GS-4403 Hand Composing — Federal Salary & Workforce Data (2026)
Federal Hand Compositor — WG-4403. The verified average salary for GS-4403 Hand Composings is $102,707/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Data from 136 non-redacted OPM records (April 2026).
Salary Source: OPM Federal Workforce Data (EHRI Snapshot, April 2026) • Records included: 136 • Redaction rate: 0.0%
GS-4403 Hand Composing — Pay at a Glance
Salary and workforce snapshot from OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026.
The GS-4403 Hand Composing series showed 136 non-redacted federal employees in the April 2026 OPM snapshot. The verified average salary is $102,707/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: Federal Wage System (WG). View occupation salary detail on OPM FedScope →
GS-4403 Employment Overview
| Metric | Value | Source & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Series Salary | $102,707 | OPM EHRI Snapshot (April 2026). 136 non-redacted records. Base + locality pay; excludes benefits. |
| Non-redacted records (sample size) | 136 | OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026. REDACTED records excluded per OPM data release policy. |
| Redaction rate | 0.0% | OPM redacts salary records for privacy-sensitive positions (DoD, law enforcement, intelligence). FedTools suppresses series averages when redaction exceeds 20%. |
| Pay plan(s) | Federal Wage System (WG) | Primary pay plan(s) used for this occupational series in the federal government. |
| Typical grades | WG-7 to WG-11 | 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-4403 Hand Composings
Based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026). Actual grade, step, and locality assignment varies by position and location.
- →Government Publishing Office (GPO)
- →Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP / Treasury)
- →Library of Congress
Key Duties — GS-4403 Hand Composing
Representative duties for the 4403 occupational series based on OPM classification standards. Specific responsibilities vary by position and agency.
- →Typesetting and composition of complex government publications
- →Mathematical and scientific equation composition
- →Proofreading and correction of composed type matter
- →Foreign language and special character typesetting
- →Layout and make-up of pages for printing
About the GS-4403 Hand Composing Series
Federal Hand Compositors set type and prepare complex layouts for government publications at GPO and BEP. The 0.0% redaction rate means all 136 records are fully public. The $102,707 average — near the government-wide mean — reflects the WG-9 to WG-10 concentration of skilled compositors who handle complex technical material including legal text, mathematical notation, and foreign language characters for official government publications. This series, like Letterpress Operating, represents specialized GPO craft trades that command premium WG pay for expertise now rare in commercial printing.
Calculate Your Exact GS-4403 Salary
Your actual pay depends on your GS grade, step, and duty station locality. Use our free calculator for an instant, accurate result.
GS-4403 Hand Composing — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a GS-4403 Hand Composing?
The verified average salary for the GS-4403 Hand Composing series is $102,707 as of 2026, based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot data (136 non-redacted records; 0.0% redaction rate). Use our GS Pay Calculator to find your exact pay by grade, step, and duty station.
What GS grades apply to the 4403 series?
The GS-4403 Hand Composing series typically spans WG-7 to WG-11. 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-4403 Hand Composings?
The largest federal employers of GS-4403 Hand Composings include: Government Publishing Office (GPO), Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP / Treasury), Library of Congress. These figures are based on the OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026).
How is federal pay determined for GS-4403 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-4403 federal employees receive FERS retirement benefits?
Yes, most GS-4403 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.