PublicPay

Tax Law Specialist federal salary series 0987

Full-time federal employees in the Tax Law Specialist series earned a median of $158,939 in annualized adjusted basic pay in September 2026, 45% above the all-federal median of $109,641. The middle half earned between $134,162 and $177,497.

Median pay
$158,939
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$134,162–$177,497
25th–75th percentile
Employees
329
in this series, all schedules
Change in median
+2.7%
vs. September 2025
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Tax Law Specialist
All federal (full-time)

What shapes tax law specialist pay

The most common grade with published pay is GS-14 (157 employees, median $169,454). The largest employer of this series with published pay is the Department of the Treasury (329 employees). Among states with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay, the median is highest in California ($178,979) and lowest in Texas ($135,024), 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.

Tax Law Specialist pay by grade

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

Tax Law Specialist pay by grade
Pay plan–grade Employees Median pay Middle 50%
GS-13 94 $129,478 $121,237–$142,469
GS-14 157 $169,454 $159,551–$180,632

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

Tax Law Specialist pay by agency

Tax Law Specialist pay by agency
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of the Treasury 329 $158,939 $134,162–$177,497

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

Tax Law Specialist pay by state

The 4 states with the most employees in this series and published pay.

Tax Law Specialist pay by state
State Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Texas 43 $135,024 $124,019–$159,544
Maryland 40 $167,902 $158,306–$187,093
California 38 $178,979 $166,185–$190,627
District of Columbia 35 $177,497 $167,902–$187,093

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

Change since September 2025

The median moved +2.7% from $154,730 in September 2025 to $158,939 in September 2026. Headcount went from 394 to 329 (−16.5%). 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.

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