Home / Federal careers / GS-1654
Printing Services
Performs printing services work including production planning, quality control, and printing operations management.
What GS-1654 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 |
| GS-10 | $57,489 | $59,405 | $61,321 | $63,237 | $65,153 | $67,069 | $68,985 | $70,901 | $72,817 | $74,733 |
| GS-11 | $63,163 | $65,268 | $67,373 | $69,478 | $71,583 | $73,688 | $75,793 | $77,898 | $80,003 | $82,108 |
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-1654, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:
Education:
- Education or training in printing, graphic arts, or related field
OR
Experience: Experience in printing operations, print production, or graphic 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-1654
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
Combat Illustrator/Reprographic Specialist
This role involves creating and managing visual media, including print materials, which aligns well with printing services.
Skills that carry over: Print Production, Quality Control, Equipment Operation.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Multimedia Illustrator
The role involves managing multimedia projects, which includes planning and quality control, similar to printing services.
Skills that carry over: Print Production, Quality Control, Customer Service.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Mass Communication Specialist
Experience in managing communication projects and ensuring quality aligns with printing services management.
Skills that carry over: Print Production, Quality Control, Customer Service.
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
- Manage printing operations
- Plan production schedules
- Ensure quality control
- Operate printing equipment
- Coordinate with customers
- Manage printing supplies
Key competencies
Print Production
Knowledge of printing processes and equipment.
Quality Control
Ability to ensure print quality standards.
Scheduling
Skill in planning and scheduling print jobs.
Customer Service
Ability to work with customers on print needs.
Equipment Operation
Knowledge of printing equipment.
Cost Estimation
Skill in estimating print job costs.
Inventory Management
Ability to manage printing supplies.
Technology
Understanding of digital printing technologies.
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-1654
What is a Printing Services Specialist?
A GS-1654 Printing Services Specialist manages printing operations for federal agencies—planning production schedules, ensuring quality control, operating printing equipment, coordinating with customers, and managing printing supplies. These specialists work at the Government Publishing Office (GPO), agency print shops, and document production centers supporting federal printing needs.
How much does a federal Printing Services Specialist make?
Federal Printing Services Specialists earn between $30,795 (GS-4 Step 1) and $82,108 (GS-11 Step 10) on the 2025 GS scale. Most positions are at GS-6 through GS-9. A GS-8 Printing Services Specialist earns $47,265-$61,449. GPO and agency document centers offer positions, primarily in DC metro area and regional locations.
What are the requirements for GS-1654 positions?
GS-1654 follows the administrative qualification standard with preference for printing/graphic arts training. Entry typically requires education or training in printing, graphic arts, or related fields, or equivalent experience in print production. Knowledge of digital printing technologies, quality control standards, and production scheduling is essential for higher grades.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1654?
Yes, military print shop experience directly transfers. Veterans who worked in military reproduction facilities, document centers, or graphic arts shops have excellent backgrounds. Experience operating printing equipment, managing print production, coordinating document services, or supervising reproduction operations provides qualifying experience.
What is the career progression for Printing Services Specialist?
Printing Services Specialists follow the GS-4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11 progression with journey level at GS-8 or GS-9. Senior specialists and print shop supervisors reach GS-10/11. Career paths include specializing in digital printing, large-format production, or transitioning to document services management overseeing broader publishing operations.
How do I apply for GS-1654 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for "Printing Services" or "Printing Specialist" under series 1654. GPO and federal agencies with in-house print operations are primary employers. Highlight print production experience, equipment operation skills, quality control knowledge, and customer service abilities. Include specific equipment operated and production volumes managed.
Ready to apply for GS-1654?
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.