• Health Benefit Plans
  Choice of extensive array of Federal Employment Health Benefits Plans, with costs shared by the Government. Employees are eligible to enroll in a wide variety of health insurance plans, including fee-for-service plans and health maintenance organizations. The employee's portion is paid through payroll deductions.
  
  
• Thrift Savings Plan (equivalents to 401(K) with Government matching)
  Foreign Service Officers may participate in the Thrift Savings Plan; a long-term savings and investment program for federal employees designed to provide retirement income.
  
  
• Life Insurance
  Foreign Service Officers are eligible to participate in the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance plan (FEGLI). The FEGLI plan offers low rates that are paid through payroll deductions. The U.S. Government pays one-third of the cost of this insurance.
  
  Participation in the FEGLI plan is voluntary. The plan is intended as a form of immediate protection against financial hardship or loss in the event of death. It is not offered as a form of term life insurance with a cash value, such as might be purchased through private insurance agents.
  
  
• Long Term Care Insurance
  Long Term Care Insurance is offered and carries into your retirement. Click here to go to the Office of Personnel Management's page on Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP).
  
  
• Annual Leave
  Vacation/Personal Leave; maximum ceiling or limitation of accrual is 30 days per leave year for employees assigned to the US; maximum ceiling or limitation of accrual is 45 days per leave year for employees assigned overseas.
  

  • 4 hours per pay period or 13 days per leave year for less than 3 years of federal service
  • 6 hours per pay period or 20 days per leave year after 3 years of federal service but less than 15 years
  • 8 hours per pay period or 26 days per leave year after 15 years of federal service

  
  
• Sick Leave
  Accrued at a rate of 4 hours per pay period, 13 days per leave year.
  
  
• Family Medical Leave
  The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 provides Federal employees with an entitlement of up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for the following purposes:

  • The birth of a son or daughter of the employee and the care of the newborn
  • The placement of a child with an employee for adoption or foster care
  • The care of a child, spouse or parent of the employee with a serious health condition
  • A serious health condition of the employee that makes an employee unable to perform the major functions of the job

  
  
• Student Loan Repayment Program
  The State Department ranks near the top of all federal agencies offering the Student Loan Repayment Program. Since the program’s implementation in 2002, this recruitment and retention incentive has assisted more than 1650 Civil Service and Foreign Service employees pay down considerable student loan debt. Foreign Service Officers are eligible to apply when assigned to and encumbering positions at designated criteria hardship and/or danger pay posts around the world. For Foreign Service employees the purpose of the program is to encourage assignments to the more challenging U.S. Embassies and Consulates.
  
  
• Ten Paid Holidays Per Year
  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King's Birthday
  • President's Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Columbus Day
  • Veteran's Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day

  (In addition to the above holidays, the U.S. Government also observes some local holidays celebrated at overseas posts of assignment.) Career Counseling and Development
  
  

• Child Care Centers
• Child Care Subsidy (Based on Income)
• Credit Union, Fitness Facility and More
  Credit Union and Fitness Facility and a host of other on-site services such as a U.S. Post Office barber/beauty shops, dry cleaner and gift/card shops.
  
  
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Consultation Service
  Staffed by licensed clinical social workers to provide counseling and referrals for personal and family concerns.
  
  
• Employee Recognition Through Our Incentive Awards Program
• Employee Recreation Association
  Discount tickets to movies and sporting events.
  
  
• Extensive Training Opportunities through our Foreign Service Institute (FSI)
• Flexible Work Hours (alternative work schedules)
• Global Career Mobility Opportunities (if desired)
• IQ: INFORMATION QUEST
  A counseling, education and referral service to help employees manage personal and professional responsibilities (e.g., adoption, adult care).
  
  
• Managerial and Leadership Development
• MetroChek Transit Subsidy
• Periodic Performance-Based Pay Adjustments (within grade/step increases)
• Recruitment Bonuses and Retention Allowances (designated occupations)
• Shuttle Bus Service to State Annexes
• Special Salary Rates (designated occupations)
• Telework
• Job Sharing and Part-Time Work
• Voluntary Leave Transfer Program
  A federal program that enables one federal civilian employee to transfer annual leave to another federal employee who faces a personal medical emergency or a medical emergency of a family member.
  
  
• Workers' Compensation Coverage for Work-Related Injuries/Conditions
• Salary Determination
  

Salary Determination for Foreign Service Officers

The Board of Examiners and the staff of the Office of Recruitment, Examination, and Employment (HR/REE) determine a Foreign Service Officer Career Candidate's entry salary. In accordance with 22 C.F.R. 11.1(g)(iii) and 3 FAM 2216.2-7, the Board of Examiners finds that there is a need in the Foreign Service for candidates with the special experience and skills listed in the FP-5 and FP-4 education and/or experience section. Salaries are set through a two-part process.

Part I - Determine grade and step based on education and/or experience.

Candidates with a Bachelor's degree receive one additional step for each year of professional experience. For example, a candidate with a Bachelor's degree plus five years of professional experience receives FP-6, Step 10 ($46,013).

Candidates without a college degree but with more than six years of professional experience receive one additional step for each year of professional experience above six years. For example, a candidate without a college degree with 11 years of professional experience receives FP-6, Step 10 ($46,013).

Candidates with a Master's degree or a law degree (JD) receive one additional step for each year of professional experience. For example, a candidate with a Master's or law degree (JD) with five years of professional experience receives FP-5, Step 10 ($51,471).

Candidates with a Bachelor's degree receive one additional step for each year of professional experience above six years. For example, a Bachelor's degree plus 10 years of professional experience receives FP-5, Step 9 ($49,972).

Candidates without a college degree receive one additional step for each year of professional experience above 12 years. For example, a candidate without a degree with 17 years of experience receives FP-5, Step 10 ($51,471).

Part II - Attempt to match salary for those who lose money in joining the Foreign Service.

Once grade and step are determined, based on education and experience in Part I, the candidate's current salary is examined to see if he/she will lose money by joining the Foreign Service. If so, the starting salary should be raised to the step in the grade for which the candidate is qualified that is closest to the current salary. If the current salary falls between two steps, the higher of the two steps is the starting salary. If the current salary is too high to be matched in the class for which qualified, Step 14 of that class is the starting salary.

Federal civilian employees currently receiving DC locality pay will be allowed to include DC locality pay as part of their "current salary." Federal civilian employees who do not currently receive DC locality pay will not be allowed to include locality pay as part of their "current salary."

NOTES:

"Current salary" means salary earned for at least 90 days prior to appointment as a Foreign Service Career Candidate. Candidates must submit proof of the "current salary;" for example: a copy of 90 days' worth of earnings statements; SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action (for federal civilian employees only); a statement on letterhead from the Human Resources Office of their most recent employer; or other appropriate documentation.

For those in the private sector, "current salary" also means that there must not have been a break in service of more than 45 calendar days* between the candidate's most recent employment and appointment as a Foreign Service Career Candidate. For federal civilian employees, there must not have been a break in service of more than three calendar days between their civilian employment and appointment to the Foreign Service (in accordance with government-wide regulations).

* Changed from 10 workdays to 45 calendar days on September 13, 2001.

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