PublicPay

Trade Specialist federal salary series 1140

Full-time federal employees in the Trade Specialist series earned a median of $147,365 in annualized adjusted basic pay in September 2026, 34% above the all-federal median of $109,641. The middle half earned between $129,904 and $163,104.

Median pay
$147,365
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$129,904–$163,104
25th–75th percentile
Employees
479
in this series, all schedules
Change in median
+0.5%
vs. September 2025
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Trade Specialist
All federal (full-time)

What shapes trade specialist pay

The most common grade with published pay is GS-13 (251 employees, median $137,926). The largest employer of this series with published pay is the Department of Commerce (367 employees). Federal pay depends mostly on grade and step, plus a locality adjustment for where the job is located; see the GS pay scale explainer.

Trade Specialist pay by grade

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

Trade Specialist pay by grade
Pay plan–grade Employees Median pay Middle 50%
GS-13 251 $137,926 $125,922–$150,203
GS-14 130 $163,104 $153,509–$172,700
GS-15 51 $197,200 $187,618–$197,200

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

Trade Specialist pay by agency

Trade Specialist pay by agency
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of Commerce 367 $148,711 $129,904–$163,104
Department of Agriculture 78 $150,203 $133,964–$163,104

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

Trade Specialist pay by state

The 1 states with the most employees in this series and published pay.

Trade Specialist pay by state
State Employees Median pay Middle 50%
District of Columbia 291 $148,711 $129,904–$167,902

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

Change since September 2025

The median moved +0.5% from $146,651 in September 2025 to $147,365 in September 2026. Headcount went from 604 to 479 (−20.7%). 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 Business and Industry Group