## How Much Is the Career Engineer System?
The Career Engineer System (CES) is a compensation system for engineers in the federal government. It is based on the General Schedule (GS) pay scale, but it offers engineers additional pay and benefits.
Engineers in the CES
The CES is open to engineers in the following disciplines:
* Aerospace engineering
* Chemical engineering
* Civil engineering
* Computer engineering
* Electrical engineering
* Industrial engineering
* Materials engineering
* Mechanical engineering
* Nuclear engineering
* Petroleum engineering
* Software engineering
To be eligible for the CES, engineers must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited university. They must also have at least one year of experience in engineering.
CES Pay Scale
The CES pay scale is based on the GS pay scale, but it offers engineers additional pay. The additional pay is called the “engineer premium.” The engineer premium is a percentage of the engineer’s base pay. The percentage varies depending on the engineer’s grade and step.
The following table shows the engineer premium for each grade and step:
| Grade | Step | Engineer Premium |
|—|—|—|
| GS-5 | 1 | 5% |
| GS-5 | 2 | 7% |
| GS-5 | 3 | 9% |
| GS-5 | 4 | 11% |
| GS-5 | 5 | 13% |
| GS-5 | 6 | 15% |
| GS-5 | 7 | 17% |
| GS-5 | 8 | 19% |
| GS-5 | 9 | 21% |
| GS-5 | 10 | 23% |
The following table shows the CES pay scale for engineers at the GS-5 level:
| Step | Base Pay | Engineer Premium | Total Pay |
|—|—|—|—|
| 1 | $47,441 | $2,372 | $49,813 |
| 2 | $49,546 | $3,468 | $53,014 |
| 3 | $51,736 | $4,656 | $56,392 |
| 4 | $53,999 | $5,910 | $59,909 |
| 5 | $56,333 | $7,323 | $63,656 |
| 6 | $58,740 | $8,811 | $67,551 |
| 7 | $61,221 | $10,397 | $71,618 |
| 8 | $63,778 | $12,073 | $75,851 |
| 9 | $66,411 | $13,852 | $80,263 |
| 10 | $69,123 | $15,722 | $84,845 |
CES Benefits
In addition to the higher pay, engineers in the CES also receive additional benefits. These benefits include:
* **Vacation time:** Engineers in the CES receive 13 days of vacation leave per year. This is more than the 10 days of vacation leave that GS employees receive.
* **Sick leave:** Engineers in the CES receive 13 days of sick leave per year. This is more than the 10 days of sick leave that GS employees receive.
* **Retirement:** Engineers in the CES are eligible for the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a defined benefit pension plan that provides engineers with a guaranteed income in retirement.
* **Health insurance:** Engineers in the CES are eligible for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB). FEHB is a health insurance program that provides engineers with comprehensive health coverage.
* **Life insurance:** Engineers in the CES are eligible for the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI). FEGLI is a life insurance program that provides engineers with a death benefit.
How to Apply for the CES
To apply for the CES, engineers must submit a resume and a cover letter to the Human Resources office of the agency they are interested in working for. The resume and cover letter should highlight the engineer’s skills and experience.
Engineers who are selected for the CES will be required to undergo a background check. The background check will include a review of the engineer’s criminal history and financial history.
Conclusion
The Career Engineer System is a great way for engineers to earn a higher salary and receive additional benefits. Engineers who are interested in working for the federal government should consider applying for the CES.
