Home / Federal careers / GS-0480
Fish and Wildlife Administration
Performs fish and wildlife program administration including resource management, conservation policy, and program oversight.
What GS-0480 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-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-0480, as written.
Degree: Biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, or at least 30 semester hours in courses, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
OR
• Experience: Four years of experience that demonstrated that the applicant acquired knowledge and understanding of one or more of the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, or related disciplines equivalent to that which would have been acquired through completion of a 4-year course of study as described in A above.
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-0480
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
Environmental Engineering Management Officer
Leadership in environmental management and policy development is directly applicable to fish and wildlife administration.
Skills that carry over: Environmental Management, Policy Development, Program Administration.
Usually opens at: 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
- Administer fish and wildlife programs
- Develop conservation policies
- Coordinate resource management
- Manage program budgets
- Work with stakeholders
- Ensure regulatory compliance
Key competencies
Wildlife Management
Knowledge of fish and wildlife programs.
Regulatory Knowledge
Understanding of wildlife laws and treaties.
Program Administration
Skill in managing conservation programs.
Stakeholder Relations
Ability to work with diverse partners.
Policy Development
Skill in developing management policies.
Resource Management
Ability to allocate program resources.
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-0480
What is a Fish and Wildlife Administrator?
A GS-0480 Fish and Wildlife Administrator manages programs protecting and conserving fish and wildlife resources. These professionals work at USFWS developing policies, managing refuges, and coordinating conservation efforts across federal lands.
How much does a Fish and Wildlife Administrator make?
Fish and Wildlife Administrators earn between $52,205 (GS-9 Step 1) and $138,296 (GS-14 Step 10) under the 2025 GS pay scale. Most positions are GS-11/12/13, earning $63,163-$117,034 annually.
What are the requirements for GS-0480?
GS-0480 positions require education and/or experience in wildlife management, biology, or natural resources. Entry-level accepts relevant degrees. Higher grades require progressively more specialized program management and policy experience.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0480?
Military experience in natural resources management on installations provides relevant background. Veterans with biology degrees who managed environmental programs have applicable experience. Program management skills from military service transfer well.
What is the career progression for Fish and Wildlife Administrator?
The career ladder follows GS-9/11/12/13/14 intervals. Entry-level administrators support programs. GS-12/13 administrators manage refuge operations or regional programs. Senior administrators direct major conservation initiatives.
How do I apply for GS-0480 jobs?
Search USAJOBS.gov for 'Fish and Wildlife' or '0480' series. USFWS is the primary employer. Your federal resume should detail program management, conservation experience, and regulatory knowledge.
Ready to apply for GS-0480?
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.