Home / Federal careers / GS-0303
Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant
Federal clerical position performing general administrative support including data entry, filing, mail processing, reception duties, and office operations at government agencies.
What GS-0303 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-2 | $25,142 | $25,738 | $26,568 | $27,319 | $27,590 | $28,398 | $29,206 | $30,014 | $30,822 | $31,638 |
| GS-3 | $27,434 | $28,349 | $29,264 | $30,179 | $31,094 | $32,009 | $32,924 | $33,839 | $34,754 | $35,660 |
| 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 |
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-0303, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Clerical and Administrative Support Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements: There is no OPM qualification standard for this series. If a standard is needed to fill positions in this series, the employing agency should contact OPM for assistance.
Note: Agencies filling positions in Series 0303 should apply the Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Clerical and Administrative Support Positions in conjunction with any individual requirements established by the hiring agency.
Experience and Education Requirements by Grade Level (Group Standard):
| 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-0303
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
Administration
Direct path to Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant positions.
Skills that carry over: Administrative Support, Document Management, Correspondence, Office Management.
Usually opens at: GS-4, GS-5, GS-6, GS-7.
Aviation Resource Management
ARMS records-system operation maps directly to GS-0303 clerk and assistant work. Strong entry point at lower grades.
Skills that carry over: Records-system operation, Data entry and integrity, Document control, Compliance tracking.
Usually opens at: GS-4, GS-5, GS-6, GS-7.
Fatality Management Specialist
Records and effects accountability map cleanly to GS-0303 Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant work, a common entry point into federal service for documentation-heavy backgrounds.
Skills that carry over: Recordkeeping, Documentation control, Property accountability, Attention to detail.
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
- Perform general clerical duties
- Process documents and correspondence
- Maintain files and records
- Enter data into systems
- Answer phones and greet visitors
- Provide administrative support
Key competencies
Clerical Skills
Proficiency in typing, filing, and office procedures.
Computer Skills
Ability to use office software and information systems.
Customer Service
Skill in assisting and communicating with customers.
Attention to Detail
Accuracy in processing documents and data.
Organization
Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
Communication
Clear written and oral communication skills.
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-0303
What is a Miscellaneous Clerk?
A GS-0303 Miscellaneous Clerk performs general clerical duties that don't fit specific series. These positions handle filing, data entry, mail processing, and administrative support across federal agencies, providing essential office operations support.
How much does a federal Clerk make?
Miscellaneous Clerks earn between $25,142 (GS-2 Step 1) and $49,927 (GS-6 Step 10) under the 2025 GS pay scale. Most positions are GS-4/5, earning $30,795-$44,786 annually plus locality adjustments.
What are the requirements for GS-0303 positions?
Entry-level GS-2/3 positions require general experience or education. Higher grades require progressively more specialized clerical experience. Basic computer skills and attention to detail are essential at all levels.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0303?
Military clerical experience directly qualifies for these positions. Administrative specialists, unit clerks, and those who performed office duties have immediately transferable skills. Military experience with forms, filing, and data entry is directly applicable.
What is the career progression for Miscellaneous Clerk?
Clerks progress from GS-2/3 (entry) through GS-5/6/7 (senior). Many advance to specialized clerical series or GS-0301 Administrative positions. The clerk track provides foundation for administrative careers across federal government.
How do I apply for GS-0303 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for 'Clerk' or '0303' series. Positions exist at every agency. Your federal resume should highlight clerical experience, computer skills, and ability to handle multiple tasks. Entry-level positions are good starting points for federal careers.
Ready to apply for GS-0303?
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.