Physical Science Student Trainee
Federal headcount, average salary, length of service, and pay comparison for the Physical Science Student Trainee occupation series (code 1399), drawn directly from the OPM FedScope dataset (June 2026).
The verdict
In the Physical Sciences Group family, Physical Science Student Trainee counts 111 employees, a smaller, specialized federal occupation at 0.0% of the federal civilian workforce, and headcount grew 11.0% from the prior period; pay averages $52,412, which pays below the federal-wide $117,339.
- Employees
- 111
- Share of workforce
- 0.0%
- Avg salary
- $52,412
- Avg tenure
- 2.6 yrs
FedScope read on Physical Science Student Trainee (thin series)
As of the June 2026 reporting window, 111 people work in the Physical Science Student Trainee occupation (OPM code 1399) across federal agencies, 0.0% of the 1,953,300-strong federal civilian workforce. Headcount moved up by 11.0% 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 Physical Science Student Trainee is $52,412 per year. Salaries moved up by 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. Average length of service in this role is 2.6 years, a comparatively short average tenure, which can reflect faster turnover, a competitive private-sector alternative, or a newer program still building up its workforce.
The Physical Sciences Group family (code 13) groups Physical Science Student Trainee together with 24 other related occupations across the federal government. Candidates browsing USAJOBS for Physical Science Student Trainee postings should also review these sibling occupations in the Physical Sciences Group family.
Inside the Physical Sciences Group family (25 occupations, 26,960 employees combined), Physical Science Student Trainee holds the #18 spot by headcount, a 0.4% share of the family total.
Salary context · lean-pay series
How Physical Science Student Trainee pay compares to the federal average of $117,339
Occupation Average
$52,412
Federal Average
$117,339
vs. Federal Avg
-55.3%
Where Physical Science Student Trainee ranks on lean federal pay
Its average salary of $52,412 is higher than 7% of federal occupation series (39 of 541). The highlighted bar marks where Physical Science Student Trainee sits in the federal pay distribution.
Average-salary distribution across all 541 federal occupation series; Physical Science Student Trainee ranks higher than 7%.
Related Occupations in Physical Sciences Group
10 other occupations in the same family
| Occupation | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Physical Science | 8,297 | $145,078 | 14.6 yrs |
| Chemistry | 4,440 | $149,099 | 14.9 yrs |
| Meteorology | 2,494 | $123,942 | 15.9 yrs |
| Physics | 2,009 | $174,005 | 15.9 yrs |
| Physical Science Technician | 1,577 | $78,820 | 13.3 yrs |
| Hydrology | 1,524 | $116,486 | 17.1 yrs |
| Hydrologic Technician | 1,356 | $76,077 | 12.9 yrs |
| Geology | 1,240 | $124,746 | 14 yrs |
| Health Physics | 746 | $146,649 | 16.4 yrs |
| Cartography | 487 | $120,890 | 16.3 yrs |
Nationwide peers near this thin headcount
Two peer sets for Physical Science Student Trainee outside the Physical Sciences Group family, on headcount and average salary axes that vary across all OPM occupation series.
Similar thin headcount
Nearest employee counts in other occupation families (111 here).
Similar lean average salary
Nearest average salaries in other occupation families ($52,412 here).
Key takeaways
- Physical Science Student Trainee pays below the federal average by 55.3% ($52,412 vs $117,339 federal-wide), at the 7th percentile for pay among 541 tracked occupation series.
- A smaller, specialized federal occupation by headcount: 111 employees, 0.0% of the federal civilian workforce, and headcount grew 11.0% from the prior period.
- According to OPM FedScope June 2026, Physical Science Student Trainee ranks #464 of 663 federal occupation series by headcount (the same employee_count ordering as our occupations directory).
- Inside the Physical Sciences Group family (25 occupations, 26,960 employees combined), Physical Science Student Trainee holds the #18 spot by headcount, a 0.4% share of the family total.
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.