Genetics
Everything OPM FedScope (June 2026) reports about the Genetics occupation series (code 0440): headcount, average salary, length of service, and pay comparison.
The verdict
In the Biological Sciences Group family, Genetics counts 392 employees, a smaller, specialized federal occupation at 0.0% of the federal civilian workforce, and headcount declined 1.0% from the prior period; pay averages $142,502, which pays above the federal-wide $117,339.
- Employees
- 392
- Share of workforce
- 0.0%
- Avg salary
- $142,502
- Avg tenure
- 16.1 yrs
What the Numbers Say About Genetics
0.0% of the federal civilian workforce (1,953,300 employees total, June 2026) works in the Genetics occupation (OPM code 0440): 392 people, headcount down -1.0% 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.
Average tenure in Genetics runs 16.1 years, a long average tenure, typical of career federal roles where employees stay through much of a full career before retirement. Pay averages $142,502 per year, up 0.0% from the prior period, a small shift, within the range of normal year-to-year rounding rather than a broad pay-table change.
Genetics sits inside the Biological Sciences Group family (code 04), which contains 31 related occupations across the federal government. Candidates browsing USAJOBS for Genetics postings should also review these sibling occupations in the Biological Sciences Group family.
Genetics makes up 0.6% of the 67,961 employees across the Biological Sciences Group family, ranking #17 of 31 occupations in that family by headcount.
Salary context · rich-pay series
How Genetics pay compares to the federal average of $117,339
Occupation Average
$142,502
Federal Average
$117,339
vs. Federal Avg
+21.4%
Where Genetics ranks on rich federal pay
Its average salary of $142,502 is higher than 84% of federal occupation series (455 of 541). The highlighted bar marks where Genetics sits in the federal pay distribution.
Average-salary distribution across all 541 federal occupation series; Genetics ranks higher than 84%.
Related Occupations in Biological Sciences Group
10 other occupations in the same family
| Occupation | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences | 23,662 | $124,641 | 14 yrs |
| Forestry Technician | 11,090 | $61,659 | 8.7 yrs |
| Wildland Fire Management | 9,667 | $64,457 | 7 yrs |
| Biological Science Technician | 5,212 | $56,618 | 8.9 yrs |
| Soil Conservation | 4,101 | $89,391 | 13.8 yrs |
| Wildlife Biology | 1,868 | $95,468 | 16.3 yrs |
| Fish Biology | 1,629 | $116,550 | 16.2 yrs |
| Microbiology | 1,629 | $143,306 | 16.3 yrs |
| Forestry | 1,626 | $88,902 | 15.1 yrs |
| Ecology | 989 | $122,664 | 16.1 yrs |
Nationwide occupation series with similar scale or pay
Two peer sets for Genetics outside the Biological Sciences Group family, on headcount and average salary axes that vary across all OPM occupation series.
Similar headcount
Nearest employee counts in other occupation families (392 here).
Similar rich average salary
Nearest average salaries in other occupation families ($142,502 here).
Key takeaways
- Genetics pays above the federal average by 21.4% ($142,502 vs $117,339 federal-wide), at the 84th percentile for pay among 541 tracked occupation series.
- A smaller, specialized federal occupation by headcount: 392 employees, 0.0% of the federal civilian workforce, and headcount declined 1.0% from the prior period.
- According to OPM FedScope June 2026, Genetics ranks #321 of 663 federal occupation series by headcount (the same employee_count ordering as our occupations directory).
- Genetics makes up 0.6% of the 67,961 employees across the Biological Sciences Group family, ranking #17 of 31 occupations in that family by headcount.
OPM FedScope and Federal Workforce Data figures are federal civilian headcounts, average salaries, and length-of-service statistics - not job-quality scores, hiring advice, or a live vacancy listing. A larger or higher-paid agency is not a better employer.