First Officer

What the Numbers Say About First Officer

As of the March 2025 reporting window, 79 people work in the First Officer occupation (OPM code 9905) across federal agencies, 0.0% of the 2,289,472-strong federal civilian workforce. Headcount moved up by 6.8% from 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 First Officer is $124,853 per year, placing it 13.6% above the overall federal civilian average of $109,869. Salaries moved down by -2.2% from the prior period, a broad shift as locality pay tables and grade-level adjustments moved through the workforce. Average length of service in this role is 11.1 years, a mid-length average tenure, reflecting a mix of career employees and those who transfer or exit mid-career.

The Vessel Jobs Family (excluded From the Federal Wage System) family (code 99) groups First Officer together with 50 other related occupations across the federal government. Candidates browsing USAJOBS for First Officer 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), First Officer holds the #25 spot by headcount, a 1.3% share of the family total.