Home / Federal careers / GS-2032
Packaging
Performs packaging work including packaging design, specification development, and packaging operations.
What GS-2032 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-2032, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:** There are no Individual Occupational Requirements for this series.
Experience Requirements by Grade Level:
| Grade | Specialized Experience Required |
|---|---|
| GS-5 | 3 years progressively responsible general experience OR equivalent education |
| GS-7 | 1 year equivalent to GS-5 OR Superior Academic Achievement OR 1 year graduate education |
| GS-9 | 1 year equivalent to GS-7 OR 2 years graduate education/master's degree |
| GS-11 | 1 year equivalent to GS-9 OR 3 years graduate education/Ph.D. |
| GS-12+ | 1 year equivalent to next lower grade level |
Education Substitution:
- GS-5: Bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited college or university
- GS-7: 1 full academic year of graduate-level education OR Superior Academic Achievement
- GS-9: Master's degree or equivalent, OR 2 full years of progressively higher graduate education
- GS-11: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, OR 3 full years of progressively higher graduate education
Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) for GS-7: Based on (1) class standing in upper third of graduating class, (2) grade-point average of 3.0+ overall or 3.5+ in major field, or (3) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society.
Combining Education and Experience: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for grade levels where both are acceptable.
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-2032
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
Ammunition Technician
GS-2032 Packaging covers the hazardous-materials packaging, marking, and documentation work that is core to ammunition handling.
Skills that carry over: Dangerous-goods packaging, Hazmat marking and labeling, 49 CFR/IATA documentation, Shipment preparation.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9, GS-11.
Packaging Specialist
3052 maps 1:1 to the GS-2032 Packaging series. Preservation, packaging, packing, and marking to military specification is the exact work this series classifies.
Skills that carry over: Preservation and packaging, MIL-STD specification, Hazmat packaging, Marking and shipping documentation.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7, GS-9, GS-11.
Traffic Management
Traffic Management personnel are involved in packaging and shipping operations, providing a foundation for packaging design and compliance roles.
Skills that carry over: Packaging methods, Materials handling, Testing, Standards, Specifications.
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
- Design packaging systems
- Develop specifications
- Test packaging materials
- Ensure packaging compliance
- Analyze packaging requirements
- Manage packaging operations
Key competencies
Packaging Methods
Knowledge of packaging techniques.
Materials
Understanding of packaging materials.
Specifications
Ability to develop packaging specs.
Testing
Skill in evaluating packaging effectiveness.
Standards
Knowledge of packaging standards.
Training
Ability to train on packaging procedures.
Problem Solving
Skill in solving packaging issues.
Documentation
Ability to maintain packaging records.
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-2032
What is a Packaging Specialist?
A GS-2032 Packaging Specialist designs, develops, and manages packaging for federal shipments—ensuring items are protected during transportation and storage. These specialists develop packaging specifications, test materials, ensure compliance with military packaging standards (MIL-STD), and manage packaging operations primarily for DOD shipments of equipment, weapons, and supplies.
How much does a federal Packaging Specialist make?
Federal Packaging 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 Packaging Specialist earns $52,205-$67,865. DOD, DLA, and military depots are primary employers requiring packaging expertise for defense shipments.
What are the requirements for GS-2032 positions?
GS-2032 follows the administrative qualification standard. Entry at GS-5 requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. Higher grades require specialized packaging experience. Knowledge of MIL-STD packaging requirements, material properties, and testing methods is essential. Understanding of shipping requirements and hazardous materials packaging is valuable.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-2032?
Yes, military packaging experience directly transfers. Veterans who worked in preservation and packaging, shipping operations, or supply functions involving packaging requirements have relevant backgrounds. Experience applying MIL-STD packaging specifications, preparing shipments, or testing packaging materials provides qualifying experience.
What is the career progression for Packaging Specialist?
Packaging Specialists follow the GS-5/7/9/11/12 progression with journey level at GS-9 or GS-11. Senior specialists reach GS-12. Career paths include specializing in hazardous materials packaging, transitioning to transportation management, or advancing to supervisory positions overseeing packaging operations at depots.
How do I apply for GS-2032 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for "Packaging Specialist" under series 2032. DOD depots, DLA, and military supply activities are primary employers. Highlight packaging experience, knowledge of MIL-STD requirements, and material testing skills. Include specific types of items packaged and any hazardous materials packaging certifications.
Ready to apply for GS-2032?
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.