Compensation and Benefits
- Allowances and Incentives
- Annual Leave
- Credit Union and Fitness Facility
- Employee Consultation Service
- Employee Recreation Association
- Family Medical Leave
- Health Benefit Plans
- IQ: INFORMATION QUEST
- Life Insurance
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Paid Holidays
- Salary Determination for Foreign Service Officers
- Sick Leave
- Student Loan Repayment Program
- Thrift Savings Plan: equivalent to 401(k) with Government matching.
- Voluntary Leave Transfer Program
Allowances and Incentives
There are five general types of allowances and incentives: foreign travel per diem allowances, cost of living allowances, recruitment and retention incentives, quarters allowances, and other allowances. For detailed information, please click here.
Annual Leave
Vacation/Personal Leave; maximum ceiling or limitation of accrual is 30 days per leave year for employees assigned to the US; maximum ceiling or limitation of accrual is 45 days per leave year for employees assigned overseas.
- 4 hours per pay period or 13 days per leave year for less than 3 years of federal service
- 6 hours per pay period or 20 days per leave year after 3 years of federal service but less than 15 years
- 8 hours per pay period or 26 days per leave year after 15 years of federal service
Credit Union and Fitness Facility
and a host of other on-site services such as a U.S. Post Office barber/beauty shops, dry cleaner and gift/card shops.
Employee Consultation Service
Staffed by licensed clinical social workers to provide counseling and referrals for personal and family concerns.
Employee Recreation Association
Discount tickets to movies and sporting events.
Family Medical Leave
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 provides Federal employees with an entitlement of up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for the following purposes:
- The birth of a son or daughter of the employee and the care of the newborn
- The placement of a child with an employee for adoption or foster care
- The care of a child, spouse or parent of the employee with a serious health condition
- A serious health condition of the employee that makes an employee unable to perform the major functions of the job
Health Benefits Plans
Choice of extensive array of Federal Employment Health Benefits Plans, with costs shared by the Government. Employees are eligible to enroll in a wide variety of health insurance plans, including fee-for-service plans and health maintenance organizations. The employee's portion is paid through payroll deductions.
IQ: INFORMATION QUEST
A counseling, education and referral service to help employees manage personal and professional responsibilities (e.g., adoption, adult care).
Life Insurance
Foreign Service Officers are eligible to participate in the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance plan (FEGLI). The FEGLI plan offers low rates that are paid through payroll deductions. The U.S. Government pays one-third of the cost of this insurance.
Participation in the FEGLI plan is voluntary. The plan is intended as a form of immediate protection against financial hardship or loss in the event of death. It is not offered as a form of term life insurance with a cash value, such as might be purchased through private insurance agents.
Long Term Care Insurance
Long Term Care Insurance is offered and carries into your retirement.
Ten paid holidays per year
- New Year's Day (January 1)
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Third Monday in January)
- Washington's Birthday (Third Monday in February)
- Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (First Monday in September)
- Columbus Day (Second Monday in October)
- Veterans Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
(In addition to the above holidays, the U.S. Government also observes some local holidays celebrated at overseas posts of assignment.)
Salary Determination for Foreign Service Officers
For the current FS pay schedule, click here (PDF, 50kb).
The Board of Examiners and the staff of the Office of Recruitment, Examination, and Employment (HR/REE) determine a Foreign Service Officer Career Candidate's entry salary. In accordance with 22 C.F.R.11.1(g)(iii) and 3 FAM 2216.2-7, the Board of Examiners finds that there is a need in the Foreign Service for candidates with the special experience and skills listed in the FP-5 and FP-4 education and/or experience section. Salaries are set through a two-part process.
Part I - Determine grade and step based on education and/or experience.
| Education and/or Experience | Grade/Step |
|---|---|
| BACHELOR'S DEGREE and no professional experience, or | FP-6, Step 5 ($42,576) |
| No college degree and six or fewer years' professional experience. |
Candidates with a Bachelor's degree receive one additional step for each year of professional experience. For example, a candidate with a Bachelor's degree plus five years of professional experience receives FP-6, Step 10 ($49,357).
