Home / Federal careers / GS-1421
Archives Technician
Performs technical archival work including records processing, preservation support, and reference assistance.
What GS-1421 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-1421, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:** There are no Individual Occupational Requirements for this series.
Experience Requirements by Grade Level:
| Grade | Specialized Experience Required |
|---|---|
| GS-5 | 3 years progressively responsible general experience OR equivalent education |
| GS-7 | 1 year equivalent to GS-5 OR Superior Academic Achievement OR 1 year graduate education |
| GS-9 | 1 year equivalent to GS-7 OR 2 years graduate education/master's degree |
| GS-11 | 1 year equivalent to GS-9 OR 3 years graduate education/Ph.D. |
| GS-12+ | 1 year equivalent to next lower grade level |
Education Substitution:
- GS-5: Bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited college or university
- GS-7: 1 full academic year of graduate-level education OR Superior Academic Achievement (upper third of class, 3.0+ GPA, or honor society membership)
- GS-9: Master's degree or equivalent, OR 2 full years of progressively higher graduate education
- GS-11: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, OR 3 full years of progressively higher graduate education
Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) for GS-7: Based on (1) class standing in upper third of graduating class, (2) grade-point average of 3.0+ overall or 3.5+ in major field, or (3) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society.
Combining Education and Experience: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for grade levels where both are acceptable.
Education and Experience Requirements (Group Standard):
This is a two-grade interval series. Positions follow the GS-5, GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12 progression pattern.
| Grade | Education | Experience | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | Bachelor's degree in any field from accredited college/university | 3 years progressively responsible experience, 1 year equivalent to GS-4 | Equivalent combinations qualifying |
| GS-7 | 1 full year graduate education OR Superior Academic Achievement | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 | Combinations of graduate education and experience |
| GS-9 | 2 years graduate education or master's degree | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 | Combinations of graduate education (excess of GS-7 requirement) and experience |
| GS-11 | 3 years graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 | Combinations of graduate education (excess of GS-9 requirement) and experience |
| GS-12+ | Not applicable | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to next lower grade | N/A |
Superior Academic Achievement (for GS-7):
- Upper third of graduating class in college/university or major subdivision
- GPA of 3.0 or higher out of 4.0 as recorded on official transcript, OR 3.5 or higher in major field
- Election to membership in national scholastic honor society
Graduate Education: One year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours the school determines represents 1 year of full-time study. If unavailable, 18 semester hours satisfies the 1-year requirement.
Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.
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-1421
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
Knowledge Operations Management
This role involves managing information and records, similar to the duties of an Archives Technician.
Skills that carry over: Information Management, Database Proficiency, Records Processing.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Yeoman
Coast Guard Yeomen manage records and provide administrative support, which aligns with archival responsibilities.
Skills that carry over: Records Management, Reference Assistance, Organizational Skills.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Yeoman
Yeomen are responsible for administrative tasks, including records management, which translates well to archival work.
Skills that carry over: Records Management, Reference Assistance, Attention to Detail.
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
- Process archival materials
- Assist with preservation activities
- Provide basic reference services
- Maintain archival databases
- Handle and organize records
- Support digitization projects
Key competencies
Records Processing
Ability to process and organize archival materials.
Reference Assistance
Skill in assisting researchers and users.
Handling
Knowledge of proper archival handling and care procedures.
Database
Proficiency in archival management systems.
Finding Aids
Ability to prepare basic inventories and finding aids.
Research
Skill in conducting basic archival research.
Preservation
Understanding of basic preservation principles.
Attention to Detail
Ability to maintain accurate archival records.
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-1421
What is an Archives Technician?
A GS-1421 Archives Technician provides technical support for archival operations—processing archival materials, assisting with preservation activities, providing basic reference services, maintaining archival databases, handling and organizing records, and supporting digitization projects at NARA, presidential libraries, and federal agency archives across the country.
How much does a federal Archives Technician make?
Federal Archives Technicians earn between $30,795 (GS-4 Step 1) and $67,865 (GS-9 Step 10) on the 2025 GS scale. Most positions are at GS-5 through GS-7. A GS-6 Archives Technician earns $38,407-$49,927, while GS-7 positions pay $42,679-$55,486. NARA and presidential libraries hire extensively nationwide.
What are the requirements for GS-1421 positions?
GS-1421 follows the administrative qualification standard—no specific degree required. Entry at GS-5 requires a bachelor's degree in any field or 3 years of progressively responsible experience. Higher grades require specialized experience in archival processing, reference services, or records handling. Attention to detail and ability to follow archival procedures are essential.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1421?
Absolutely. Veterans with records management experience, unit historical files handling, or administrative support in military archives have directly transferable skills. Experience organizing official records, assisting researchers, handling classified documents, or supporting documentation programs qualifies. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail from any military administrative role are valuable.
What is the career progression for Archives Technician?
Archives Technicians follow the GS-4/5/6/7/8/9 progression with journey level at GS-6 or GS-7. Senior technicians reach GS-8/9. Career paths include specializing in preservation, digitization, or reference services. Many technicians pursue archival studies degrees to transition to GS-1420 Archivist positions for higher earning potential and professional status.
How do I apply for GS-1421 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for "Archives Technician" or "Archives Specialist" under series 1421. NARA, presidential libraries, and federal agencies with historical programs are primary employers. Highlight records handling experience, organizational skills, customer service abilities, and any archival database experience. Include digitization and preservation support experience in your federal resume.
Ready to apply for GS-1421?
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.