Home / Federal careers / GS-1810
General Investigating
Performs general investigation work including background investigations, compliance investigations, and fact-finding.
What GS-1810 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-1810, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, law, or related field
OR
Experience: Experience in investigative work, law enforcement, or compliance.
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-1810
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
Counterintelligence Agent
General investigating skills. Background investigations and security clearance investigations.
Skills that carry over: Investigations, Interviews, Background Checks, Report Writing.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9, GS-11.
Criminal Investigator CID Agent
Detention enforcement values investigation skills.
Skills that carry over: investigation, detention, enforcement, documentation.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9, GS-11.
Human Intelligence Collector
General Investigating. Investigative roles that leverage analytical and elicitation skills without full 1811 credentials. DHS, DOE, Treasury OIG.
Usually opens at: GS-7, 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
- Conduct investigations
- Interview witnesses and subjects
- Gather and analyze evidence
- Prepare investigative reports
- Testify at proceedings
- Coordinate with law enforcement
Key competencies
Investigative Techniques
Knowledge of investigation methods and procedures.
Interviewing
Skill in conducting interviews and interrogations.
Evidence Collection
Ability to collect and preserve evidence.
Analysis
Skill in analyzing information and identifying patterns.
Report Writing
Ability to prepare comprehensive investigative reports.
Legal Knowledge
Understanding of relevant laws and procedures.
Communication
Skill in communicating with subjects and witnesses.
Attention to Detail
Ability to thoroughly document findings.
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-1810
What is a General Investigator?
A GS-1810 General Investigator conducts investigations including background investigations, compliance reviews, and fact-finding inquiries for federal agencies. These specialists interview witnesses and subjects, gather and analyze evidence, prepare investigative reports, and may testify at proceedings—working for agencies like DCSA (background investigations), OIG offices, and regulatory agencies.
How much does a federal General Investigator make?
Federal General Investigators 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 Investigator earns $63,163-$82,108. Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) is the largest employer, hiring thousands of background investigators.
What are the requirements for GS-1810 positions?
GS-1810 follows the administrative qualification standard. Entry at GS-5 requires a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, law, or related field, or equivalent experience. Higher grades require specialized investigative experience. Strong interviewing skills, analytical abilities, and excellent written communication for report writing are essential competencies.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1810?
Absolutely. Veterans with military police, criminal investigation, counterintelligence, or security experience have directly transferable skills. Many veterans transition to DCSA background investigator positions—military experience conducting investigations, interviewing subjects, and writing reports provides excellent qualifying background.
What is the career progression for General Investigator?
General Investigators follow the GS-5/7/9/11/12 progression with journey level at GS-11 or GS-12. Senior investigators reach GS-13. Career paths include specializing in background investigations, fraud investigations, or transitioning to GS-1811 Criminal Investigator (Special Agent) positions for law enforcement careers.
How do I apply for GS-1810 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for "Investigator" or "Background Investigator" under series 1810. DCSA (largest employer), Inspectors General, and regulatory agencies hire extensively. Highlight investigative experience, interviewing skills, and report writing abilities. Security clearance eligibility is essential—most positions require Secret or Top Secret clearance.
Ready to apply for GS-1810?
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.