Introduction
All federal employees, except those in the executive branch, must have a GS grade to be promoted. That means that unless you’re already at a high-level position and are being promoted out of it, you need a GS-14 to be considered for any future promotion. If you’re not already in a high-level position where your job responsibilities aren’t dependent on your rank, then you probably can’t move up without getting a GS 14.
GS14 is a General Schedule classification, an occupational title used to identify the general nature of work performed by an employee. It can also refer to a rating in the General Service category. The GS14 level is a midpoint of federal government jobs, usually reserved for those with several years of relevant experience.
About GS-14
General Schedule (GS) employees are non-defense federal workers who perform blue-collar and white-collar jobs for the government. GS employees are broken into 15 pay grades, known as general schedule grade levels. Each grade level has 10 steps. It’s important to note that although they have the same title and pay scale; different General Schedule grades often have different job responsibilities.
GS14 is the 14th pay grade on the GS pay scale. This is the scale that most civilian government employees use to figure out how much they get paid. Most of the time, the GS14 pay grade is only given to high-level technical specialists, supervisors, and other top professionals with advanced degrees.
The GS14 level is for people who have excelled in their field. This is usually a position of leadership, with up to 100 people working under them. At the GS14 level, there are also jobs in science, research, and engineering. These technical jobs are about the same level as a professor at a university.
How to Become a GS-14?
First, you must understand what a GS14 is. A GS14 is someone who has been given a certain title based on the skill set and knowledge they have. To become a GS14, you must have certain knowledge and skills that are relevant to the job.
This is an amazing achievement that few can accomplish, and it will take a lot of hard work and determination to get there. Once you achieve this level of employment, you will be a part of a very exclusive group of people who work in some of the most important and interesting fields.
The requirements change so often depending on the needs of the government. Once you have decided you are ready to make the switch to a GS-14, you must decide what type of position you want.
You can either go for promotion from within or apply for a position from outside your organization. Depending on the organization (GS), the process is different.
As a GS-14, your days will be long and full of challenges. If you succeed at becoming a GS-14, you will have to be prepared to work long hours, often with little or no days off. This is not a job you can do while popping in and out as your schedule allows. You have to be on call and ready to respond when needed.
Salary of GS-14 Employee
Base pay for a GS-14 employee is determined by pay grade and step and is shown in the salary table that is released yearly by the Office of Personnel Management. Your pay grade and step will determine how much you will make above that. But your actual payment will be higher because of the cost-of-living change for the area where you work.
In 2022, a GS-14 worker’s actual wage adjustment may be anywhere from a minimum of 16.2% in locations without a defined cost-of-living adjustment to a high of 42.74% for workers in San Francisco. You can use a GS Salary Calculator or check the Locality Adjustments Table to find the actual base salary for a GS-14 in your location.
Generally, Step 1 of a GS-14 worker’s pay scale is $95,973 per year, and Step 10 is where the base pay goes as high as $124,764 per year. The base hourly pay for a Step 1 GS-14 worker is $45.99.
The Pros of Being a GS-14
- At this level of employment, you will be making a very good living. The average salary for a GS-14 employee is $108,000 per annum.
- You will be in charge of a team of people who report to you and whose lives will be affected by the decisions you make. You will be able to provide a good life for yourself and your family.
- If you work for the federal government, you will also receive a very good benefits package that provides health, dental, and vision coverage, as well as a 401(k) retirement plan.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a GS-14 is no small feat. You will face many challenges along the way, and only a small percentage of people who choose this path will achieve their goals. If you are certain that this is a height you want to attain, you should be ready for the challenges that would come with it. Your standard of living will never remain the same if you hold on long enough to achieve it.
FAQs
1.What are the challenges of Being a GS-14
If you have decided to become a GS-14, you have to be prepared for a host of challenges. Long hours, low work-life balance, and high stress are just a few of the things you will have to deal with daily. You will have to be able to balance your personal life with your professional one. You must be able to set appropriate boundaries between the two or you will quickly burn out.
2.What Rank in the Military Is GS-14 the Same As?
In terms of pay, a GS-14 job in the civilian government is about the same as an O-5 job in the military. The rank O-5 in the U.S. Army is Lieutenant Colonel.
