GS vs. GG Pay Scale: Deciphering Government Salary Scales

The GS (General Schedule) and GG (Geological and Geophysical) pay scales are two distinct pay systems used by the U.S. federal government to determine the salaries of civilian employees. While both systems are used to compensate government employees, they have key differences:

GS (General Schedule) Pay Scale:

1. Applicability: The GS pay scale is the most common and widely used pay system in the federal government. It covers a broad range of federal positions across various agencies and departments.

2. Pay Grades: The GS pay scale consists of multiple pay grades, ranging from GS-1 (the lowest) to GS-15 (the highest). Each pay grade has multiple steps, and employees can advance within their pay grade through step increases based on time in service and performance.

3. Salary Determination: Salaries on the GS pay scale are primarily determined by the employee's grade, step within the grade, and geographic location. There are different locality pay areas, and employees in higher-cost-of-living areas receive higher salaries.

4. Qualifications: To qualify for positions under the GS pay scale, candidates typically need to meet specific education and experience requirements.

5. Variety of Positions: The GS pay scale covers a wide range of positions, including administrative, technical, professional, and managerial roles.

GG (Geological and Geophysical) Pay Scale:

1. Applicability: The GG pay scale is specific to certain federal agencies and positions related to geology, geophysics, and earth sciences. It is not as widely used as the GS pay scale.

2. Pay Grades: The GG pay scale also includes multiple pay grades, ranging from GG-1 (the lowest) to GG-15 (the highest). Like the GS scale, each grade has multiple steps for step increases.

3. Specialization: The GG pay scale is designed for positions that require specialized knowledge and expertise in geological and geophysical sciences. It is commonly used in agencies such as the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

4. Salary Determination: Salaries under the GG pay scale are determined by the employee's grade, step, and geographic location, similar to the GS scale. However, GG positions may have their own unique locality pay rates.

5. Qualifications: To qualify for GG positions, candidates typically need specialized education and experience in geological or geophysical fields.

In summary, the primary difference between the GS and GG pay scales is their applicability and specialization. The GS pay scale is used for a wide range of federal positions across various agencies, while the GG pay scale is specific to positions in geology, geophysics, and earth sciences within certain agencies. Both pay scales have multiple grades and steps, and salaries are influenced by location and experience.