Fellow Salary and Benefits

Hiring mechanism choices

Incoming LLS fellows may have a choice of hiring mechanisms depending on citizenship status and other factors.

• U.S. citizens have two options:
  • Civil Service (under Title-42 Fellowships and Other Training Programs)
  • U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps
• U.S. permanent residents are eligible only for civil service

U.S. citizens and permanent residents

Civil service

Upon initial appointment, the Title-42 fellowship entry grade will be set comparable to the Federal Government General Schedule (GS) base pay rate. The rate will be equivalent to GS-12, step 3 regardless of previous experience and compensation. An additional locality pay is based on the location of the official duty station.

Additional incentives include:

• Thrift Savings Plan
• Federal Employees Retirement System Benefit Plan
• Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan
• Federal Employees Group Life Insurance
• Federal Employees Vision and Dental Insurance Program
• 4 hours of annual leave and 4 hours of sick leave every 2 weeks (13 days total of each)

U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps (U.S. citizens only)

The USPHS is one of the seven Uniformed Services. It is a specialized career system designed to attract, develop, and retain health professionals to accomplish its mission.

Incoming LLS fellows must meet eligibility criteria for the Commissioned Corps:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be less than 44 years of age (at date of entry into LLS)
• Have a degree in an appropriate health-related discipline
• Meet medical standards

Steps to apply to the Laboratory Leadership Service program

Interested applicants should take the following steps to apply to become an LLS fellow.

1. Check eligibility
2. Review salary and benefits information
3. Review informational webinars for Fellowship applicants
4. Prepare application information and materials
5. Complete the online application