Total Compensation

Here are the commonly used pay systems at NIH. Please see "Fellows and Other Staff" icon for information specific to fellows, volunteers or contractors.

• General Schedule (GS) – The majority of NIH staff, primarily in professional, technical, administrative, and clerical positions, are paid under the GS pay system which is comprised of 15 grades based on a job’s duties and ten step rates within each grade, based upon length of service and performance. Most GS staff receive locality pay to reflect non-Federal pay levels in an area.
• Special Salary Rates – Employees in certain occupations receive higher rates of basic pay (special rates) as part of the federal government’s or NIH’s strategy to recruit or retain employees in certain jobs.
• Physician & Dentist Pay (PDP) – Physicians and dentists may receive PDP which provides additional pay based on direct or indirect patient care duties.
• Federal Wage System – Federal trade, craft, and labor employees within a local wage area receive rates of pay based on employees performing equivalent jobs in the private sector.
• Senior Executive Schedule (SES) – SES members are senior-level administrative leadership positions and receive pay based on their leadership responsibilities.
• Title 42 – Scientists may receive pay under NIH’s Title 42 pay policies which are designed to compensate both clinical and basic researchers.
• Senior Biomedical Research and Biomedical Product Assessment Service (SBRBPAS) – Members are scientific and technical experts in the fields of biomedical research, clinical research evaluation, and biomedical product assessment and receive pay commensurate with NIH's SBRBPAS pay provisions. 

NIH contributes to all components of an employee’s retirement savings.

• Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) –FERS is funded from both employee and employer contributions; it is the primary retirement system.
• Social Security –Employees pay social security taxes throughout their working years and will receive benefits upon eligibility.
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) –NIH makes automatic contributions into the TSP, as well as provides matching funds for eligible employees. This is the optional piece of Federal retirement planning and is a defined contribution retirement savings and investment plan for employees. 

NIH offers all of the Federal insurance options to employees.

• Health Insurance – Employees have access to the widest selection of health plans in the country. Premiums are based on the plan and option selected, are withheld on a pre-tax basis and are shared by the employee and NIH.
• Life Insurance – Employees may be eligible for participation in the Federal group term life insurance program. The premium cost is shared by the employee and NIH.
• Dental/Vision – Supplemental dental and vision plans are available for those who want more dental or vision coverage than the chosen health insurance plan provides. 
• Long Term Care Insurance – Employees may be eligible to apply for long term care insurance coverage. This provides for care that is needed if an individual can no longer perform everyday tasks without assistance due to chronic illness, injury, disability or the aging process.
• Flexible Spending Accounts – Employees are able to save pre-tax money to pay health care and dependent care expenses.
• Medicare – Employees 65 years of age or older will coordinate health insurance coverage and benefits between Medicare and FEHB.

Fellows, volunteers and contractors are additional vital members of the NIH workforce who work alongside NIH’s permanent employee population. Many of these staff take advantage of most of the “Additional Benefits” listed above.

• Public Health Service Commissioned Corps – Commissioned Corps members, America's uniformed service of public health professionals, provide rapid and effective response to public health needs; leadership and excellence in public health practices; and advancement of public health science.
• Trainee programs –NIH has training programs in the biomedical sciences for individuals at all levels of academic experience.
• The Fellowship Program was established to provide financial support to an individual during a period in which the awardee is acquiring research experience or training. 
• Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Mobility Program –The IPA Mobility Program enables a feasible and convenient exchange of skilled personnel between government and non-government institutions, such as accredited universities and non-profit organizations.
• Clinical Center Volunteer Program –The Volunteer Services Program promotes the mission of the Clinical Center by developing and maintaining an efficient corps of volunteers to assist and support Clinical Center staff in delivering quality care that exceeds the expectations of patients, families, and visitors.
• Special Volunteer (SV) –SVs are individuals who provide research services, direct patient care, clerical support, technical assistance, or any other necessary services for NIH but are not financially compensated for their activities or actions.
• Guest Researcher (GR) –GRs are scientists, engineers, or students who are permitted to engage in scientific studies and investigations using NIH Facilities; these individuals further their own research by using equipment and resources that are otherwise unavailable to them. They provide no direct services to NIH.