Foreign Service Specialist Benefits
Allowances and Incentives
There are five general types of allowances and incentives: foreign travel per diem allowances, cost of living allowances, recruitment and retention incentives, quarters allowances, and other allowances. For detailed information, please click here.
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
Child Care Center
The Department sponsors two on-site child care centers: Columbia Plaza or State Department Annex-1, across the street from the Harry S. Truman Building between 21st and 23rd Streets NW in Washington, D.C., and the Foreign Service Institute’s Child Care Center on-campus in Arlington, VA. Both centers provide excellent curriculum-based programs for infants through pre-school and the “Diplotots” Center, located at SA-1, also offers kindergarten.
Child Care Subsidy Program
A child care subsidy program is available to U.S.-based Department employees meeting certain criteria. This independent program provides child care subsidy assistance for employees whose total family income does not exceed $68,000. Families who meet this and other legislative requirements may be able to receive from 20% to 50% of their total child care expenses.
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 at Main State.
Employee Consultation Service
Staffed by licensed, clinical social workers to provide counseling and referrals for personal and family concerns.
Employee Recreation Association
Discount tickets to movies and sporting events.
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
Health Benefit Plans
Choice of extensive array of Federal Employment Health Benefit 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.
IQ: INFORMATION QUEST
A counseling, education and referral service to help employees manage personal and professional responsibilities (e.g., adoption, adult care).
Life Insurance
Foreign Service Specialists 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.
Salary Determination for Foreign Service Specialists
For the current FS pay schedule, click here.
Foreign Service Specialist career candidates enter the Foreign Service at the appropriate entry grade listed in the specific Specialist Vacancy Announcement. The salary awarded within the grade (step) is determined based on education and work experience.
Paid Holidays
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Third Monday in January)
- Washington’s Birthday (Third Monday in February)
- Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (First Monday in September)
- Columbus Day (Second Monday in October)
- Veterans Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
(In addition to the above holidays, the U.S. Government also observes some local holidays celebrated at overseas posts of assignment.)
Sick Leave
Accrued at a rate of 4 hours per pay period, 13 days per leave year
Student Loan Repayment Program
The Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) is administered for the Department by the Bureau of Human Resources, Office of Employee Relations. The program was authorized by law in 1990, was implemented by the Department of State in 2002, and has been funded annually since implementation. The SLRP may benefit career Civil Service (CS) employees if they encumber mission critical occupational series positions, Foreign Service (FS) employees assigned abroad to extreme hardship and/or danger pay eligible posts, and eligible Consular Fellow (CF) applicants serving on time-limited appointments. The SLRP is not an entitlement, and eligibility is not available to all State Department employees.
It is imperative that employees familiarize themselves with all program requirements and Service Agreement conditions prior to applying for SLRP eligibility. Once onboard, information can be found on the Department’s Intranet SLRP page. Individual queries may also be sent via unclassified e-mail to SLRP@state.gov.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (Student Loan Forgiveness)
This legislation is being administered by the U.S. Department of Education’s Direct Loans. Individuals interested in a career in public service, who also have significant federally insured student loan debt, may be interested in researching eligibility at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service. It is possible for employees to qualify for the Department’s SLRP and after ten years of specific public service have the balance of their federally insured loan(s) forgiven.
Ten Paid Holidays Per Year
(In addition to the above holidays, the U.S. Government also observes some local holidays celebrated at overseas posts of assignment.)
Thrift Savings Plan (equivalent to 401(k) with Government matching)
Foreign Service Specialists may participate in the Thrift Savings Plan, a long-term savings and investment program for federal employees designed to provide retirement income.
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.