What jobs pay $200,000 a year in the USA? — What jobs pay $200,000 a year in the USA?

At a glance: which federal government jobs can pay $200,000 or more

Quick summary of pay systems that reach $200k

The short answer is that most federal roles that reach $200,000 or more are paid under statutory or agency special pay systems rather than the standard General Schedule. Executive Schedule and many Senior Executive Service top rates commonly exceed $200,000, according to OPM rate tables OPM Executive Schedule rates.

Agency statutory special-pay authorities, notably VA Title 38 for physicians and clinicians, are another common route to compensation above $200,000. The VA explains the structure and intent of those pay authorities on its site VA special pay authorities for clinicians.

Who typically earns this level in federal service, united states federal government jobs

Typical occupants of the $200k plus range include senior political appointees on the Executive Schedule, career leaders at the top of the Senior Executive Service, and clinicians covered by agency special-pay statutes. OPM publishes both Executive Schedule and SES tables that set those upper pay caps OPM SES rates.

General Schedule base pay plus locality adjustments rarely reaches this level for standard GS positions, so most job seekers should focus on the pay systems named above rather than the GS scale OPM General Schedule tables.

Federal pay is governed by several distinct systems. The Executive Schedule is a statutory table that sets pay for many senior political appointees and certain officials, with rates published by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Those statutory caps are the primary reason some federal roles can exceed $200,000 OPM Executive Schedule rates.

The Senior Executive Service is the personnel system for many senior career leaders. OPM publishes SES basic rates and guidance that define top SES pay bands and how agencies may set rates under law OPM SES rates.

How agency special pay authorities interact with base systems

Several agencies have statutory special-pay authorities designed to recruit and retain scarce skills. These authorities operate alongside base pay systems. For example, VA Title 38 provides special pay for physicians and clinicians that sits outside the General Schedule framework and can result in total federal compensation above $200,000 VA special pay authorities for clinicians.

General Schedule pay, even with locality, is designed for the broad federal workforce and typically does not reach the $200,000 threshold. For specific high-pay outcomes, candidates should look for postings that explicitly reference SES, Executive Schedule, Title 38, or other special-pay authorities USAJOBS pay guidance.

Executive Schedule and senior political appointments: what to expect

Typical job titles and how Executive Schedule levels map to pay

The Executive Schedule places certain agency heads, Deputy secretaries, and other senior political appointees on a statutory pay table. Those levels are defined by law and implemented through OPM tables. When top levels are set above $200,000, appointees at those levels receive the corresponding rate OPM Executive Schedule rates.

Not every senior title automatically carries an Executive Schedule rate. Statute or appointment authority determines which positions are eligible. That legal design is why an agency cannot unilaterally place a position on the Executive Schedule without the proper statutory basis.

How appointments and statutory caps determine pay

Pay for Executive Schedule posts follows the statutory cap, which is why published OPM tables are the authoritative source when comparing top rates across years. These caps can change by statute or by administrative adjustment, so the current OPM table should be checked before assuming a rate.

Appointments to Executive Schedule positions are political and subject to nomination or direct appointment rules. That makes Executive Schedule pay a route to high federal compensation for appointees, but it also ties earnings to political cycles and legal eligibility rather than career progression alone.

Senior Executive Service (SES): career leaders who can reach six-figure pay

SES pay structure and top rates

The Senior Executive Service covers senior career managers across agencies. OPM provides SES rate guidance that sets the basic pay bands and top rates available to career executives. Top SES rates can approach or reach the $200,000 range depending on how agencies apply the bands and locality adjustments OPM SES rates.

SES pay is typically higher than the General Schedule and is designed to offer flexibility for senior responsibilities. Agencies can set rates for SES members within OPM guidance, and some senior slots will be at the top SES rate when the position requires broad leadership and expertise.

How career progression and SES appointments raise total compensation

Progressing into the SES often requires years of executive experience, a competitive selection board process, and evidence of leadership across program areas. Selection boards and agency processes determine which career leaders are eligible for SES appointment.

Career employees who reach SES and who occupy high-responsibility slots can see total federal compensation increase markedly compared with GS pay. That path is the most common career route to upper six-figure federal pay outside of clinical special-pay authorities.

