Office of Personnel Management (OPM) — Salaries & Pay 2026
OPM employs 2,900 civilian FTE (OMB, FY2024). A representative OPM agency-specific average is unavailable from public data, so this page uses the $111,181/year government-wide benchmark (OPM, 2026).
FTE Source: OMB Analytical Perspectives, FY2027 Budget, Table 5-1 • Salary Source: OPM FWD, April 2026
OPM Pay at a Glance
Employment and salary benchmarks from OMB and OPM official publications.
The Office of Personnel Management employed 2,900 civilian FTE as of FY2024 (OMB). The government-wide federal salary benchmark is $111,181/year as of 2026 (OPM). A representative agency-specific average is not shown because public salary records are redaction-limited. Use our GS Pay Calculator for your exact salary by grade, step, and location.
FTE = full-time equivalent; part-time employees count fractionally. Salary is base pay + locality pay; excludes benefits. View agency salary detail on OPM FedScope →
OPM Employment Overview
| Metric | Value | Source & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian FTE (FY2024) | 2,900 | OMB Analytical Perspectives FY2027 Budget, Table 5-1 (2024 Actual). FTE, not headcount. |
| Avg Salary Benchmark | $111,181 | OPM Federal Workforce Data portal (data.opm.gov), April 2026. Agency-specific public records are too redaction-limited for a representative average. |
| Pay system | General Schedule (GS) + others | Most OPM civilians on GS (15 grades x 10 steps). Some on SES, SL/ST, wage grade, or special rate tables. |
| Pay period | Biweekly (26x/yr) | Divide annual salary by 26 for biweekly gross pay. |
| Locality pay | 17.06% – 46.34% | Varies by duty station across 58 OPM pay areas. Rate x 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 OPM
Major occupational categories employed at Office of Personnel Management. Actual pay for each category depends on GS grade, step, and duty station. Use the GS Pay Calculator for a personalized figure.
- →Human resources specialists & analysts
- →Benefits & retirement claims processors
- →Policy analysts & classification specialists
- →IT & data systems (USA Staffing, USAJobs)
- →Attorneys & investigators
About Office of Personnel Management
The federal government's HR agency. Manages FEHB health benefits program (~8 million enrollees), FERS/CSRS retirement systems, and USAJobs.gov. Also conducts background investigations. FTE figure reflects post-2025 workforce reductions; OMB notes function transfers to GSA. OPM redacts ~37% of its own salary records in public data.
Calculate Your Exact OPM Salary
Your actual pay depends on your GS grade, step, and duty station locality. Use our free calculator for an instant, accurate result.
OPM Pay — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary at the Office of Personnel Management?
A representative agency-specific average salary for OPM is not available from the public OPM EHRI snapshot because too many records are redacted or suppressed. FedTools shows the government-wide federal civilian salary benchmark of $111,181 as of 2026 instead of publishing a misleading partial average.
How many employees does the OPM have?
The Office of Personnel Management employed 2,900 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 OPM?
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). OPM employees in different metropolitan areas receive different locality adjustments — from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to 46.34% in San Jose-San Francisco. Use our GS Pay Calculator to find your rate.
Do OPM employees receive federal benefits?
Yes. OPM 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 OPM 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 OPM 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.
Other Federal Agency Pay Pages
Salary benchmarks and employment data for every major federal agency.
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.