GS-0185 Social Work: Federal Salary & Workforce Data (2026)

Salary Source: OPM Federal Workforce Data (EHRI Snapshot, April 2026) • Records included: 20,944 • Redaction rate: 8.0%

GS-0185 Social Work — Pay at a Glance

The GS-0185 Social Work series showed 20,944 non-redacted federal employees in the April 2026 OPM snapshot. The verified average salary is $110,406/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Use our GS Pay Calculator for your exact salary by grade, step, and location.

$110K

GS-0185 verified avg salary (2026)

20.9K

Non-redacted OPM records

GS-0185

OPM occupational series

Salary = base pay + locality pay; excludes benefits. REDACTED records (OPM data release policy) are excluded from averages. Pay plan: General Schedule (GS) / Title 38 (VA). View occupation salary detail on OPM FedScope →

GS-0185 Employment Overview

GS-0185 Social Work workforce data. Source: OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026.
Metric	Value	Source & Notes
Avg Series Salary	$110,406	OPM EHRI Snapshot (April 2026). 20,944 non-redacted records. Base + locality pay; excludes benefits.
Non-redacted records (sample size)	20,944	OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026. REDACTED records excluded per OPM data release policy.
Redaction rate	8.0%	OPM redacts salary records for privacy-sensitive positions (DoD, law enforcement, intelligence). FedTools suppresses series averages when redaction exceeds 20%.
Pay plan(s)	General Schedule (GS) / Title 38 (VA)	Primary pay plan(s) used for this occupational series in the federal government.
Typical grades	GS-9 to GS-13	Most common grade range for this series. Actual assignment depends on the position description and agency.
Locality pay	17.06% – 44.15%	Varies by duty station across 58 OPM pay areas. Rate × base pay = locality supplement. Included in the average salary above.
Pay cap (2026)	$197,200	Executive Schedule Level IV. Applies to GS employees whose locality-adjusted salary would exceed this amount. Title 38 and special pay plans may exceed this cap.

Top Agencies Employing GS-0185 Social Works

Based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026). Actual grade, step, and locality assignment varies by position and location.

✓Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
✓Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
✓Department of Defense (DoD)
✓Indian Health Service (IHS)

Key Duties — GS-0185 Social Work

Representative duties for the 0185 occupational series based on OPM classification standards. Specific responsibilities vary by position and agency.

→Mental health and behavioral health counseling (VA)
→Veteran transition and reintegration support
→Case management for disability and chronic illness
→Child and family welfare services
→Substance abuse treatment coordination

About the GS-0185 Social Work Series

VA is the nation's largest employer of social workers. Federal social workers serve veterans at VAMC mental health clinics, homeless veteran programs, and community integration programs. The $110,406 average reflects both GS and Title 38 pay plans used across agencies.

Calculate Your Exact GS-0185 Salary

Your actual pay depends on your GS grade, step, and duty station locality. Use our free calculator for an instant, accurate result.

GS Pay Calculator →FERS Retirement Calculator →

GS-0185 Social Work — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a GS-0185 Social Work?↓

The verified average salary for the GS-0185 Social Work series is $110,406 as of 2026, based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot data (20,944 non-redacted records; 8.0% redaction rate). Use our GS Pay Calculator to find your exact pay by grade, step, and duty station.

What GS grades apply to the 0185 series?↓

The GS-0185 Social Work series typically spans GS-9 to GS-13. Actual grade assignment depends on the position description, agency, and your qualifications. Use our GS Pay Calculator to look up the exact salary for any grade, step, and locality.

Which agencies employ GS-0185 Social Works?↓

The largest federal employers of GS-0185 Social Works include: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Defense (DoD), Indian Health Service (IHS). These figures are based on the OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026).

How is federal pay determined for GS-0185 positions?↓

Federal civilian pay for GS positions = Base Pay (by grade and step) × (1 + Locality Rate). The GS table has 15 grades (GS-1 through GS-15) and 10 steps per grade. Locality adjustments range from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to over 44% in San Jose–San Francisco. Note: Some Social Work positions (especially at VA) use Title 38 or special pay plans that allow above-GS-cap compensation. Use our GS Pay Calculator for an instant result.

Do GS-0185 federal employees receive FERS retirement benefits?↓

Yes, most GS-0185 positions qualify for the full federal benefits package: FERS pension (1–1.1% × High-3 Salary × Years of Service), TSP with up to 5% agency match, FEHB health insurance (government pays ~70% of premium), FEGLI life insurance, and FEDVIP dental/vision. Use our FERS Retirement Calculator to estimate your retirement income.

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Data Accuracy Notice (YMYL): Salary figures are from the OPM Federal Workforce Data portal (EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026). The annualized_adjusted_basic_pay field captures base pay + locality pay under all pay plans (GS, Title 38, special rates). REDACTED records are excluded per OPM data release policy. FedTools publishes series-specific averages only when the non-redacted sample is representative (redaction ≤ 20%, n ≥ 50). This page does not constitute financial or career advice. Always verify current pay rates with your agency HR office and OPM.gov.

GS-0185 Social Work — Federal Salary & Workforce Data (2026)