Foreign Service Officer 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. 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

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.

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 $170,000.00 and a subsidy cap of $413 per month. 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.

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

Under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA), most Federal employees are entitled to a total of up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management website for details.

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 Officers 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.

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.

Salary Determination for Foreign Service Officers

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 most years that the program has been offered. For example:

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

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.

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.

Thrift Savings Plan (equivalent to 401(k) with Government matching)

Foreign Service Officers 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.