5 U.S.C. § 5104 : US Code - Section 5104: Basis for grading positions

Search 5 U.S.C. § 5104 : US Code - Section 5104: Basis for grading positions

The General Schedule, the symbol for which is "GS", is the basic
pay schedule for positions to which this chapter applies. The
General Schedule is divided into grades of difficulty and
responsibility of work, as follows:
(1) Grade GS-1 includes those classes of positions the duties
of which are to perform, under immediate supervision, with little
or no latitude for the exercise of independent judgment - 
(A) the simplest routine work in office, business, or fiscal
operations; or
(B) elementary work of a subordinate technical character in a
professional, scientific, or technical field.
(2) Grade GS-2 includes those classes of positions the duties
of which are - 
(A) to perform, under immediate supervision, with limited
latitude for the exercise of independent judgment, routine work
in office, business, or fiscal operations, or comparable
subordinate technical work of limited scope in a professional,
scientific, or technical field, requiring some training or
experience; or
(B) to perform other work of equal importance, difficulty,
and responsibility, and requiring comparable qualifications.
(3) Grade GS-3 includes those classes of positions the duties
of which are - 
(A) to perform, under immediate or general supervision,
somewhat difficult and responsible work in office, business, or
fiscal operations, or comparable subordinate technical work of
limited scope in a professional, scientific, or technical
field, requiring in either case - 
(i) some training or experience;
(ii) working knowledge of a special subject matter; or
(iii) to some extent the exercise of independent judgment
in accordance with well-established policies, procedures, and
techniques; or
(B) to perform other work of equal importance, difficulty,
and responsibility, and requiring comparable qualifications.
(4) Grade GS-4 includes those classes of positions the duties
of which are - 
(A) to perform, under immediate or general supervision,
moderately difficult and responsible work in office, business,
or fiscal operations, or comparable subordinate technical work
in a professional, scientific, or technical field, requiring in
either case - 
(i) a moderate amount of training and minor supervisory or
other experience;
(ii) good working knowledge of a special subject matter or
a limited field of office, laboratory, engineering,
scientific, or other procedure and practice; and
(iii) the exercise of independent judgment in accordance
with well-established policies, procedures, and techniques;
or
(B) to perform other work of equal importance, difficulty,
and responsibility, and requiring comparable qualifications.
(5) Grade GS-5 includes those classes of positions the duties
of which are - 
(A) to perform, under general supervision, difficult and
responsible work in office, business, or fiscal administration,
or comparable subordinate technical work in a professional,
scientific, or technical field, requiring in either case - 
(i) considerable training and supervisory or other
experience;
(ii) broad working knowledge of a special subject matter or
of office, laboratory, engineering, scientific, or other
procedure and practice; and
(iii) the exercise of independent judgment in a limited
field;
(B) to perform, under immediate supervision, and with little
opportunity for the exercise of independent judgment, simple
and elementary work requiring professional, scientific, or
technical training; or
(C) to perform other work of equal importance, difficulty,
and responsibility, and requiring comparable qualifications.
(6) Grade GS-6 includes those classes of positions the duties
of which are - 
(A) to perform, under general supervision, difficult and
responsible work in office, business, or fiscal administration,
or comparable subordinate technical work in a professional,
scientific, or technical field, requiring in either case - 
(i) considerable training and supervisory or other
experience;
(ii) broad working knowledge of a special and complex
subject matter, procedure, or practice, or of the principles
of the profession, art, or science involved; and
(iii) to a considerable extent the exercise of independent
judgment; or
(B) to perform other work of equal importance, difficulty,
and responsibility, and requiring comparable qualifications.
(7) Grade GS-7 includes those classes of positions the duties
of which are - 
(A) to perform, under general supervision, work of
considerable difficulty and responsibility along special
technical or supervisory lines in office, business, or fiscal
administration, or comparable subordinate technical work in a
professional, scientific, or technical field, requiring in
either case - 
(i) considerable specialized or supervisory training and
experience;
(ii) comprehensive working knowledge of a special and
complex subject matter; procedure, or practice, or of the
principles of the profession, art, or science involved; and
(iii) to a considerable extent the exercise of independent
judgment;
(B) under immediate or general supervision, to perform
somewhat difficult work requiring - 
(i) professional, scientific, or technical training; and
(ii) to a limited extent, the exercise of independent
technical judgment; or
(C) to perform other work of equal importance, difficulty,
and responsibility, and requiring comparable qualifications.
(8) Grade GS-8 includes those classes of positions the duties
of which are - 
(A) to perform, under general supervision, very difficult and
responsible work along special technical or supervisory lines
in office, business, or fiscal administration, requiring - 
(i) considerable specialized or supervisory training and
experience;
(ii) comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of a
specialized and complex subject matter, procedure, or
practice, or of the principles of the profession, art, or
science involved; and
(iii) to a considerable extent the exercise of independent
judgment; or
(B) to perform other work of equal importance, difficulty,
and responsibility, and requiring comparable qualifications.
