PublicPay

Public Health Program Specialist federal salary series 0685

Full-time federal employees in the Public Health Program Specialist series earned a median of $142,573 in annualized adjusted basic pay in September 2026, 30% above the all-federal median of $109,641. The middle half earned between $123,812 and $163,104.

Median pay
$142,573
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$123,812–$163,104
25th–75th percentile
Employees
3,155
in this series, all schedules
Change in median
+1.5%
vs. September 2025
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Public Health Program Specialist
All federal (full-time)

What shapes public health program specialist pay

The most common grade with published pay is GS-13 (1,427 employees, median $133,964). The largest employer of this series with published pay is the Department of Health and Human Services (3,097 employees). Among states with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay, the median is highest in District of Columbia ($158,322) and lowest in Florida ($120,629), 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.

Public Health Program Specialist pay by grade

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

Public Health Program Specialist pay by grade
Pay plan–grade Employees Median pay Middle 50%
GS-9 118 $70,700 $67,447–$74,356
GS-11 67 $87,820 $84,704–$94,119
GS-12 326 $104,120 $100,964–$110,664
GS-13 1,427 $133,964 $125,845–$146,143
GS-14 796 $164,047 $155,178–$172,915
GS-15 296 $197,200 $187,742–$197,200

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

Public Health Program Specialist pay by agency

Public Health Program Specialist pay by agency
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of Health and Human Services 3,097 $142,120 $123,812–$163,104
Department of State 45 $177,497 $158,322–$197,200

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

Public Health Program Specialist pay by state

The 9 states with the most employees in this series and published pay.

Public Health Program Specialist pay by state
State Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Georgia 1,252 $142,573 $123,812–$159,612
Maryland 1,039 $150,203 $133,964–$172,700
District of Columbia 136 $158,322 $133,964–$187,093
California 76 $136,495 $111,306–$158,868
Texas 74 $134,195 $107,038–$147,300
Colorado 51 $132,522 $119,418–$154,268
Florida 44 $120,629 $117,081–$132,250
New York 38 $133,794 $116,030–$154,700
Pennsylvania 34 $133,931 $119,451–$154,263

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

Compare public health program specialist pay across all states and agencies →

Change since September 2025

The median moved +1.5% from $140,469 in September 2025 to $142,573 in September 2026. Headcount went from 3,518 to 3,155 (−10.3%). 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.

Related occupations in Medical, Hospital, Dental, and Public Health Group