Home / Federal careers / GS-1530
Statistician
Performs professional statistical work including statistical surveys, data collection, and analysis.
What GS-1530 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 |
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-1530, as written.
Degree: that included 15 semester hours in statistics (or in mathematics and statistics, provided at least 6 semester hours were in statistics), and 9 additional semester hours in one or more of the following: physical or biological sciences, medicine, education, or engineering; or in the social sciences including demography, history, economics, social welfare, geography, international relations, social or cultural anthropology, health sociology, political science, public administration, psychology, etc. Credit toward meeting statistical course requirements should be given for courses in which 50 percent of the course content appears to be statistical methods, e.g., courses that included studies in research methods in psychology or economics such as tests and measurements or business cycles, or courses in methods of processing mass statistical data such as tabulating methods or electronic data processing.
or
• Combination of education and experience -- courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The experience should have included a full range of professional statistical work such as (a) sampling, (b) collecting, computing, and analyzing statistical data, and (c) applying statistical techniques such as measurement of central tendency, dispersion, skewness, sampling error, simple and multiple correlation, analysis of variance, and tests of significance.
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-1530
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
Cryptologic Technician Interpretive
CTIs analyze data and prepare reports, skills that are applicable to statistical work, though proficiency in statistical software would need to be developed.
Skills that carry over: Data Analysis, Report Preparation, Data Management.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Data Engineering
GS-1530 Statistician is an adjacent match for engineers with strong quantitative and data-quality backgrounds.
Skills that carry over: Statistical analysis, Data quality, Quantitative methods.
Usually opens at: GS-9, GS-11, GS-12.
Manpower Information Systems Analyst
GS-1530 Statistician fits 0171s who lean heavily into workforce-data and people-analytics work and pursue the quantitative side.
Skills that carry over: Statistical reporting, Data analysis, Trend identification, Quantitative methods.
Usually opens at: 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
- Design and conduct statistical surveys
- Collect and analyze statistical data
- Develop sampling methodologies
- Prepare statistical reports
- Interpret statistical results
- Support policy decisions with data
Key competencies
Statistical Analysis
Skill in applying statistical methods to data.
Survey Methods
Knowledge of survey design and sampling techniques.
Statistical Software
Proficiency in SAS, R, SPSS, or similar tools.
Data Management
Ability to manage and clean large datasets.
Visualization
Skill in creating statistical charts and graphics.
Report Writing
Ability to prepare clear statistical reports.
Quality Control
Understanding of statistical quality control methods.
Communication
Ability to explain statistical findings to non-statisticians.
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-1530
What is a federal Statistician?
A GS-1530 Statistician designs and conducts statistical surveys, collects and analyzes data, develops sampling methodologies, and supports evidence-based policy decisions for federal agencies. These specialists work at Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, CDC, USDA, and other agencies requiring statistical expertise to inform national statistics and policy.
How much does a federal Statistician make?
Federal Statisticians earn between $34,454 (GS-5 Step 1) and $138,296 (GS-14 Step 10) on the 2025 GS scale. Most positions are at GS-9 through GS-13. A GS-12 Statistician earns $75,706-$98,422. Census Bureau (largest employer), BLS, CDC, and USDA offer positions. DC-area locality pay adds approximately 32% to base salary.
What are the requirements for GS-1530 positions?
GS-1530 requires a degree with at least 15 semester hours in statistics (or math and statistics with at least 6 hours in statistics), plus 9 additional hours in physical/biological sciences, medicine, education, engineering, or social sciences. Proficiency with statistical software (SAS, R, SPSS) and survey methodology is essential.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1530?
Relevant military experience combined with required statistics coursework can qualify. Veterans with experience in military survey research, quality assurance, operational testing and evaluation, or manpower analysis have transferable skills. The required coursework cannot be fully substituted with experience alone, but military analytical experience strengthens applications.
What is the career progression for Statistician?
Statisticians follow the GS-5/7/9/11/12 progression with journey level at GS-12. Senior statisticians and survey directors reach GS-13/14. Career paths include specializing in survey methodology, economic statistics, biostatistics, or demographic analysis. Some transition to leadership of major federal statistical programs.
How do I apply for GS-1530 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for "Statistician" or "Survey Statistician" under series 1530. Census Bureau, BLS, CDC, USDA, and DOD are primary employers. Highlight survey design experience, statistical software proficiency, and data analysis skills. Include specific statistical techniques and any publications or technical reports in your federal resume.
Ready to apply for GS-1530?
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.