Home / Federal careers / GS-1601
General Facilities and Equipment
Performs facilities and equipment management work including maintenance planning, operations, and administration.
What GS-1601 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 |
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-1601, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in facilities management, engineering, or business
OR
Experience: Experience in facilities management, building operations, or equipment management.
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-1601
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
Operations Management
GS-1601 General Facilities and Equipment is the umbrella facilities series capturing the broad coordination, oversight, and program work operations management performs.
Skills that carry over: Facilities program coordination, Work prioritization, Equipment and material oversight.
Usually opens at: GS-9, GS-11, GS-12.
Engineer Equipment Operator
Equipment and facilities management - direct fleet management experience
Skills that carry over: Fleet management, Equipment maintenance, Inventory control, Asset tracking.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7, GS-9.
Construction Equipment Repairer
GS-1601 General Facilities and Equipment - facility and equipment operations management. Strong fit for shop foremen and motor sergeants moving from wrench-turning to program management.
Skills that carry over: Operations management, Budget administration, Vendor management, Equipment program oversight.
Usually opens at: GS-09, 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
- Manage facility operations
- Plan equipment maintenance programs
- Coordinate facility services
- Develop maintenance schedules
- Monitor facility conditions
- Manage service contracts
Key competencies
Facilities Management
Knowledge of building operations and maintenance.
Equipment Management
Ability to manage equipment lifecycle.
Budget Management
Skill in managing facilities budgets.
Project Coordination
Ability to coordinate facility projects.
Contract Management
Knowledge of service contracts and vendors.
Safety
Understanding of building safety and code requirements.
Planning
Skill in facilities planning and space management.
Problem Solving
Ability to resolve facilities issues.
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-1601
What is a General Facilities and Equipment Specialist?
A GS-1601 General Facilities and Equipment Specialist manages building operations, maintenance programs, and equipment lifecycle for federal facilities. These specialists plan preventive maintenance, coordinate facility services, monitor building conditions, manage service contracts, and ensure federal buildings and equipment operate efficiently across the government's vast real property portfolio.
How much does a federal Facilities Specialist make?
Federal Facilities and Equipment Specialists earn between $34,454 (GS-5 Step 1) and $117,034 (GS-13 Step 10) on the 2025 GS scale. Most positions are at GS-9 through GS-12. A GS-11 Facilities Specialist earns $63,163-$82,108. GSA, DOD installations, VA medical centers, and federal office buildings employ these specialists nationwide.
What are the requirements for GS-1601 positions?
GS-1601 follows the administrative qualification standard. Entry at GS-5 requires a bachelor's degree in facilities management, engineering, or business, or equivalent experience. Higher grades require specialized experience in facilities operations, maintenance management, or building systems. Knowledge of building codes, safety requirements, and contract management are essential.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1601?
Absolutely. Veterans with facilities engineering, base operations, or equipment management experience have directly transferable skills. Military experience managing installations, coordinating building maintenance, overseeing equipment programs, or running base service operations provides excellent qualifying background. Document specific facilities managed and maintenance programs coordinated.
What is the career progression for General Facilities Specialist?
Facilities Specialists follow the GS-5/7/9/11/12 progression with journey level at GS-11 or GS-12. Senior specialists and facility managers reach GS-12/13. Career paths include specializing in specific facility types (medical, research, office), transitioning to GSA building management, or advancing to regional facilities director positions.
How do I apply for GS-1601 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for "Facilities Management" or "Facilities Specialist" under series 1601. GSA, VA, DOD, and most federal agencies hire these positions. Highlight building operations experience, maintenance program management, contract oversight skills, and any relevant certifications (CFM, FMP). Include specific facility types and square footage managed.
Ready to apply for GS-1601?
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.