GS-1165 Loan Specialist — Federal Salary & Workforce Data (2026)
Federal Loan Specialist — GS-1165. The verified average salary for GS-1165 Loan Specialists is $94,460/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Data from 3,942 non-redacted OPM records (April 2026).
Salary Source: OPM Federal Workforce Data (EHRI Snapshot, April 2026) • Records included: 3,942 • Redaction rate: 1.1%
GS-1165 Loan Specialist — Pay at a Glance
Salary and workforce snapshot from OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026.
The GS-1165 Loan Specialist series showed 3,942 non-redacted federal employees in the April 2026 OPM snapshot. The verified average salary is $94,460/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-1165 Employment Overview
| Metric | Value | Source & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Series Salary | $94,460 | OPM EHRI Snapshot (April 2026). 3,942 non-redacted records. Base + locality pay; excludes benefits. |
| Non-redacted records (sample size) | 3,942 | OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026. REDACTED records excluded per OPM data release policy. |
| Redaction rate | 1.1% | 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-7 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-1165 Loan Specialists
Based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026). Actual grade, step, and locality assignment varies by position and location.
- →Small Business Administration (SBA)
- →Department of Agriculture (USDA — Farm Service Agency, Rural Development)
- →Department of Veterans Affairs (VA — Home Loan Guaranty)
- →Department of Education (Student Aid)
- →Department of Housing and Urban Development (FHA)
Key Duties — GS-1165 Loan Specialist
Representative duties for the 1165 occupational series based on OPM classification standards. Specific responsibilities vary by position and agency.
- →Loan application review, underwriting, and credit analysis
- →Business and personal financial statement analysis (SBA loans)
- →Agricultural loan origination and servicing (FSA)
- →Federal student loan processing and compliance review
- →Disaster loan program administration (SBA)
About the GS-1165 Loan Specialist Series
Federal Loan Specialists administer the government's credit programs — from SBA small business loans and USDA farm loans to VA home loan guarantees and FEMA disaster loans. The role ranges from entry-level application processing to complex underwriting of multi-million-dollar commercial loans. The 1.1% redaction rate is near-zero, making the $94,460 average highly representative. This series is spread across multiple agencies, so typical duties and grade levels vary significantly depending on the loan program. The GS-7 to GS-13 range reflects the breadth from loan technician to senior underwriter.
Calculate Your Exact GS-1165 Salary
Your actual pay depends on your GS grade, step, and duty station locality. Use our free calculator for an instant, accurate result.
GS-1165 Loan Specialist — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a GS-1165 Loan Specialist?
The verified average salary for the GS-1165 Loan Specialist series is $94,460 as of 2026, based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot data (3,942 non-redacted records; 1.1% redaction rate). Use our GS Pay Calculator to find your exact pay by grade, step, and duty station.
What GS grades apply to the 1165 series?
The GS-1165 Loan Specialist series typically spans GS-7 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-1165 Loan Specialists?
The largest federal employers of GS-1165 Loan Specialists include: Small Business Administration (SBA), Department of Agriculture (USDA — Farm Service Agency, Rural Development), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA — Home Loan Guaranty), Department of Education (Student Aid), Department of Housing and Urban Development (FHA). These figures are based on the OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026).
How is federal pay determined for GS-1165 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-1165 federal employees receive FERS retirement benefits?
Yes, most GS-1165 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.