Salary & Benefits
Salaries
SLIP interns are compensated under the General Schedule (GS). Federal salaries vary by geographic location. Employees assigned to high cost-of-living areas receive a percentage of their base pay as “locality pay.” The Office of Personnel Management publishes GS salary tables that list base pay and, for geographic areas with locality pay, the specific amounts. For both the current GS base salary and exact GS salaries by location, click here. Volunteer internships are not compensated.
The chart below lists the 2026 GS pay scale, current base salary (annual and hourly) and current salary for the Washington, D.C. area (annual and hourly) for SLIP interns. OPM will post 2027 salaries in January.
| Qualifications | General Scale (GS) Pay Grade and Base Salary (Not Including Locality Pay) | General Scale (GS) Salary for Washington, D.C. Area (Including Locality Pay) |
|---|---|---|
| Candidates with a law degree (J.D. or equivalent) at time of employment | GS-11, step 1 Annual: $67,795 Hourly: $30.57 | Annual: $85,447 Hourly: $40.94 |
| Candidates who have completed two years of law school (equivalent to full-time study) at the time of employment | GS-7, step 1 Annual: $42,106 Hourly: $20.65 | Annual: $57,736 Hourly: $27.66 |
| Candidates who have completed less than two years of law school (equivalent to full-time study) at the time of employment | GS-5, step 1 Annual: $34,799 Hourly: $16.67 | Annual: $46,610 Hourly: $22.33 |
Benefits and Services
SLIP-Pathways interns do not generally receive employment benefits. SLIP-Law Clerk interns who work for more than 90 days earn annual and sick leave. All SLIP interns in Washington, D.C. are eligible for a transit subsidy to encourage the use of public transportation.