Research Laboratory Mechanic
Federal headcount, average salary, length of service, and pay comparison for the Research Laboratory Mechanic occupation series (code 4745), drawn directly from the OPM FedScope dataset (June 2026).
The verdict
With 8 employees (0.0% of the federal civilian workforce), Research Laboratory Mechanic ranks as a smaller, specialized federal occupation within the General Maintenance and Operations Work Family family. Its average salary of $83,825 pays below the $117,339 federal average.
- Employees
- 8
- Share of workforce
- 0.0%
- Avg salary
- $83,825
- Avg tenure
- 13 yrs
FedScope read on Research Laboratory Mechanic (thin series)
Federal agencies employ 8 people in the Research Laboratory Mechanic occupation (OPM code 4745), accounting for 0.0% of the total federal civilian workforce of 1,953,300 for the June 2026 reporting window. Headcount in this occupation moved sideways by 0.0% 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.
Research Laboratory Mechanic pays $83,825 per year on average, moving down 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). Employees in this role stay an average of 13 years, a mid-length average tenure, reflecting a mix of career employees and those who transfer or exit mid-career.
The General Maintenance and Operations Work Family family (code 47) groups Research Laboratory Mechanic together with 9 other related occupations across the federal government. Candidates browsing USAJOBS for Research Laboratory Mechanic postings should also review these sibling occupations in the General Maintenance and Operations Work Family family.
Within the General Maintenance and Operations Work Family family, Research Laboratory Mechanic ranks #10 of 10 by headcount, accounting for 0.1% of the family's combined 15,982 employees.
Salary Context
How Research Laboratory Mechanic pay compares to the federal average of $117,339
Occupation Average
$83,825
Federal Average
$117,339
vs. Federal Avg
-28.6%
Where Research Laboratory Mechanic ranks on federal pay
Its average salary of $83,825 is higher than 39% of federal occupation series (213 of 541). The highlighted bar marks where Research Laboratory Mechanic sits in the federal pay distribution.
Average-salary distribution across all 541 federal occupation series; Research Laboratory Mechanic ranks higher than 39%.
Related Occupations in General Maintenance and Operations Work Family
9 other occupations in the same family
| Occupation | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance Mechanic | 10,441 | $73,094 | 11.9 yrs |
| Misc General Maintenance & Operations Work | 2,599 | $93,724 | 16.5 yrs |
| Utility Systems Repairing-Operating | 1,983 | $84,204 | 13.2 yrs |
| Cemetery Caretaking | 644 | $63,552 | 8.6 yrs |
| General Equipment Mechanic | 140 | $75,100 | 15.4 yrs |
| Model Making | 91 | $93,472 | 14.8 yrs |
| Boat Building and Repairing | 34 | $74,449 | 13.3 yrs |
| General Equipment Operating | 26 | $81,524 | 18.2 yrs |
| Exhibits Making/modeling | 16 | n/a | 17.5 yrs |
Nationwide peers near this thin headcount
Two peer sets for Research Laboratory Mechanic outside the General Maintenance and Operations Work Family family, on headcount and average salary axes that vary across all OPM occupation series.
Similar thin headcount
Nearest employee counts in other occupation families (8 here).
Similar average salary
Nearest average salaries in other occupation families ($83,825 here).
Key takeaways
- Research Laboratory Mechanic pays below the federal average by 28.6% ($83,825 vs $117,339 federal-wide), at the 39th percentile for pay among 541 tracked occupation series.
- A smaller, specialized federal occupation by headcount: 8 employees, 0.0% of the federal civilian workforce.
- According to OPM FedScope June 2026, Research Laboratory Mechanic ranks #635 of 663 federal occupation series by headcount (the same employee_count ordering as our occupations directory).
- Within the General Maintenance and Operations Work Family family, Research Laboratory Mechanic ranks #10 of 10 by headcount, accounting for 0.1% of the family's combined 15,982 employees.
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.