ceiling typically at GS-9.
What are the requirements for GS-0260 positions?
At GS-5, you need a bachelor's degree in any field OR three years of progressively responsible experience. No specific degree field required. Higher grades need specialized experience in EEO processing, complaint handling, or civil rights support work. Strong administrative and customer service skills are essential.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0260?
Yes. Military experience in personnel/HR administration, Equal Opportunity offices, complaint processing, or administrative support qualifies. If you worked in a command EO office, processed MEO complaints, or maintained sensitive case files, highlight that directly. Your experience handling confidential matters is highly relevant.
What is the career progression for EEO Assistants?
EEO Assistants typically start at GS-4/5 with promotion potential to GS-7 or GS-9. The natural career path is transitioning to GS-0260 EEO Specialist (different series, GS-0260 is shared) or GS-0360 Equal Opportunity Specialist at the GS-9/11/12 level. Many use this as a stepping stone into HR or civil rights specialist careers.
How do I apply for GS-0260 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS for 'EEO Assistant' or 'Equal Employment Opportunity Assistant.' Positions exist at nearly every federal agency. Emphasize administrative experience, attention to detail, customer service skills, and any EO/complaint handling background. Veterans preference applies and agencies value diverse candidates in EEO roles.
Ready to apply for GS-0260?
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.