Exploring Job Opportunities  

Positions

Approximately 1,200 positions  
Top-level senior positions such as agency heads and top deputies, general counsels, U.S. attorneys and most U.S. ambassadors.

Pay

For each full-time PAS position, pay is set by statute and is not negotiable. The five levels of pay in the Executive Schedule are:

To find the pay levels for specific positions, see the positions listed in the PLUM Data published by OPM.

The compensation information is based on guidance from the Office of Personnel Management and can be accessed here. If you are selected for this position, please consult the agency’s HR representative for further guidance on compensation.

Presidential Appointments Not Requiring Senate Confirmation

Positions

Approximately 450 positions

Senior-level positions within the Executive Office of the President such as senior White House aides and advisors.

Part-time seats on many boards and commissions.

Pay

The salaries are set by agency heads and fall within the range of the Senior Executive Service pay schedule, $147,649 to $221,900.

Many part-time appointments are unpaid.

Non-Career Senior Executive Service (NC-SES)

Positions

Approximately 750 positions

Key positions just below the top presidential appointees, serving as links between them and the rest of the federal workforce.

While approximately 90% of senior executives are career civil servants, up to 10 % government-wide may be political appointees. However, some positions are designated as “career-reserved” and cannot be filled by political appointees.

For more information on the Senior Executive Service, see the resources available from the Office of Personnel Management.

Pay

The salaries are set by agency heads and fall within the range of the Senior Executive Service pay schedule, $147,649 to $221,900. Many part-time appointments are unpaid.

Confidential or Policy-Making Positions (Schedule Cs)

Positions

Approximately 1,550 positions

Appointees are supervised by other political appointees and the work varies widely.

While some positions may be lower level, other Schedule C appointees may hold significant authority within their agencies.

Pay

The base salaries are aligned to the 2024 General Schedule. In the Washington D.C. Area Locality Pay Area, salaries range from $29,299 to $191,900.

Agencies use a candidate’s resume to classify the position and determine which grade level and pay apply.

Candidates should provide detailed resumes that clearly describe their capabilities and accomplishments.

• For positions in the White House, see its Annual Report to Congress in 2023 and 2020. The White House Transition Project’s staffing charts also list positions in previous administrations.
• “Tech Talent for a 21st Century Government” describes appointee positions that play key roles in modernizing federal technology.
• The Business Executives for National Security lists the top 50 national security positions.
• The United States Government Manual provides information on all federal agencies and organizations, as well as numerous federal boards, commissions and committees. The manual describes the responsibilities of the major offices within agencies and subcomponents. An organization chart of the U.S. government illustrates how they all fit together.
• The Partnership’s Agency Performance Dashboard outlines each agency’s workforce size and demographics.
• Every administration needs to fill positions requiring functional expertise in areas such as:
  • Management and administration.
  • Financial management and budget.
  • Human capital/human resources.
  • Information technology.
  • Legal affairs.
  • Public affairs/communications.
  • Legislative affairs.
  • Chief scientists.
  • Policy/regulatory.

Identify the types of positions among several agencies where you can add the most value based on your skills and experience.

Research positions and agencies you are interested in. Evaluate whether you are well-qualified to do the jobs you have identified. Be flexible, but do not pursue positions where you would not be a good fit.

There is intense competition for these jobs. During past transitions, hundreds of thousands of individuals applied to fill the roughly 4,000 positions.

Know what level of pay to expect and consider the cost of moving to and living in Washington, D.C. White House salaries are constrained by a limited budget, so they are often lower than those in the federal agencies.

Perks that may be customary in some industries are often not provided by the federal government. For example, many agencies do not provide relocation costs to appointees who move to Washington, D.C. Presidential appointees are not eligible for bonuses.

This is comparable to “at will” employment in the private sector where one may be asked to resign or be dismissed at any time. Political appointees are expected to perform effectively and support the agency leadership and/or the administration at all times.

Make sure your profiles, such as LinkedIn, are updated with your most accurate and recent information.