PublicPay

Geophysics federal salary series 1313

Full-time federal employees in the Geophysics series earned a median of $148,990 in annualized adjusted basic pay in September 2026, 36% above the all-federal median of $109,641. The middle half earned between $119,660 and $183,749.

Median pay
$148,990
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$119,660–$183,749
25th–75th percentile
Employees
365
in this series, all schedules
Change in median
+2.2%
vs. September 2025
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Geophysics
All federal (full-time)

What shapes geophysics pay

The most common grade with published pay is GS-13 (82 employees, median $141,931). The largest employer of this series with published pay is the Department of the Interior (257 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.

OPM withheld pay for 23% of employees in this series. The figures here describe only employees with published pay; withholding is concentrated in certain agencies (see data coverage).

Geophysics pay by grade

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

Geophysics pay by grade
Pay plan–grade Employees Median pay Middle 50%
GS-12 71 $114,893 $109,780–$123,087
GS-13 82 $141,931 $130,738–$151,097
GS-14 69 $170,708 $158,939–$182,295
GS-15 47 $197,200 $197,200–$197,200

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

Geophysics pay by agency

Geophysics pay by agency
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of the Interior 257 $147,300 $118,617–$178,853

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

Geophysics pay by state

The 2 states with the most employees in this series and published pay.

Geophysics pay by state
State Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Colorado 88 $129,742 $104,820–$163,615
California 77 $169,808 $141,931–$197,200

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

Change since September 2025

The median moved +2.2% from $145,842 in September 2025 to $148,990 in September 2026. Headcount went from 401 to 365 (−9.0%). 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 Physical Sciences Group