GS-0480 Fish And Wildlife Administration — Federal Salary & Workforce Data (2026)
Federal Fish and Wildlife Administrator — GS-0480. The verified average salary for GS-0480 Fish And Wildlife Administrations is $164,232/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Data from 317 non-redacted OPM records (April 2026).
Salary Source: OPM Federal Workforce Data (EHRI Snapshot, April 2026) • Records included: 317 • Redaction rate: 8.7%
GS-0480 Fish And Wildlife Administration — Pay at a Glance
Salary and workforce snapshot from OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026.
The GS-0480 Fish And Wildlife Administration series showed 317 non-redacted federal employees in the April 2026 OPM snapshot. The verified average salary is $164,232/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-0480 Employment Overview
| Metric | Value | Source & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Series Salary | $164,232 | OPM EHRI Snapshot (April 2026). 317 non-redacted records. Base + locality pay; excludes benefits. |
| Non-redacted records (sample size) | 317 | OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026. REDACTED records excluded per OPM data release policy. |
| Redaction rate | 8.7% | 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-12 to GS-15 | 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-0480 Fish And Wildlife Administrations
Based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026). Actual grade, step, and locality assignment varies by position and location.
- →U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS / Interior)
- →National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Fisheries / Commerce)
Key Duties — GS-0480 Fish And Wildlife Administration
Representative duties for the 0480 occupational series based on OPM classification standards. Specific responsibilities vary by position and agency.
- →Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing, delisting, and recovery decisions
- →Migratory bird program management under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
- →Interagency consultation under ESA Section 7 for federal projects
- →Wildlife import/export permit program administration (CITES)
- →Conservation partnerships and cooperative management agreements
About the GS-0480 Fish And Wildlife Administration Series
Fish and Wildlife Administrators manage the legal and regulatory framework for protecting and managing wildlife under federal jurisdiction. FWS and NOAA Fisheries are the primary employers, implementing the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and Marine Mammal Protection Act. The 8.7% redaction primarily reflects some interagency positions. The $164,232 average — well above the government-wide mean — reflects the GS-13 to GS-15 senior concentration of attorneys, scientists, and program managers who make legally binding decisions affecting wildlife conservation and large-scale federal infrastructure projects.
Calculate Your Exact GS-0480 Salary
Your actual pay depends on your GS grade, step, and duty station locality. Use our free calculator for an instant, accurate result.
GS-0480 Fish And Wildlife Administration — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a GS-0480 Fish And Wildlife Administration?
The verified average salary for the GS-0480 Fish And Wildlife Administration series is $164,232 as of 2026, based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot data (317 non-redacted records; 8.7% redaction rate). Use our GS Pay Calculator to find your exact pay by grade, step, and duty station.
What GS grades apply to the 0480 series?
The GS-0480 Fish And Wildlife Administration series typically spans GS-12 to GS-15. 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-0480 Fish And Wildlife Administrations?
The largest federal employers of GS-0480 Fish And Wildlife Administrations include: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS / Interior), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Fisheries / Commerce). These figures are based on the OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026).
How is federal pay determined for GS-0480 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-0480 federal employees receive FERS retirement benefits?
Yes, most GS-0480 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.