(9) Grade GS-9 includes those classes of positions the duties
of which are - 
(A) to perform, under general supervision, very difficult and
responsible work along special technical, supervisory, or
administrative lines in office, business, or fiscal
administration, requiring - 
(i) somewhat extended specialized training and considerable
specialized, supervisory, or administrative experience which
has demonstrated capacity for sound independent work;
(ii) thorough and fundamental knowledge of a special and
complex subject matter, or of the profession, art, or science
involved; and
(iii) considerable latitude for the exercise of independent
judgment;
(B) with considerable latitude for the exercise of
independent judgment, to perform moderately difficult and
responsible work, requiring - 
(i) professional, scientific, or technical training
equivalent to that represented by graduation from a college
or university of recognized standing; and
(ii) considerable additional professional, scientific, or
technical training or experience which has demonstrated
capacity for sound independent work; or
(C) to perform other work of equal importance, difficulty,
and responsibility, and requiring comparable qualifications.
(10) Grade GS-10 includes those classes of positions the duties
of which are - 
(A) to perform, under general supervision, highly difficult
and responsible work along special technical, supervisory, or
administrative lines in office, business, or fiscal
administration, requiring - 
(i) somewhat extended specialized, supervisory, or
administrative training and experience which has demonstrated
capacity for sound independent work;
(ii) thorough and fundamental knowledge of a specialized
and complex subject matter, or of the profession, art, or
science involved; and
(iii) considerable latitude for the exercise of independent
judgment; or
(B) to perform other work of equal importance, difficulty,
and responsibility, and requiring comparable qualifications.
(11) Grade GS-11 includes those classes of positions the duties
of which are - 
(A) to perform, under general administrative supervision and
with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment,
work of marked difficulty and responsibility along special
technical, supervisory, or administrative lines in office,
business, or fiscal administration, requiring - 
(i) extended specialized, supervisory, or administrative
training and experience which has demonstrated important
attainments and marked capacity for sound independent action
or decision; and
(ii) intimate grasp of a specialized and complex subject
matter, or of the profession, art, or science involved, or of
administrative work of marked difficulty;
(B) with wide latitude for the exercise of independent
judgment, to perform responsible work of considerable
difficulty requiring somewhat extended professional,
scientific, or technical training and experience which has
demonstrated important attainments and marked capacity for
independent work; or
(C) to perform other work of equal importance, difficulty,
and responsibility, and requiring comparable qualifications.
(12) Grade GS-12 includes those classes of positions the duties
of which are - 
(A) to perform, under general administrative supervision,
with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment,
work of a very high order of difficulty and responsibility
along special technical, supervisory, or administrative lines
in office, business, or fiscal administration, requiring - 
(i) extended specialized, supervisory, or administrative
training and experience which has demonstrated leadership and
attainments of a high order in specialized or administrative
work; and
(ii) intimate grasp of a specialized and complex subject
matter or of the profession, art, or science involved;
(B) under general administrative supervision, and with wide
latitude for the exercise of independent judgment, to perform
professional, scientific, or technical work of marked
difficulty and responsibility requiring extended professional,
scientific, or technical training and experience which has
demonstrated leadership and attainments of a high order in
professional, scientific, or technical research, practice, or
administration; or
(C) to perform other work of equal importance, difficulty,
and responsibility, and requiring comparable qualifications.
(13) Grade GS-13 includes those classes of positions the duties
of which are - 
(A) to perform, under administrative direction, with wide
latitude for the exercise of independent judgment, work of
unusual difficulty and responsibility along special technical,
supervisory, or administrative lines, requiring extended
specialized, supervisory, or administrative training and
experience which has demonstrated leadership and marked
attainments;
(B) to serve as assistant head of a major organization
involving work of comparable level within a bureau;
(C) to perform, under administrative direction, with wide
latitude for the exercise of independent judgment, work of
unusual difficulty and responsibility requiring extended
professional, scientific, or technical training and experience
which has demonstrated leadership and marked attainments in
professional, scientific, or technical research, practice, or
administration; or
(D) to perform other work of equal importance, difficulty,
and responsibility, and requiring comparable qualifications.
(14) Grade GS-14 includes those classes of positions the duties
of which are - 
(A) to perform, under general administrative direction, with
wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment, work of
exceptional difficulty and responsibility along special
technical, supervisory, or administrative lines which has
demonstrated leadership and unusual attainments;
(B) to serve as head of a major organization within a bureau
involving work of comparable level;
(C) to plan and direct or to plan and execute major
professional, scientific, technical, administrative, fiscal, or
other specialized programs, requiring extended training and
experience which has demonstrated leadership and unusual
attainments in professional, scientific, or technical research,
practice, or administration, or in administrative, fiscal, or
other specialized activities; or
(D) to perform consulting or other professional, scientific,
technical, administrative, fiscal, or other specialized work of
equal importance, difficulty, and responsibility, and requiring
comparable qualifications.
(15) Grade GS-15 includes those classes of positions the duties
of which are - 
(A) to perform, under general administrative direction, with
very wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment,
work of outstanding difficulty and responsibility along special
technical, supervisory, or administrative lines which has
demonstrated leadership and exceptional attainments;
(B) to serve as head of a major organization within a bureau
involving work of comparable level;
(C) to plan and direct or to plan and execute specialized
programs of marked difficulty, responsibility, and national
significance, along professional, scientific, technical,
administrative, fiscal, or other lines, requiring extended
training and experience which has demonstrated leadership and
unusual attainments in professional, scientific, or technical
research, practice, or administration, or in administrative,
fiscal, or other specialized activities; or
(D) to perform consulting or other professional, scientific,
technical, administrative, fiscal, or other specialized work of
equal importance, difficulty, and responsibility, and requiring
comparable qualifications.