Able Seaman

What the Numbers Say About Able Seaman

Federal agencies employ 225 people in the Able Seaman occupation (OPM code 9924), accounting for 0.0% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472 for the March 2025 reporting window. Headcount in this occupation moved down by -14.4% versus the prior period, though at this small a headcount, year-to-year swings can reflect a handful of hires or departures rather than a broad hiring trend.

Able Seaman pays $58,397 per year on average, 46.8% below the $109,869 federal civilian average, after moving up 0.2% from the prior period (a small shift, within the range of normal year-to-year rounding rather than a broad pay-table change). Employees in this role stay an average of 12.6 years, a mid-length average tenure, reflecting a mix of career employees and those who transfer or exit mid-career.

Code 99, the Vessel Jobs Family (excluded From the Federal Wage System) family, is where the federal government classifies Able Seaman alongside 50 related occupations. Candidates browsing USAJOBS for Able Seaman postings should also review these sibling occupations, since federal hiring managers often cross-post positions across closely related codes when recruitment is difficult. All figures here come directly from OPM FedScope Employment Cubes, the same official source referenced in federal workforce planning, budget justifications, and GAO reports.

Inside the Vessel Jobs Family (excluded From the Federal Wage System) family (51 occupations, 6,135 employees combined), Able Seaman holds the #6 spot by headcount, a 3.7% share of the family total.