Home / Federal careers / GS-0893
Chemical Engineering
Performs professional chemical engineering work in process design, chemical reactions, and materials processing.
What GS-0893 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-0893, as written.
Chemical Engineering Basic Requirements
Uses Professional Engineering Basic Requirements (GS-800 Series)
Option A - Degree: Engineering degree from ABET-accredited program in chemical engineering or related field (process engineering, materials engineering, biochemical engineering).
Option B - Combination: College-level education plus technical experience demonstrating thorough knowledge of chemical engineering sciences including thermodynamics, transport phenomena, reaction engineering, process design.
Professional Registration: Registration as Professional Engineer (PE) is qualifying.
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-0893
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
Engineering Aid
Engineering Aids in the Navy work on a variety of engineering projects, including chemical processes, making them well-suited for chemical engineering roles.
Skills that carry over: Process Design, Transport Phenomena, Process Optimization.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Emergency Management
Experience in emergency management involves understanding chemical hazards and safety protocols, which are relevant to chemical engineering processes.
Skills that carry over: Safety Engineering, Process Control, Hazard Analysis.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist
While primarily focused on ordnance, EOD specialists have a solid foundation in chemical safety and hazard analysis, which is applicable to chemical engineering roles.
Skills that carry over: Safety Engineering, Chemical Safety, Hazard Analysis.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
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
- Design chemical processes and systems
- Analyze chemical reactions and materials
- Develop process specifications
- Conduct process optimization
- Ensure safety and environmental compliance
- Manage chemical engineering projects
Key competencies
Process Design
Skill in designing chemical processes and production systems.
Reaction Engineering
Knowledge of chemical reaction kinetics and reactor design.
Transport Phenomena
Understanding of heat, mass, and momentum transfer.
Process Control
Ability to design and implement process control systems.
Safety Engineering
Knowledge of chemical safety and hazard analysis.
Materials Science
Understanding of material properties and selection.
Environmental Compliance
Knowledge of environmental regulations for chemical processes.
Quality Control
Ability to maintain product quality and process specifications.
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-0893
What is a federal Chemical Engineer?
GS-0893 Chemical Engineers design chemical processes, analyze reactions and materials, develop process specifications, and ensure safety and environmental compliance. They work at DOE (nuclear processing), DOD (munitions), EPA, FDA, and agencies with chemical processing operations.
How much does a federal Chemical Engineer make?
GS-0893 positions range from GS-5 ($34,454) at entry to GS-15 ($125,133-$162,672) for senior engineers. Journeyman positions are GS-11/12 ($63,163-$98,422). Project leads and program managers reach GS-13/14. Add locality pay of 15-40%.
What are the requirements for GS-0893 positions?
A professional chemical engineering degree (ABET-accredited) is mandatory—positive education requirement. Experience in process design, reaction engineering, or materials processing needed for higher grades. PE licensure preferred for senior positions.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0893?
The engineering degree is mandatory, but military chemical engineering experience is highly valued. Engineers who worked with propellants, explosives, CBRN, or fuel systems with degrees transition well. Your process knowledge and security clearance are significant advantages.
What is the career progression for Chemical Engineers?
Entry at GS-5/7, journeyman at GS-11/12, senior engineers at GS-13, and technical directors at GS-14/15. DOE national laboratories and Army/Navy munitions facilities offer strong chemical engineering career paths.
How do I apply for GS-0893 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS for 'Chemical Engineer.' DOE national labs, Army/Navy munitions, and EPA are major employers. Highlight your ABET degree, process design experience, and any hazardous materials knowledge. Veterans with chemical/NBC backgrounds are well-positioned.
Ready to apply for GS-0893?
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.