Home / Federal careers / GS-0690
Industrial Hygiene
Positions involving work in occupational health and safety including hazard identification, exposure assessment, and control measures.
What GS-0690 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-0690, as written.
The education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
• A bachelor’s or graduate/higher level degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or related science; or
• A bachelor’s degree in a branch of engineering, physical science, or life science that included 12 semester hours in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and 18 additional semester hours of courses in any combination of chemistry, physics, engineering, health physics, environmental health, biostatistics, biology, physiology, toxicology, epidemiology, or industrial hygiene; or
• Certification from the Board for Global EHS Credentialing (formerly American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH)).
Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable.__
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-0690
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
Preventive Medicine Specialist
68S exposure assessment and occupational health survey work maps directly to the Industrial Hygiene series. This is the closest federal home for the specialty.
Skills that carry over: Exposure assessment, Industrial hygiene sampling, Occupational health surveys, Standards compliance.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9, GS-11.
CBRN Specialist
Industrial Hygiene. 74Ds who operated detection equipment (JCAD, ICAM, M22 ACADA) understand exposure monitoring methodology. Air sampling, chemical identification, and threshold limit analysis are core IH competencies. May require coursework in IH for higher grades.
Skills that carry over: Exposure monitoring, Air sampling, Chemical detection, PPE selection, Hazard evaluation, Occupational health assessment.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9, GS-11.
Public Health
Industrial Hygiene series at OSHA, DoD installations, and federal medical centers. Strong fit for 4E0X1s with significant occupational health surveillance experience.
Skills that carry over: Occupational exposure surveillance, Industrial hygiene assessments, Workplace investigation, Medical surveillance program management.
Usually opens at: GS-9, GS-11, GS-12.
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
- Conduct workplace assessments
- Measure occupational exposures
- Evaluate health hazards
- Recommend control measures
- Review safety programs
- Conduct investigations
- Prepare technical reports
- Train employees
- Ensure OSHA compliance
- Develop safety policies
Key competencies
Hazard Recognition
Ability to identify chemical, physical, and biological workplace hazards.
Exposure Assessment
Skill in measuring and evaluating occupational exposures.
Risk Evaluation
Ability to assess health risks and predict impacts on workers.
Control Recommendations
Skill in recommending engineering and administrative controls.
Sampling Methods
Knowledge of industrial hygiene sampling and analytical methods.
Regulatory Compliance
Understanding of OSHA standards and occupational health regulations.
Program Development
Ability to develop occupational health and safety programs.
Technical Communication
Skill in communicating technical findings and recommendations.
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-0690
What is an Industrial Hygienist?
GS-0690 Industrial Hygienists protect worker health by identifying, evaluating, and controlling workplace hazards. They conduct exposure assessments, measure chemical/physical/biological hazards, recommend controls, develop safety programs, ensure OSHA compliance, and investigate occupational health issues at federal facilities.
How much does a federal Industrial Hygienist make?
GS-0690 follows a two-grade interval: GS-5/7/9/11/12/13. Entry at GS-5 ($34,454), journeyman at GS-11 ($63,163-$82,108), senior hygienists at GS-12/13 ($75,706-$117,034). OSHA area directors and regional specialists reach GS-13/14. Add locality pay.
What are the requirements for GS-0690 positions?
A bachelor's degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health, chemistry, biology, or related science with appropriate coursework. CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist) certification strengthens applications significantly. Experience with exposure assessment, sampling methods, and OSHA regulations is essential for higher grades.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0690?
Partially—a science degree is typically required, but military occupational health experience is highly valued. If you worked in safety, industrial hygiene, environmental health, or NBC defense, that experience complements required education. Veterans with science degrees and safety backgrounds are well-positioned.
What is the career progression for Industrial Hygienists?
Entry at GS-5/7, journeyman at GS-9/11, senior hygienists at GS-12. Program managers and regional specialists reach GS-12/13. CIH certification accelerates advancement. OSHA, DOD, DOE, and VA offer strong industrial hygiene career paths with continuing education support.
How do I apply for GS-0690 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS for 'Industrial Hygienist' or 'Occupational Health Specialist.' Major employers include OSHA, DOD, DOE, and VA. Emphasize your exposure assessment experience, sampling skills, and any CIH certification. Veterans with NBC, safety, or environmental health backgrounds have relevant experience.
Ready to apply for GS-0690?
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.