Home / Federal careers / GS-1863
Food Inspection
Performs food inspection work including food safety evaluation, sanitation inspection, and regulatory compliance.
What GS-1863 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-1863, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in food science, biology, chemistry, or related field
OR
Experience: Experience in food inspection, food safety, or quality assurance.
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-1863
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
Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist
Direct translation to food inspection roles. Highlight food safety, inspection procedures, and compliance monitoring.
Skills that carry over: Food Inspection, Safety Standards, Compliance Monitoring, Documentation, Quality Control.
Usually opens at: GS-5, 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 food processing facilities
- Evaluate food safety practices
- Conduct sanitation inspections
- Collect food samples
- Enforce food safety regulations
- Prepare inspection reports
Key competencies
Food Safety Regulations
Knowledge of USDA/FDA food safety regulations.
Inspection
Skill in conducting food facility inspections.
Hazard Identification
Ability to identify food safety hazards.
HACCP
Understanding of HACCP principles and procedures.
Sampling
Skill in collecting food samples for laboratory analysis.
Report Writing
Ability to prepare inspection reports.
Enforcement
Skill in taking enforcement actions.
Communication
Ability to work with food industry personnel.
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-1863
What is a Food Inspector?
A GS-1863 Food Inspector ensures the safety of the American food supply by inspecting food processing facilities, evaluating food safety practices, conducting sanitation inspections, collecting samples for laboratory analysis, and enforcing food safety regulations. These specialists work primarily for USDA FSIS (meat, poultry, egg products) and FDA (other foods) to prevent foodborne illness.
How much does a federal Food Inspector make?
Federal Food Inspectors earn between $34,454 (GS-5 Step 1) and $98,422 (GS-12 Step 10) on the 2025 GS scale. Most FSIS inspectors are at GS-7 through GS-9. A GS-8 Food Inspector earns $47,265-$61,449. USDA FSIS is the largest employer with inspectors stationed at meat and poultry plants nationwide.
What are the requirements for GS-1863 positions?
GS-1863 follows the administrative qualification standard. Entry at GS-5 requires a bachelor's degree in food science, biology, chemistry, or related field, or equivalent experience. Higher grades require specialized experience in food inspection or food safety. Knowledge of HACCP principles, food safety regulations, and sanitation standards is essential.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1863?
Yes, relevant military experience qualifies. Veterans with food service inspection, culinary specialist, or preventive medicine experience have transferable skills. Military experience in field sanitation, food safety programs, or quality assurance for dining facilities provides relevant background. Document any food handling certifications or inspection experience.
What is the career progression for Food Inspector?
Food Inspectors follow the GS-5/7/9/11/12 progression with journey level at GS-9. Senior inspectors reach GS-11/12. Career paths include specializing in specific product categories, transitioning to FSIS compliance investigator roles, or advancing to supervisory positions overseeing inspection circuits.
How do I apply for GS-1863 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for "Food Inspector" or "Food Safety" under series 1863. USDA FSIS (largest employer), FDA, and state partners hire inspectors. FSIS actively recruits and offers student programs. Highlight food safety knowledge, HACCP training, and inspection experience. Be prepared for placement at processing facilities—often in rural locations.
Ready to apply for GS-1863?
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.