Candidates without a college degree but with more than six years of professional experience receive one additional step for each year of professional experience above six years. For example, a candidate without a college degree with 11 years of professional experience receives FP-6, Step 10 ($49,357).
| Education and/or Experience | Grade/Step |
|---|---|
| MASTER'S DEGREE OR LAW DEGREE (JD), or | FP-5, Step 5 ($47,625) |
| Bachelor's degree and minimum of six years' professional experience, or | |
| No college degree and minimum of 12 years' professional experience. |
Candidates with a Master's degree or a law degree (JD) receive one additional step for each year of professional experience. For example, a candidate with a Master's or law degree (JD) with five years of professional experience receives FP-5, Step 10 ($55,210).
Candidates with a Bachelor's degree receive one additional step for each year of professional experience above six years. For example, a Bachelor's degree plus 10 years of professional experience receives FP-5, Step 9 ($53,602).
Candidates without a college degree receive one additional step for each year of professional experience above 12 years. For example, a candidate without a degree with 17 years of experience receives FP-5, Step 10 ($55,210).
| Education and/or Experience | Grade/Step |
|---|---|
| DOCTORATE and no professional experience, or | FP-4, Step 5 ($58,775) |
| Master's or law degree (JD) and minimum of six years' professional experience, or | |
| Bachelor's degree and minimum of 12 years' professional experience, or | |
| No college degree and minimum of 18 years' professional experience. |
Candidates with a Master's degree or a law degree (JD) receive one additional step for each year of professional experience above six years. For example, a candidate with a Master's or law degree (JD) with eleven years of professional experience receives FP-4, Step 10 ($68,137).
Candidates with a Bachelor's degree receive one additional step for each year of professional experience above twelve years. For example, a Bachelor's degree plus 15 years of professional experience receives FP-4, Step 8 ($64,225).
Candidates without a college degree receive one additional step for each year of professional experience above 18 years. For example, a candidate without a degree with 23 years of experience receives FP-4, Step 10 ($68,137).
Part II - Attempt to match salary for those who lose money in joining the Foreign Service.
Once grade and step are determined, based on education and experience in Part I, the candidate's current salary is examined to see if he/she will lose money by joining the Foreign Service. If so, the starting salary should be raised to the step in the grade for which the candidate is qualified that is closest to the current salary. If the current salary falls between two steps, the higher of the two steps is the starting salary. If the current salary is too high to be matched in the class for which qualified, Step 14 of that class is the starting salary.
Federal civilian employees currently receiving DC locality pay will be allowed to include DC locality pay as part of their "current salary." Federal civilian employees who do not currently receive DC locality pay will not be allowed to include locality pay as part of their "current salary."
NOTES:
"Current salary" means salary earned for at least 90 days prior to appointment as a Foreign Service Career Candidate. Candidates must submit proof of the "current salary;" for example: a copy of 90 days' worth of earnings statements; SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action (for federal civilian employees only); a statement on letterhead from the Human Resources Office of their most recent employer; or other appropriate documentation.
For those in the private sector, "current salary" also means that there must not have been a break in service of more than 45 calendar days* between the candidate's most recent employment and appointment as a Foreign Service Career Candidate. For federal civilian employees, there must not have been a break in service of more than three calendar days between their civilian employment and appointment to the Foreign Service (in accordance with government-wide regulations).
For a more detailed explanation on determining entry grades, salary standards, and salary review procedures, please click here (http://careers.state.gov/FS_entrysalaries/).
Sick Leave
Accrued at a rate of 4 hours per pay period, 13 days per leave year.
Student Loan Repayment Program
The State Department ranks near the top of all federal agencies offering the Student Loan Repayment Program. Since the program's implementation in 2002, this recruitment and retention incentive has assisted more than 1650 Civil Service and Foreign Service employees pay down considerable student loan debt. Foreign Service Officers are eligible to apply when assigned to and encumbering positions at designated criteria hardship and/or danger pay posts around the world. For Foreign Service employees the purpose of the program is to encourage assignments to the more challenging U.S. Embassies and Consulates. Since implementation in 2002, annually the Department has annually approved payments of close to $5,000 be made to qualifying Department of State employees.
Queries regarding the specifics of our Student Loan Repayment Program may be directed to the Department at SLRP@state.gov. A response will be forthcoming within two business days.
Thrift Savings Plan (equivalent to 401(K) with Government matching)
Foreign Service Officers may participate in the Thrift Savings Plan; a long-term savings and investment program for federal employees designed to provide retirement income.
Voluntary Leave Transfer Program
A federal program that enables one federal civilian employee to transfer annual leave to another federal employee who faces a personal medical emergency or a medical emergency of a family member.
