National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities (NEA/NEH) — Salaries & Pay 2026
NEA/NEH employs 200 civilian FTE (OMB, FY2024). NEA/NEH's verified average salary is $133,666/year (OPM FedScope, 2026).
FTE Source: OMB Analytical Perspectives, FY2027 Budget, Table 5-1 • Salary Source: OPM FWD, April 2026
NEA/NEH Pay at a Glance
The National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities employed 200 civilian FTE as of FY2024 (OMB). The verified average salary for NEA/NEH is $133,666/year as of 2026 (OPM FedScope). Use our GS Pay Calculator for your exact salary by grade, step, and location.
200
Civilian FTE (OMB, FY2024)
$134K
NEA/NEH verified avg salary (2026)
GS 1–15
General Schedule pay range
FTE = full-time equivalent; part-time employees count fractionally. Salary is base pay + locality pay; excludes benefits. View agency salary detail on OPM FedScope →
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NEA/NEH Employment Overview
| Metric | Value | Source & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian FTE (FY2024) | 200 | OMB Analytical Perspectives FY2027 Budget, Table 5-1 (2024 Actual). FTE, not headcount. |
| Avg Agency Salary | $133,666 | OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, REDACTED records excluded. Base + locality pay; excludes benefits. |
| Pay system | General Schedule (GS) + others | Most NEA/NEH civilians on GS (15 grades × 10 steps). Some on SES, SL/ST, wage grade, or special rate tables. |
| Pay period | Biweekly (26×/yr) | Divide annual salary by 26 for biweekly gross pay. |
| Locality pay | 17.06% – 44.15% | Varies by duty station across 58 OPM pay areas. Rate × base pay = locality supplement. |
| Pay cap (2026) | $197,200 | Executive Schedule Level IV. Applies to GS employees whose locality-adjusted salary would exceed this amount. |
Common Occupations at NEA/NEH
Major occupational categories employed at National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities. Actual pay for each category depends on GS grade, step, and duty station. Use the GS Pay Calculator for a personalized figure.
- ✓Arts and humanities program specialists
- ✓Grant reviewers and program officers
- ✓Policy analysts and research staff
- ✓Public affairs and outreach specialists
- ✓Administrative and financial management
About National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities
OPM uses dept_code AH for both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), which share an overarching statutory identity as the "National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities" under the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965. NEA awards grants to support artistic excellence; NEH supports scholarship, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. Together they award approximately $300–350 million annually through competitive grants. The $133,665 average reflects a program-officer and specialist workforce concentrated at GS-11 to GS-14.
Calculate Your Exact NEA/NEH Salary
Your actual pay depends on your GS grade, step, and duty station locality. Use our free calculator for an instant, accurate result.
NEA/NEH Pay — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary at the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities?↓
The verified average salary at NEA/NEH is $133,666 as of 2026, based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot data where REDACTED records are excluded. Use our GS Pay Calculator to find your exact salary based on grade, step, and duty station.
How many employees does the NEA/NEH have?↓
The National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities employed 200 full-time equivalent (FTE) civilian employees as of FY2024, per the OMB Analytical Perspectives FY2027 Budget Table 5-1. FTE figures count part-time employees as fractions of a full-time position.
How is federal pay determined at NEA/NEH?↓
Federal civilian pay is set by the General Schedule (GS) pay system for most employees. Pay = Base Pay (by grade and step) × (1 + Locality Rate). NEA/NEH employees in different metropolitan areas receive different locality adjustments — from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to over 44% in San Jose-San Francisco. Use our GS Pay Calculator to find your rate.
Do NEA/NEH employees receive federal benefits?↓
Yes. NEA/NEH employees receive the full federal benefits package: FERS retirement (pension + Social Security + TSP with agency match), FEHB health insurance, FEGLI life insurance, Federal Dental and Vision (FEDVIP), and flexible spending accounts. Use our FERS Retirement Calculator to estimate your retirement income.
What is the FERS retirement benefit for NEA/NEH employees?↓
FERS pension = High-3 Average Salary × Years of Service × 1% (or 1.1% if you retire at 62+ with 20+ years). For example, a NEA/NEH employee with a $100,000 High-3 salary and 30 years of service would receive $30,000/year ($2,500/month) in FERS pension, plus Social Security and TSP savings. Use our FERS Retirement Calculator for a personalized estimate.
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Data Accuracy Notice: FTE figures are from the OMB Analytical Perspectives FY2027 Budget (Table 5-1, 2024 Actual), a U.S. government official publication. Salary figures come from OPM's Federal Workforce Data portal (April 2026). Agency-specific averages are shown only when the public EHRI records are representative; redaction-limited agencies use the government-wide benchmark. This page does not constitute financial or career advice. Always verify current pay rates with your agency HR office and OPM.gov.