Home / Federal careers / GS-1850
Agricultural Law Enforcement
Performs agricultural law enforcement work including inspection, investigation, and enforcement of agricultural regulations.
What GS-1850 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 |
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-1850, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in agriculture, biology, criminal justice, or related field
OR
Experience: Experience in agricultural inspection, plant/animal health enforcement, or law enforcement.
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-1850
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
Environmental Engineering Management Officer
This role involves managing environmental compliance and inspections, which is applicable to enforcing agricultural regulations.
Skills that carry over: Inspection, Enforcement, Agricultural Regulations.
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
- Conduct agricultural inspections
- Investigate violations
- Enforce agricultural laws
- Collect evidence
- Prepare enforcement reports
- Coordinate with agencies
Key competencies
Agricultural Regulations
Knowledge of agricultural laws and regulations.
Inspection
Skill in conducting agricultural inspections.
Pest/Disease Identification
Ability to identify plant pests and animal diseases.
Enforcement
Skill in taking enforcement actions.
Documentation
Ability to document violations and prepare reports.
Communication
Skill in communicating with the public and industry.
Investigation
Ability to investigate agricultural violations.
Quarantine
Knowledge of quarantine procedures and requirements.
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-1850
What is an Agricultural Law Enforcement Specialist?
A GS-1850 Agricultural Law Enforcement Specialist enforces agricultural regulations protecting American agriculture from pests, diseases, and illegal activities. These specialists conduct agricultural inspections, investigate violations, collect evidence, and coordinate enforcement actions—working primarily for USDA APHIS and protecting plant and animal health at borders and throughout the country.
How much does a federal Agricultural Law Enforcement Specialist make?
Federal Agricultural Law Enforcement Specialists earn between $34,454 (GS-5 Step 1) and $98,422 (GS-12 Step 10) on the 2025 GS scale. Most positions are at GS-7 through GS-11. A GS-9 Agricultural Enforcement Specialist earns $52,205-$67,865. USDA APHIS is the primary employer with positions at ports of entry and field offices.
What are the requirements for GS-1850 positions?
GS-1850 follows the administrative qualification standard. Entry at GS-5 requires a bachelor's degree in agriculture, biology, criminal justice, or related field, or equivalent experience. Higher grades require specialized experience in agricultural inspection, pest/disease enforcement, or law enforcement. Knowledge of agricultural regulations and quarantine procedures is essential.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1850?
Yes, relevant military experience qualifies. Veterans with military police, customs, or security experience have transferable enforcement skills. Military experience with agricultural operations, food service inspection, or veterinary support provides relevant background. Document any experience with inspections, investigations, or regulatory enforcement.
What is the career progression for Agricultural Law Enforcement Specialist?
Agricultural Enforcement Specialists follow the GS-5/7/9/11/12 progression with journey level at GS-11. Senior specialists reach GS-12. Career paths include specializing in plant protection or animal health, transitioning to supervisory roles, or advancing to APHIS regional enforcement coordinator positions.
How do I apply for GS-1850 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for "Agricultural Law Enforcement" or "Plant Protection" under series 1850. USDA APHIS is the primary employer with positions at ports of entry and field offices nationwide. Highlight inspection experience, agricultural knowledge, and enforcement skills. Include any pest identification training or agricultural certifications.
Ready to apply for GS-1850?
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.