GS-0460 Forestry — Federal Salary & Workforce Data (2026)
Federal Forester — GS-0460. The verified average salary for GS-0460 Forestrys is $88,557/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Data from 1,634 non-redacted OPM records (April 2026).
Salary Source: OPM Federal Workforce Data (EHRI Snapshot, April 2026) • Records included: 1,634 • Redaction rate: 6.2%
GS-0460 Forestry — Pay at a Glance
Salary and workforce snapshot from OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026.
The GS-0460 Forestry series showed 1,634 non-redacted federal employees in the April 2026 OPM snapshot. The verified average salary is $88,557/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Use our GS Pay Calculator for your exact salary by grade, step, and location.
Salary = base pay + locality pay; excludes benefits. REDACTED records (OPM data release policy) are excluded from averages. Pay plan: General Schedule (GS). View occupation salary detail on OPM FedScope →
GS-0460 Employment Overview
| Metric | Value | Source & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Series Salary | $88,557 | OPM EHRI Snapshot (April 2026). 1,634 non-redacted records. Base + locality pay; excludes benefits. |
| Non-redacted records (sample size) | 1,634 | OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026. REDACTED records excluded per OPM data release policy. |
| Redaction rate | 6.2% | 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) | Primary pay plan(s) used for this occupational series in the federal government. |
| Typical grades | GS-5 to GS-13 | Most common grade range for this series. Actual assignment depends on the position description and agency. |
| Locality pay | 17.06% – 46.34% | Varies by duty station across 58 OPM pay areas. Rate x 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-0460 Forestrys
Based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026). Actual grade, step, and locality assignment varies by position and location.
- →U.S. Forest Service (USDA)
- →Bureau of Land Management (BLM / Interior)
- →National Park Service (NPS / Interior)
- →Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS / USDA)
Key Duties — GS-0460 Forestry
Representative duties for the 0460 occupational series based on OPM classification standards. Specific responsibilities vary by position and agency.
- →National forest land and timber management
- →Forest inventory, silviculture, and stand management planning
- →Wildfire prevention, fuels management, and prescribed burning
- →Watershed and riparian area management
- →Environmental analysis under NEPA for forest management projects
About the GS-0460 Forestry Series
Federal Foresters (GS-0460) — the professional category — are distinct from Forestry Technicians (GS-0462), who perform support-level duties. Professional foresters require a B.S. in forestry or a closely related field meeting Society of American Foresters (SAF) standards. The USFS manages 193 million acres across 154 national forests and 20 grasslands — the largest land management workforce in the federal government. The $88,557 average reflects the mid-grade distribution of forest managers, with field-level GS-9/11 foresters moderating the average relative to senior program leaders at GS-13.
Calculate Your Exact GS-0460 Salary
Your actual pay depends on your GS grade, step, and duty station locality. Use our free calculator for an instant, accurate result.
GS-0460 Forestry — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a GS-0460 Forestry?
The verified average salary for the GS-0460 Forestry series is $88,557 as of 2026, based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot data (1,634 non-redacted records; 6.2% redaction rate). Use our GS Pay Calculator to find your exact pay by grade, step, and duty station.
What GS grades apply to the 0460 series?
The GS-0460 Forestry series typically spans GS-5 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-0460 Forestrys?
The largest federal employers of GS-0460 Forestrys include: U.S. Forest Service (USDA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM / Interior), National Park Service (NPS / Interior), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS / USDA). These figures are based on the OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026).
How is federal pay determined for GS-0460 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 46.34% in San Jose–San Francisco. Use our GS Pay Calculator for an instant result.
Do GS-0460 federal employees receive FERS retirement benefits?
Yes, most GS-0460 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.
Other Federal Job Series Pay Pages
Salary data and workforce details for every GS occupational series in our database.
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.