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Budget Clerical and Technician
Performs budget support work including budget tracking, data entry, and financial administrative support.
What GS-0561 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-0561, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Clerical and Administrative Support Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements: There are no Individual Occupational Requirements for this series.
Note: In all positions in this occupation, the ability to work accurately with figures is required.
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.
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-0561
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
Financial Management Technician
Good entry point. GS-0561 Budget Clerical and Technician positions handle budget data entry, fund tracking, and routine budget reporting — duties that junior 36Bs perform daily.
Skills that carry over: Budget Data Entry, Fund Tracking, Budget Reporting, Spreadsheet Management, Data Verification, Administrative Support.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-6, GS-7.
Personnel/Administrative Chief
GS-0561 Budget Clerical and Technician is adjacent for chiefs who handled unit pay, funds, and budget tracking.
Skills that carry over: Budget tracking, Pay transaction support, Financial recordkeeping, Compliance.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-6, GS-7.
Finance Technician
GS-0561 Budget Clerical and Technician is the technician entry point for budget work, a clean adjacent match to disbursing and pay accounting.
Skills that carry over: Budget data, Funds tracking, Financial clerical, Recordkeeping.
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
- Track budget expenditures
- Enter budget data
- Prepare budget reports
- Maintain budget records
- Process budget documents
- Support budget analysts
Key competencies
Budget Tracking
Skill in monitoring budget execution.
Attention to Detail
Accuracy in processing budget documents.
Computer Skills
Proficiency with budget software.
Math Skills
Ability to perform budget calculations.
Organization
Skill in managing budget records.
Communication
Ability to respond to budget inquiries.
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-0561
What is a Budget Clerk or Technician?
GS-0561 Budget Clerks and Technicians track expenditures, enter budget data, prepare reports, maintain records, and support budget analysts. They monitor spending against allocations and ensure accurate financial tracking at every federal agency managing taxpayer funds.
How much does a federal Budget Technician make?
GS-0561 positions range from GS-4 ($30,795) to GS-9 ($52,205-$67,865). Most positions are GS-5 to GS-7 ($34,454-$55,486). Senior technicians and lead positions reach GS-8/9. Add locality pay of 15-40% for metro areas.
What are the requirements for GS-0561 positions?
At GS-4, you need 1 year of general clerical experience or 2 years of education above high school. Higher grades require specialized budget tracking experience. Math aptitude, proficiency with budget software (Excel, financial systems), and attention to detail are essential.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0561?
Yes. Military budget, finance, or resource management experience directly qualifies. If you tracked unit spending, prepared budget reports, or managed operational funds, that experience translates directly. S-4/resource management experience is particularly relevant.
What is the career progression for Budget Technicians?
Entry at GS-4/5 with progression to GS-7/8/9. This is an excellent stepping stone to Budget Analyst (GS-0560) positions at GS-9/11/12. Strong technicians who demonstrate analytical skills often transition to professional budget analyst careers.
How do I apply for GS-0561 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS for 'Budget Technician' or 'Budget Assistant.' Positions exist at virtually every federal agency. Emphasize your budget tracking experience, spreadsheet proficiency, and analytical skills. Veterans with resource management experience are strong candidates.
Ready to apply for GS-0561?
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.