Reasons to Join Us
Discover all the benefits Social Security has to offer you.
Employee Compensation
Total Compensation Package
Total compensation is the total amount of payments and benefits you receive when you start your career with Social Security. Total compensation consists of the average salary, paid time off, and employee benefits. The average salary varies based on the location. Please refer to the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) website for the 2024 General Schedule (GS) Locality Pay Tables.
The following is an example of the total compensation package for one of our career paths. View our Total Compensation Package for additional examples.
| Human Resources Specialist (GS-7) | |
|---|---|
| Average Salary | $41,966 |
| Total Value of Personal Paid Time Off | + $15,606 |
| Total Rewards of Benefits Provided by SSA | + $18,840 |
| Overall Annual Total Reward | = $76,412 |
What is the General Schedule?
The General Schedule (GS) is a federal pay system that covers more than 1.5 million employees.
The GS pay schedule has 15 grades with 10 steps in each grade covering more than 400 occupations. Pay varies by geographic location.
Since a distinct work-level to work-level pay comparison is required, beginning pay rates for GS jobs must be compared to beginning pay rates for non-federal jobs at the same level of work.
For more information on the GS Locality Pay for your location, visit General Schedule (opm.gov).
What is the Career Ladder?
Many of the positions at Social Security are offered as “Career Ladder” positions.
A “Career Ladder” position is a federal job that allows you to be promoted non-competitively to higher pay grades without applying for a new job provided that you demonstrate successful performance and learning.
For example, you may be hired as a GS-5, but if the position has promotion potential to GS-11, then you could move up from GS-5 to GS-11 non-competitively based on your performance and learning in the position.
Employee Benefits
Paid Time Off
Our employees enjoy paid time off for vacation, sick leave, and Federal holidays.
- Earn 13 paid vacation days a year, then 20 days a year after 3 years, and 26 days a year after 15 years.
- Earn 13 paid sick days each year.
- 11 paid Federal holidays.
Insurance
Our employees enjoy health benefits and life insurance options to help them take care of themselves and their families.
- Health benefits including medical, dental, and vision.
- Life insurance.
Retirement
Our employees enjoy retirement options for life after working.
- Pension benefits under the Federal Employees Retirement System.
- Optional Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401K). The government matches your contribution up to 5% of your salary.
Workplace Flexibilities
Our employees enjoy workplace flexibilities to ensure a healthy work/life balance.
- Flexible work schedules.
- Potential overtime opportunities.
- Potential telework opportunities.
- Paid Parental Leave
Financial Resources
Our employees enjoy resources to help them achieve financial wellness.
- Access to flexible spending accounts.
- Eligibility for the Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program.
Our Workforce
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
We are committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, fairness, and equity. The diversity of our workforce is one of our greatest strengths. Our goal is to attract and retain employees who reflect the public we serve, are committed to our mission, and are dedicated to providing quality customer experience. We promote a workplace that recognizes and celebrates our employees' unique abilities and encourages the full contributions of all.
Our Commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
To learn more, please visit the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS)
The Office of Personnel Management Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (OPM FEVS) is an organizational climate survey and assesses how employees jointly experience the policies, practices, and procedures characteristic of their agency and its leadership. The OPM FEVS serves as a tool for employees to share their perceptions regarding critical topics including their work experiences, their agency, and leadership.
View our latest FEVS results.
View past FEVS results: