Home / Federal careers / GS-0302
Messenger
Federal position delivering messages, documents, packages, and mail within federal facilities, government buildings, and between agency offices.
What GS-0302 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-0302, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Clerical and Administrative Support Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements: There are no Individual Occupational Requirements for this series.
Special Hiring Provision: Appointment to Messenger positions is restricted to persons entitled to veteran preference as long as such applicants are available (5 U.S.C. 3310).
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-0302
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
Courier
Secure handling experience. Highlight security, transportation, and accountability.
Skills that carry over: Security, Transportation, Accountability, Documentation, Compliance.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-6, GS-7.
Personnel Specialist
Clerk-Typist. General clerical work. Entry-level option to get a foot in the door at GS-3 to GS-5.
Skills that carry over: Data entry, Correspondence, Filing systems.
Usually opens at: GS-3, GS-4, GS-5.
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
- Deliver messages and documents
- Sort and distribute mail
- Operate delivery vehicles
- Maintain delivery logs
- Handle confidential materials
Key competencies
Reliability
Dependability in completing assigned tasks and meeting deadlines.
Physical Stamina
Ability to walk, stand, and carry items for extended periods.
Attention to Detail
Accuracy in handling and delivering materials.
Customer Service
Skill in interacting professionally with staff.
Organization
Ability to manage multiple deliveries efficiently.
Integrity
Trustworthiness in handling confidential materials.
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-0302
What is a federal Messenger?
GS-0302 Messengers deliver messages, documents, packages, and mail within federal facilities and between agency offices. They maintain delivery logs, handle confidential materials, and may operate delivery vehicles. These positions exist at large federal complexes, courthouses, and multi-building agency campuses.
How much does a federal Messenger make?
GS-0302 positions typically range from GS-1 ($22,360) to GS-5 ($34,454-$44,786). Most messenger positions are at GS-2 to GS-4 level. These are entry-level positions with modest pay, but they offer federal benefits, job security, and a foot in the door for career advancement.
What are the requirements for GS-0302 positions?
Minimal requirements—GS-2 needs only 3 months of general experience or a high school diploma. Physical ability to walk, carry items, and work on your feet is essential. Reliability and trustworthiness for handling confidential materials are key qualifications.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0302?
Absolutely, and there's a major advantage: by law (5 U.S.C. 3310), Messenger positions are RESTRICTED to veterans as long as qualified veterans are available. This is one of the few series with guaranteed veteran hiring preference. Any military experience counts toward the minimal requirements.
What is the career progression for federal Messengers?
Messenger is often an entry point to federal service. From here, many transition to Mail and File Clerk (GS-0305), Program Support Assistant (GS-0303), or other administrative positions. Getting your foot in the door as a messenger gives you internal hiring advantages for higher-paying positions.
How do I apply for GS-0302 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS for 'Messenger' or series 0302. Remember—these positions legally prioritize veterans. Even with minimal qualifications, your veteran status essentially guarantees you'll be considered ahead of non-veterans. Apply to any posting that fits your location preferences.
Ready to apply for GS-0302?
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.