Home / Federal careers / GS-0801
General Engineering
Performs professional engineering work not covered by other engineering series. Applies engineering principles across multiple disciplines.
What GS-0801 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-0801, as written.
Professional Engineering Basic Requirements (GS-800 Series)
Option A - Degree: Engineering degree from an ABET-accredited college or university. OR degree in related curriculum such as physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, or similar field if it provides thorough knowledge of physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering.
Option B - Combination of Education and Experience: College-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished:
- Thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering
- Good understanding of engineering sciences and techniques and their applications
Acceptable education includes courses in engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and other physical and biological sciences.
Professional Registration: Registration as Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, DC, Guam, or Puerto Rico.
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-0801
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
Developmental Engineer
Direct match for general engineer.
Skills that carry over: Systems Engineering, Program Management, Technical Development.
Usually opens at: GS-12, GS-13, GS-14.
Engineering Duty Officer
Engineering management. Highlight naval engineering, program management, and technical leadership.
Skills that carry over: Naval Engineering, Program Management, Technical Leadership, Ship Design, Maintenance.
Usually opens at: GS-13, GS-14, GS-15.
Space Acquisition Engineer
General engineer.
Skills that carry over: Acquisition, Systems Engineering.
Usually opens at: GS-12, GS-13, GS-14.
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
- Apply engineering principles to design and analysis
- Conduct engineering studies and investigations
- Prepare engineering specifications and drawings
- Review and evaluate engineering projects
- Provide technical engineering guidance
- Coordinate with other engineering disciplines
Key competencies
Engineering Analysis
Ability to analyze complex engineering problems and develop solutions.
Technical Design
Skill in designing systems, equipment, and structures using engineering principles.
Project Management
Ability to plan, coordinate, and manage engineering projects.
Technical Documentation
Skill in preparing engineering reports, specifications, and drawings.
Problem Solving
Ability to identify engineering issues and implement effective solutions.
Quality Assurance
Knowledge of engineering standards and quality control procedures.
Technical Communication
Skill in communicating technical information to diverse audiences.
Continuous Learning
Commitment to staying current with engineering advances and technologies.
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-0801
What is a federal General Engineer?
GS-0801 General Engineers perform professional engineering work spanning multiple disciplines. They design systems, conduct studies, prepare specifications, review projects, and provide technical guidance. This series covers engineers whose work crosses traditional boundaries or doesn't fit specialized series like civil or mechanical.
How much does a federal General Engineer make?
GS-0801 positions range from GS-5 ($34,454) at entry to GS-15 ($125,133-$162,672) for senior engineers and technical directors. Most journeyman positions are GS-11/12 ($63,163-$98,422). Supervisory and program manager positions reach GS-13/14. Add locality pay of 15-40%.
What are the requirements for GS-0801 positions?
A professional engineering degree (ABET-accredited) is mandatory—this is a positive education requirement. Alternatively, PE license, passing the FE exam plus experience, or specific coursework combinations may qualify. Higher grades require specialized engineering experience in design, analysis, or project management.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0801?
The engineering degree is mandatory, but military engineering experience is highly valued. Corps of Engineers officers, Navy Civil Engineer Corps, and engineering MOSs with degrees transition directly. Your project management, leadership, and field engineering experience complement required education perfectly.
What is the career progression for General Engineers?
Entry at GS-5/7 for new graduates, journeyman at GS-11/12, senior engineers at GS-13, and technical directors/supervisors at GS-14/15. PE licensure enhances advancement. Army Corps of Engineers, Navy, Air Force, and DOE offer robust engineering career paths.
How do I apply for GS-0801 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS for 'General Engineer' or 'Engineer.' Major employers include Army Corps of Engineers, NAVFAC, Air Force Civil Engineer, DOE, and NASA. Highlight your engineering degree, PE license if held, and relevant project experience. Veterans with engineering backgrounds are highly valued.
Ready to apply for GS-0801?
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.