Salary Source: OPM Federal Workforce Data (EHRI Snapshot, April 2026) Records included: 14,464 Redaction rate: 13.5%

GS-0620 Practical Nurse — Pay at a Glance

The GS-0620 Practical Nurse series showed 14,464 non-redacted federal employees in the April 2026 OPM snapshot. The verified average salary is $75,834/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Use our GS Pay Calculator for your exact salary by grade, step, and location.

$76K
GS-0620 verified avg salary (2026)
14.5K
Non-redacted OPM records
GS-0620
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 →

Advertisement

GS-0620 Employment Overview

GS-0620 Practical Nurse workforce data. Source: OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026.
MetricValueSource & Notes
Avg Series Salary$75,834OPM EHRI Snapshot (April 2026). 14,464 non-redacted records. Base + locality pay; excludes benefits.
Non-redacted records (sample size)14,464OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026. REDACTED records excluded per OPM data release policy.
Redaction rate13.5%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 gradesGS-5 to GS-8Most common grade range for this series. Actual assignment depends on the position description and agency.
Locality pay17.06% – 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)$197,200Executive 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-0620 Practical Nurses

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 Defense (DoD)
  • Indian Health Service (IHS)

Key Duties — GS-0620 Practical Nurse

Representative duties for the 0620 occupational series based on OPM classification standards. Specific responsibilities vary by position and agency.

  • Bedside nursing care under RN supervision
  • Vital signs, medication administration, wound care
  • Patient observation and documentation
  • Outpatient clinic support and triage
  • Long-term care and extended-stay support

About the GS-0620 Practical Nurse Series

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) provide hands-on clinical care under Registered Nurse (RN) supervision. VA operates the largest federal LPN workforce across its inpatient and outpatient facilities. The $75,834 average sits between the nursing assistant ($55,810) and RN ($131,998) averages, which is consistent with the mid-level clinical role of an LPN in the federal pay system.

Calculate Your Exact GS-0620 Salary

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

GS-0620 Practical Nurse — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a GS-0620 Practical Nurse?
The verified average salary for the GS-0620 Practical Nurse series is $75,834 as of 2026, based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot data (14,464 non-redacted records; 13.5% redaction rate). Use our GS Pay Calculator to find your exact pay by grade, step, and duty station.
What GS grades apply to the 0620 series?
The GS-0620 Practical Nurse series typically spans GS-5 to GS-8. 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-0620 Practical Nurses?
The largest federal employers of GS-0620 Practical Nurses include: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), 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-0620 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 Practical Nurse 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-0620 federal employees receive FERS retirement benefits?
Yes, most GS-0620 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.

Related Federal Employee Tools

Other Federal Job Series Pay Pages

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.