Special pay and Title 38: why many federal physicians and clinicians exceed $200,000

How Title 38 and other special pay authorities work

Veterans Affairs Title 38 and other agency special-pay statutes exist to recruit and retain scarce clinical skills. These authorities allow agencies to offer pay and incentives that supplement or replace standard pay systems for certain clinicians, and they are the reason many federal physicians earn compensation above $200,000 VA special pay authorities for clinicians.

Special pay arrangements vary by agency and by specialty. They can include recruitment or retention incentives, special salary tables, and performance pay. The details and eligibility rules are published by the employing agency and should be read carefully when evaluating a clinical job posting.

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Which clinical roles commonly use special pay

Physicians, dentists, and certain advanced practice clinicians are often covered by Title 38 or similar authorities. Clinical leaders who combine patient care with administrative responsibility can also receive special pay that pushes total compensation above $200,000 in many cases.

Because special pay is statutory and agency specific, the agency pay pages and vacancy announcements are the primary sources to confirm whether a clinical job carries special pay and what the likely salary range will USAJOBS pay guidance.

High-paying non-medical tracks: legal, scientific and adjudicatory roles

When senior legal or scientific posts can exceed $200k

Senior legal positions, adjudicatory chairs, and scientific directors may reach $200,000 when appointed at SES level, assigned Executive Schedule pay, or covered by specific statutory caps. These cases are less common than clinical special-pay outcomes but they do occur in senior leadership roles OPM SES rates.

Many such roles require advanced degrees, substantial supervisory experience, and proven program leadership. When agencies need specialized expertise at the top, they may use available pay authorities to offer competitive compensation for those leaders.

How SES appointment or Executive Schedule affects these occupations

Whether a legal or scientific post reaches $200k depends on pay authority. SES appointment can raise a career leader’s pay into the higher bands, and Executive Schedule appointment gives statutory rates to political appointees. Both routes change the pay calculus compared with standard GS slots.

Because these pay outcomes depend on appointment and statutory designations, candidates should review the vacancy's pay authority language rather than relying on title or grade alone.

Practical pathways to $200k+ federal roles: hiring routes and realistic steps

Career progression, political appointment, and lateral hire options

There are three practical pathways to $200k plus federal roles. One is career progression into the SES through promotion and selection boards. A second is political appointment into Executive Schedule slots. A third is being hired laterally into a senior post under an agency special-pay authority, often in clinical or scientific fields OPM SES rates.

Each pathway has trade-offs. SES progression is a steady career route that emphasizes experience and internal competition. Political appointment can be faster but is linked to administration cycles and nomination rules. Lateral hires can move quickly if an agency needs a specific skillset.

Skills and qualifications commonly required

Common qualifications include advanced professional degrees for clinical and scientific tracks, significant leadership experience for SES, and often public or private sector executive experience for lateral hires. For political appointment, ties to the appointing administration and relevant policy experience are frequently relevant.

Regardless of route, clearly documenting experience, obtaining strong references, and saving primary-source pay notices improves a candidate's ability to verify compensation expectations before accepting an offer USAJOBS pay guidance. Also consider bookmarking the homepage for quick access to related posts.

How to search and verify $200k+ federal job listings on USAJOBS and agency pages

Using USAJOBS filters and reading pay authority language

USAJOBS and agency vacancy pages will state the pay authority and pay range language when a posting can reach $200,000 or more. Look for explicit terms such as SES, Executive Schedule, Title 38, or special pay in the announcement; those terms indicate the governing pay system USAJOBS pay guidance.

Use filters on USAJOBS to narrow by agency or job family, but always open the vacancy to read the pay-authority paragraph. That paragraph is the single most important line for verifying whether the role can reach the high-pay threshold.

Where agencies publish Executive Schedule or special pay notices

OPM publishes Executive Schedule and SES tables on its site, and agencies post special-pay details on their pay or human resources pages. For clinician pay, VA Title 38 materials are on the VA site and explain eligibility and incentives VA special pay authorities for clinicians.

Always note the publication date of any OPM or agency pay table cited in a vacancy. Pay tables may change year to year, so a current table is essential when confirming a posting's compensation.

Common mistakes and myths about federal six-figure pay

Misreading GS salary tables and locality pay

A frequent error is assuming General Schedule base pay plus locality will reach $200,000 for typical GS jobs. In practice, GS pay is capped well below that threshold for most grades and locality zones OPM General Schedule tables.

Some postings list a broad grade range or an attractive title, but that does not mean the role carries SES or Executive Schedule authority. Always read the pay-authority language in the vacancy to avoid this misinterpretation.

