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. More detailed information.

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

Awards

The Department has a robust awards program to reward employee excellence through their work achievements and dedication to service. There are over 40+ specifically named Department-level awards conferred each year to employees who exemplify superior work achievements. In addition, employees may be eligible to receive performance-based and recognition awards throughout the year.

Child Care Center

The Department sponsors two on-site childcare centers: Columbia Plaza or State Department Annex-1, across the street from the Harry S. Truman Building between 23rd and E Streets NW in Washington, D.C., and the Foreign Service Institute’s Childcare Center on-campus in Arlington, VA. Both centers provide excellent curriculum-based programs for infants through pre-school.  For information about Diplotots Childcare in Annex-1, contact enroll@brynmorearlyed.com or via telephone at (571) 347-1100.

Child Care Subsidy Program

The Child Care Subsidy Program (CCSP) is available to Department employees utilizing licensed and regulated domestic home-based or facility-based child care. This program provides child care subsidy assistance for employees whose total family income does not exceed $170,000.00 (according to their most recent federal tax return adjusted gross income (AGI)). Families who meet this and other legislative requirements may be able to receive up to $416 per month/per family in subsidy assistance towards the cost of their total child care expenses. Once onboard, information about the program and how to access the services can be found on the Department’s Child Care Subsidy Program SharePoint page. Questions regarding the CCSP may also be sent via e-mail to CCSP@state.gov.

Credit Union and Fitness Facility

Employees have access to the State Department Federal Credit Union, a fitness facility through the foreign affairs recreation association, 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.

WorkLife4You

WorkLife4You is 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.

Overtime and Compensatory Time

Employees identified as “nonexempt” are eligible to receive overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Agencies must compensate these employees for work conducted in excess of the 8-hour regular workday or regular 40-hour workweek. Employees who are identified as “exempt” are not covered by the FLSA but can still receive overtime pay under Title 5 of the U.S.C. In certain instances, employees can request compensatory time off in lieu of being paid for overtime or can be required to receive compensatory time off rather than overtime pay.

The supervisor or authorizing official must approve all overtime work it is worked. To find out if you are FLSA exempt or non-exempt or to learn more about overtime and compensatory time policies and procedures, please contact your Executive Office.

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)
• Juneteenth
• 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.)

Paid Parental Leave

Employees are entitled to 12 administrative workweeks of paid parental leave during the 12-month period immediately following the birth or placement of a child.

Pay Adjustment

Each year the President determines whether to authorize an adjustment in the basic pay of certain categories of Federal employees. This adjustment is usually made annually and is usually implemented at the beginning of the first full pay period of January.

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 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.

Retirement

Foreign Service Pension System (FSPS) is the retirement plan for career Foreign Service employees.

Salary Determination for Foreign Service Specialists

View the current FS pay schedule. Initial salaries are determined using the Salary Schedule marked “Overseas.”

For a detailed explanation on determining entry grades, salary standards, and salary review procedures, please visit Foreign Service Salaries.

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 Global Talent Management, Office of Employee Relations. The program was implemented by the Department of State in 2002 and has been funded every year since implementation. The Department has been able to provide SLRP incentives to qualifying employees in the amount of $10k, the yearly max per applicant ($60k lifetime maximum). The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides SLRP incentive recipients a unique opportunity to take advantage of the tax-free status of employer provided student loan benefits until 2025.

The SLRP is considered an incentive that encourages Foreign Service employees to choose assignments to some of our more challenging posts. Employees willing to serve at these posts may qualify for the SLRP. SLRP eligibility is currently available to posts of assignment at the 20% hardship differential level or greater, or at posts designated for danger pay. Although the list of qualifying posts is updated annually, certain posts have consistently been eligible for the past several years;

1. Baghdad
2. Beirut
3. Havana
4. Kingston
5. Mumbai
6. Nairobi
7. Shenyang

Employees interested in benefiting from this annual incentive must be physically stationed at any of the qualifying posts during the eligibility period between March 1 – July 31. Once onboard, information can be found on the Department’s Intranet SLRP page. Individual questions may also be sent via e-mail to SLRP@state.gov.

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.

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.)

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.

Within-Class Increase

Employees under the FO and FP pay plan who are paid at less than the maximum rate of their personal class (i.e., step 14) may earn an advance to the next higher step of the class after 52 calendar weeks (steps 1-9) or 104 calendar weeks (steps 10 through 13) as long as a selection board doesn’t find that performance has fallen below the standards for the applicable class.