Chief Steward

What the Numbers Say About Chief Steward

Federal agencies employ 47 people in the Chief Steward occupation (OPM code 9968), 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 -19.0% 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.

The average salary for Chief Steward is $67,225 per year, placing it 38.8% below the overall federal civilian average of $109,869. Salaries moved up by 0.8% from the prior period, a modest shift, consistent with routine locality pay and grade-level movement. Average length of service in this role is 13.1 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 Chief Steward alongside 50 related occupations. Candidates browsing USAJOBS for Chief Steward 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.

Within the Vessel Jobs Family (excluded From the Federal Wage System) family, Chief Steward ranks #34 of 51 by headcount, accounting for 0.8% of the family's combined 6,135 employees.