National Science Foundation salaries

Full-time civilian employees of the National Science Foundation earned a median of $174,752 in annualized adjusted basic pay in September 2026, 59% above the all-federal median of $109,641. The middle half earned between $126,313 and $209,600.

Median pay

$174,752

full-time, September 2026

Middle 50%

$126,313–$209,600

25th–75th percentile

Employees

1,135

all schedules

Pay published for

98.7%

of employees

Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026

National Science Foundation

$96,84310th $126,31325th $174,752Median $209,60075th $209,60090th

All federal (full-time)

National Science Foundation pay by occupation

The 12 largest occupations at this agency with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay.

National Science Foundation pay by occupation
Occupation	Employees	Median pay	Middle 50%
Management and Program Analysis Series 0343	206	$111,087	$96,843–$131,318
Miscellaneous Administration and Program Series 0301	112	$158,306	$112,264–$186,207
General Physical Science Series 1301	95	$209,600	$193,260–$209,600
Information Technology Management Series 2210	64	$177,497	$158,306–$187,093
General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series 0401	64	$209,600	$166,134–$209,600
Program Management Series 0340	53	$221,434	$209,600–$222,352
General Engineering Series 0801	50	$209,600	$194,966–$209,600
Human Resources Management Series 0201	42	$158,322	$134,979–$177,497
General Education and Training Series 1701	41	$209,600	$200,816–$209,600
Grants Management Series 1109	40	$158,314	$140,054–$172,700
Financial Administration and Program Series 0501	38	$172,700	$142,084–$196,767
Social Science Series 0101	37	$209,600	$188,362–$209,600

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

National Science Foundation pay by state

States where the agency has at least 30 full-time employees with published pay and a published duty station.

National Science Foundation pay by state
State	Employees	Median pay	Middle 50%
Virginia	994	$177,497	$129,728–$209,600
Maryland	35	$133,964	$122,899–$177,498

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Change since September 2025

The median moved −2.0% from $178,385 in September 2025 to $174,752 in September 2026. Headcount went from 1,503 to 1,135 (−24.5%). A change in the median reflects both pay adjustments and who joined or left the workforce, so it is not the same as a pay raise.