Home / Federal careers / GS-0665
Speech Pathology and Audiology
Performs professional speech-language pathology or audiology work including diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders.
What GS-0665 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 |
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-0665, as written.
Education
The mandatory education program described below must have been approved, recognized, or accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) at the time the degree was obtained.
Degree: For speech pathologist positions, a graduate or higher level graduate degree that included 18 semester hours in the field of speech pathology with approved clinical practice. For** audiologist** positions, a graduate or higher level graduate degree that included 18 semester hours in the field of audiology with approved clinical practice. Applicants for positions with both speech pathologist and audiologist duties must have successfully completed all the requirements for a graduate or higher level degree with 18 semester hours in one of the fields with approved clinical practice and, in addition, must have either completed a minor in the other field or must have had at least 1 year of professional experience in the other field.
Evaluation of Experience: Experience must have demonstrated breadth and level of knowledge of the principles and theories of speech pathology and/or audiology; skill in analyzing and interpreting test results in the evaluation of communicative disorders; ability to plan and conduct a program of therapy independently; ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing; and ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with individuals and groups in evaluating and resolving problems in hearing, voice, language, or speech. Applicants for the speech pathologist/audiologist combined positions must have had sufficient professional experience in both speech pathology and audiology to demonstrate their competence to perform the duties involved. The following are examples of qualifying professional experience that may have been obtained in a hospital, special treatment center for the disabled, university or community clinic, or industrial or educational institution:
• Investigating and studying the underlying causes, precipitating factors, symptomatic behavior, and the emotional and practical effect upon the patient of a particular impaired speech pattern; resolving speech impairments; and counseling patients and/or families in the adjustment to the speech impairment (for speech pathologist positions).
• Assessing, evaluating, analyzing, and treating communicative handicaps resulting from hearing impairments (for audiologist positions).
• Investigating methods to improve the clinical management of communicative disorders and to increase the basic scientific understanding of communicative processes and other factors causing their disruption.
• Providing instruction in the principles and bases of communication including clinical techniques and methods of assessment, evaluation, and treatment to audiologists, speech pathologists, and specialists in related fields (such as medical residents in otolaryngology).
• Teaching audiology or speech pathology at the graduate level.
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.
- This series carries a positive education requirement: a degree is required and experience cannot be substituted for it.
How to qualify for GS-0665
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
Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist
Speech pathology/audiology pathway with ENT specialty. Highlight audiometric testing expertise.
Skills that carry over: Audiometric Testing, ENT Procedures, Patient Care, Clinical Support.
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
- Evaluate speech and hearing disorders
- Develop treatment plans
- Provide speech-language therapy
- Fit and adjust hearing devices
- Document patient progress
- Counsel patients and families
Key competencies
Diagnostic Assessment
Ability to evaluate and diagnose communicative disorders.
Treatment Planning
Skill in developing individualized therapy programs for speech/hearing disorders.
Clinical Intervention
Ability to provide effective therapy for voice, language, speech, and hearing issues.
Test Administration
Skill in administering and interpreting diagnostic tests.
Patient Communication
Ability to establish therapeutic relationships with patients.
Research Methods
Knowledge of research principles in speech pathology and audiology.
Documentation
Skill in maintaining accurate clinical records and treatment documentation.
Collaboration
Ability to work with other healthcare professionals on patient care.
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-0665
What is a federal Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist?
GS-0665 professionals diagnose and treat communication disorders: speech, language, voice, fluency, and hearing problems. Speech-Language Pathologists work with stroke, TBI, and voice patients. Audiologists evaluate hearing and fit hearing devices. They work primarily at VA hospitals treating veterans with service-connected conditions.
How much does a federal Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist make?
GS-0665 positions range from GS-9 ($52,205) for entry to GS-13 ($90,025-$117,034) for senior clinicians and program coordinators. Most journeyman positions are GS-11/12 ($63,163-$98,422). VA may offer recruitment bonuses for high-demand specialties. Add locality pay.
What are the requirements for GS-0665 positions?
Master's degree in speech-language pathology or audiology from an accredited program is mandatory (positive education requirement). CCC-SLP or CCC-A certification from ASHA required. State licensure required where applicable. AuD is standard for audiology positions.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0665?
The graduate degree and ASHA certification are mandatory—no substitution. However, military SLP/Audiology experience is highly valued. Your clinical skills and experience treating TBI, blast injuries, and hearing loss in service members directly translates to VA work with similar patient populations.
What is the career progression for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists?
Entry at GS-9/11 with master's/AuD, journeyman at GS-11/12, senior clinicians at GS-12. Program coordinators and chiefs reach GS-12/13. VA offers specialty advancement in dysphagia, TBI rehabilitation, vestibular disorders, and cochlear implant programs.
How do I apply for GS-0665 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS for 'Speech-Language Pathologist' or 'Audiologist.' VA hospitals are the primary employer, with strong demand for TBI and polytrauma expertise. Highlight your ASHA certification, clinical specialties, and veteran population experience. Your expertise with blast-related injuries is particularly valuable.
Ready to apply for GS-0665?
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.