Home / Federal careers / GS-1862
Consumer Safety Inspection
Performs consumer safety inspection work including product safety evaluation and compliance enforcement.
What GS-1862 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-1862, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, food science, or related field
OR
Experience: Experience in consumer product safety, inspection, or regulatory 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-1862
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
Focuses on environmental safety and compliance, similar to consumer safety roles.
Skills that carry over: Inspection, Safety Regulations, Report Writing.
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
- Inspect consumer products
- Evaluate product safety
- Conduct compliance inspections
- Collect product samples
- Prepare inspection reports
- Coordinate recalls
Key competencies
Safety Regulations
Knowledge of consumer safety regulations.
Inspection
Skill in conducting product safety inspections.
Hazard Identification
Ability to identify product safety hazards.
Sampling
Skill in collecting product samples for analysis.
Report Writing
Ability to prepare inspection reports.
Investigation
Skill in investigating consumer complaints.
Communication
Ability to work with manufacturers and the public.
Enforcement
Skill in taking appropriate enforcement actions.
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-1862
What is a Consumer Safety Inspector?
A GS-1862 Consumer Safety Inspector evaluates product safety and enforces consumer protection regulations. These specialists inspect consumer products, identify safety hazards, collect samples for laboratory analysis, investigate consumer complaints, and coordinate product recalls—working primarily for CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) and FDA to protect Americans from unsafe products.
How much does a federal Consumer Safety Inspector make?
Federal Consumer Safety Inspectors 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 Consumer Safety Inspector earns $52,205-$67,865. CPSC, FDA, and USDA are primary employers with positions across the country.
What are the requirements for GS-1862 positions?
GS-1862 follows the administrative qualification standard. Entry at GS-5 requires a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, food science, or related field, or equivalent experience. Higher grades require specialized experience in product safety, inspection, or regulatory compliance. Knowledge of safety regulations and hazard identification skills are essential.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1862?
Yes, relevant military experience qualifies. Veterans with quality assurance, safety inspection, or regulatory compliance experience have transferable skills. Military experience in product testing, safety programs, or supply quality control provides relevant background. Document specific inspection types conducted and safety programs managed.
What is the career progression for Consumer Safety Inspector?
Consumer Safety Inspectors follow the GS-5/7/9/11/12 progression with journey level at GS-11. Senior inspectors reach GS-12. Career paths include specializing in specific product categories, transitioning to compliance officer roles, or advancing to supervisory positions overseeing regional inspection programs.
How do I apply for GS-1862 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for "Consumer Safety Inspector" or "Safety Inspector" under series 1862. CPSC, FDA, and USDA are primary employers. Highlight product safety experience, inspection skills, and scientific background. Include specific product categories inspected and laboratory analysis experience in your federal resume.
Ready to apply for GS-1862?
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.