Final answer:
The U.S. civil service's General Schedule (GS) pay scale classifies federal employees into grades GS-1 to GS-15, with higher grades requiring more specialized education and experience and offering higher pay. Employees typically start at the lowest step within their grade and can progress through higher steps over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the United States civil service, the General Schedule (GS) is the predominant pay scale for federal employees, classified into grades based on education, skills, and experiences. The grades range from GS-1 to GS-15, with GS-1 and GS-2 requiring minimal education and experience and offering lower pay. Moving to higher grades, GS-3 through GS-7, and then to GS-8 through GS-12, there is a gradual increase in the requirements for education and relevant experience, as well as in pay. The higher grades of GS-13 through GS-15 are dedicated to positions that necessitate specific and specialized experience and education, associated with the highest levels of pay within the civil service structure.
When first hired into a civil service position, employees start at the first step of their respective grade, which is the lowest allowable pay for that grade. Over time, based on satisfactory performance assessments, they are able to advance through the different steps within a grade, increasing their pay incrementally.