Home / Federal careers / GS-1640
Facility Operations Services
Performs facility operations work including custodial services, groundskeeping, and facility support.
What GS-1640 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-1640, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in facilities management, business, or related field
OR
Experience: Experience in facility operations, building management, or related services.
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-1640
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
Services
3M0X1s with multi-function services management experience are a direct fit for GS-1640 Facility Operations Services. Common across DoD installations and VA medical centers running large support service operations.
Skills that carry over: Facility operations, Multi-function services, Vendor and contractor coordination, Budget management, Regulatory compliance.
Usually opens at: GS-9, GS-11, GS-12.
Water Support Technician
GS-1640 Facility Operations Services covers running utility plant and building systems for a facility, matching a 1171 who managed water and hygiene systems for a unit.
Skills that carry over: Utility plant operation, Building systems management, Equipment maintenance, Compliance recordkeeping.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9, GS-11.
Operations Management
GS-1640 Facility Operations Services is the most direct match. It covers managing the operation of buildings and facilities, the same work-control and service-coordination role 3E6X1 runs in a CE squadron.
Skills that carry over: Facility operations management, Work-order coordination, Service-call dispatch, Resource accountability.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9, 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
- Supervise custodial operations
- Coordinate facility services
- Manage groundskeeping activities
- Ensure facility cleanliness
- Maintain supplies and equipment
- Respond to service requests
Key competencies
Building Operations
Knowledge of facility systems and operations.
Maintenance Management
Ability to coordinate maintenance activities.
Service Delivery
Skill in managing facility support services.
Budget Management
Ability to manage operational budgets.
Contract Administration
Knowledge of service contracts.
Safety Compliance
Understanding of safety and building codes.
Customer Service
Skill in meeting tenant and occupant needs.
Problem Solving
Ability to resolve operational 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-1640
What is a Facility Operations Specialist?
A GS-1640 Facility Operations Specialist manages day-to-day building operations including custodial services, groundskeeping, and facility support functions. These specialists supervise custodial staff, coordinate facility services, ensure building cleanliness and safety, manage supplies and equipment, and respond to service requests for federal buildings and installations.
How much does a federal Facility Operations Specialist make?
Federal Facility Operations Specialists 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-8. A GS-7 Facility Operations Specialist earns $42,679-$55,486. GSA, DOD installations, VA facilities, and federal buildings nationwide employ these specialists.
What are the requirements for GS-1640 positions?
GS-1640 follows the administrative qualification standard. Entry at GS-5 requires a bachelor's degree in facilities management or business, or equivalent experience. Higher grades require specialized experience in building operations, custodial supervision, or facility support services. Customer service skills and knowledge of building safety codes are essential.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1640?
Absolutely. Veterans with barracks management, installation support, or facilities operations experience have directly transferable skills. Military experience supervising custodial crews, managing groundskeeping operations, coordinating building services, or running facility support functions provides excellent qualifying background. Document specific facilities and staff supervised.
What is the career progression for Facility Operations Specialist?
Facility Operations Specialists follow the GS-4/5/6/7/8/9 progression with journey level at GS-7 or GS-8. Senior specialists reach GS-9. Career paths include transitioning to GS-1601 General Facilities positions for higher grades, specializing in specific facility types, or advancing to building management roles overseeing multiple facilities.
How do I apply for GS-1640 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for "Facility Operations" or "Building Operations" under series 1640. GSA, DOD, VA, and federal agencies with building operations hire these positions. Highlight custodial supervision experience, groundskeeping coordination, customer service skills, and any building management software proficiency. Include facility sizes managed and staff supervised.
Ready to apply for GS-1640?
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.