Assuming advertised grade always equals $200k pay

Another myth is that a listed grade or senior title guarantees high pay. Grade and title are informative but pay depends on the formal pay authority. A position listed as a senior manager might still be paid on the GS scale, which is usually below the $200k threshold.

Total compensation can include locality, bonuses, or incentives in certain systems, but those extras are authority dependent. Verify whether incentives are statutory for the role rather than assuming they apply.

Decision criteria: choosing the right route for your background

Questions to evaluate fit: credentials, appointment pathways, timeline

Decide which pathway aligns with your background by asking targeted questions. Do you hold clinical credentials required for Title 38 pay? Do you have the executive experience typical of SES candidates? Are you open to political appointment timelines and risks? Honest answers help narrow the viable route.

Weigh stability versus speed. The SES route favors steady progression and stability. Executive Schedule appointment can be faster but politically sensitive. Lateral hires under special pay can also move quickly if you meet the technical needs.

How to weigh stability versus speed to high pay

If you prioritize predictability, aim for a career SES path and build the leadership record that selection boards seek. If you prioritize reaching a high pay level quickly and you have relevant policy or political networks, consider paths that may lead to appointed roles.

Keep verifying pay authority early in the process so you can set realistic expectations about timeline and prospects for reaching $200,000 or more.

Example role profiles and realistic scenarios

Profile: senior VA physician under Title 38

A senior VA clinician with board certification, years of clinical leadership, and administrative responsibility can be eligible for Title 38 special pay and incentives that place total compensation above $200,000. The VA describes how Title 38 pay authorities are used to recruit and retain clinicians VA special pay authorities for clinicians.

Such roles combine clinical duties with program leadership. Candidates should read the vacancy and the agency’s pay notice to confirm whether recruitment or retention incentives are included and how they are calculated.

Profile: agency chief operating officer appointed at Executive Schedule level

An agency chief operating officer appointed to an Executive Schedule level receives the statutory rate associated with that Schedule level. When the top levels exceed $200,000, the incumbent earns the published Executive Schedule rate OPM Executive Schedule rates.

Because Executive Schedule designation is statutory, verifying the appointment authority is a required step before concluding the role pays into the $200k range.

Profile: career path to SES for a scientific director

A scientific director who progresses through senior program roles, meets SES selection board criteria, and secures an SES slot can reach top SES rates. OPM guidance describes SES pay structure and the flexibility agencies have when setting rates for senior leaders OPM SES rates.

That path emphasizes experience, peer review through selection boards, and a demonstrated record of program leadership. It is a common career approach to high federal compensation outside clinical tracks.

What to check in vacancy announcements and official pay tables

Exact pay authority language and statutory citations

Confirm the announcement's pay-authority sentence and any statutory citations it includes. Key terms to watch for are SES, Executive Schedule, Title 38, or named special-pay statutes. That line tells you the governing pay rules for the slot USAJOBS pay guidance.

Save or screenshot the pay-authority paragraph when you apply. It documents the basis for compensation expectations and may be useful if you need to confirm the offer details later.

Where to find current OPM and agency rate tables

OPM’s Executive Schedule and SES pages publish the current statutory and guidance tables for those pay systems. Agencies publish special-pay notices on their HR or pay policy pages; for clinician pay, review the VA Title 38 materials for detailed rules OPM Executive Schedule rates.

Always check the publication date and use the most recent table when estimating whether a posting can reach $200,000 or more. Vacancy notices that cite an older table may not reflect current statutory caps. If in doubt, contact the agency HR office listed in the vacancy announcement for clarification about pay authority. You can also reach out via the contact page.

Conclusion and next steps: where to verify current rates and openings

Primary sources to bookmark

Bookmark OPM pages for Executive Schedule and SES rates and USAJOBS guidance on pay. For clinician pay, add the VA Title 38 materials to your list and see related coverage on affordable healthcare.

When you find a promising vacancy, read the pay-authority paragraph, save a copy of the posting, and check the cited OPM or agency table for the current rate before making decisions.

How to keep pay-rate checks current

Pay tables and statutory caps can change. Check OPM and agency pages for updates and note publication dates on any table you rely on. If in doubt, contact the agency HR office listed in the vacancy announcement for clarification about pay authority.

These steps help job seekers and voters alike understand which federal roles commonly pay $200,000 or more, and how to verify that a specific listing is one of them.