PublicPay

Government Information Specialist federal salary series 0306

Full-time federal employees in the Government Information Specialist series earned a median of $121,785 in annualized adjusted basic pay in September 2026, 11% above the all-federal median of $109,641. The middle half earned between $98,630 and $146,744.

Median pay
$121,785
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$98,630–$146,744
25th–75th percentile
Employees
2,444
in this series, all schedules
Change in median
+3.4%
vs. September 2025
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Government Information Specialist
All federal (full-time)

What shapes government information specialist pay

The most common grade with published pay is GS-12 (655 employees, median $107,411). The largest employer of this series with published pay is the Department of Homeland Security (339 employees). Among states with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay, the median is highest in Maryland ($146,143) and lowest in Utah ($92,491), a gap that partly reflects locality pay differences. Federal pay depends mostly on grade and step, plus a locality adjustment for where the job is located; see the GS pay scale explainer.

OPM withheld pay for 26% of employees in this series. The figures here describe only employees with published pay; withholding is concentrated in certain agencies (see data coverage).

Government Information Specialist pay by grade

Grades with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay. GS grades are listed first; other pay plans follow.

Government Information Specialist pay by grade
Pay plan–grade Employees Median pay Middle 50%
GS-9 165 $72,012 $67,896–$77,637
GS-11 332 $87,128 $82,374–$93,610
GS-12 655 $107,411 $100,066–$113,543
GS-13 648 $133,964 $125,845–$146,143
GS-14 336 $163,104 $153,509–$172,700
GS-15 82 $197,200 $187,618–$197,200

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

Government Information Specialist pay by agency

Government Information Specialist pay by agency
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of Homeland Security 339 $109,163 $88,549–$142,084
Department of Justice 328 $129,728 $109,243–$146,143
Department of Veterans Affairs 315 $106,541 $95,475–$121,267
Department of the Treasury 286 $117,081 $93,874–$152,340
Department of Health and Human Services 165 $142,084 $125,845–$158,322
Department of the Interior 97 $116,434 $98,459–$147,945
Environmental Protection Agency 65 $130,095 $112,513–$146,337
Department of State 56 $129,904 $109,243–$143,231
Department of Transportation 55 $133,964 $116,173–$151,110
Department of Agriculture 53 $133,964 $116,724–$150,203
Department of Labor 51 $133,964 $81,536–$156,486
Social Security Administration 36 $149,530 $125,460–$169,102

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

Government Information Specialist pay by state

The 10 states with the most employees in this series and published pay.

Government Information Specialist pay by state
State Employees Median pay Middle 50%
District of Columbia 508 $142,084 $121,785–$163,104
Maryland 215 $146,143 $129,904–$163,104
Missouri 137 $94,001 $86,019–$112,196
Virginia 106 $135,994 $109,243–$158,306
Texas 88 $111,150 $92,013–$123,574
Florida 65 $101,682 $82,148–$117,081
Georgia 54 $107,343 $97,504–$127,564
California 53 $119,356 $104,349–$138,007
New York 41 $117,081 $98,459–$137,128
Pennsylvania 41 $106,541 $98,630–$129,013

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

Compare government information specialist pay across all states and agencies →

Change since September 2025

The median moved +3.4% from $117,814 in September 2025 to $121,785 in September 2026. Headcount went from 2,791 to 2,444 (−12.4%). 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.

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