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Job title · Washington

Eligibility Worker / Benefits Specialist in Washington

Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources lists 5 job classes for this work in the Washington state pay plan: Public Benefits Specialist 1–5.

$47,004 – $82,440
state pay plan range, a year
5
classes in the state plan
$66,330
median pay in WA, all employers
3,880
workers in WA (SOC 43-4061)

Sources: Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources, Washington Classified Job Listing and OFM Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Washington state pay plan Sourced

Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 1, 2026. These are the ranges Washington sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.

Class and gradePublished rate
Public Benefits Specialist 1
Class 165G · class description
Grade 43
$47,004 – $62,880 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $47,004 a year
  • Step B: $48,048 a year
  • Step C: $49,296 a year
  • Step D: $50,412 a year
  • Step E: $51,600 a year
  • Step F: $52,872 a year
  • Step G: $54,204 a year
  • Step H: $55,596 a year
  • Step I: $56,952 a year
  • Step J: $58,392 a year
  • Step K: $59,760 a year
  • Step L: $61,332 a year
  • Step M: $62,880 a year
Public Benefits Specialist 2
Class 165H · class description
Grade 46
$50,412 – $67,704 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $50,412 a year
  • Step B: $51,600 a year
  • Step C: $52,872 a year
  • Step D: $54,204 a year
  • Step E: $55,596 a year
  • Step F: $56,952 a year
  • Step G: $58,392 a year
  • Step H: $59,760 a year
  • Step I: $61,332 a year
  • Step J: $62,880 a year
  • Step K: $64,512 a year
  • Step L: $66,072 a year
  • Step M: $67,704 a year
Public Benefits Specialist 3
Class 165I · class description
Grade 49
$54,204 – $72,900 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $54,204 a year
  • Step B: $55,596 a year
  • Step C: $56,952 a year
  • Step D: $58,392 a year
  • Step E: $59,760 a year
  • Step F: $61,332 a year
  • Step G: $62,880 a year
  • Step H: $64,512 a year
  • Step I: $66,072 a year
  • Step J: $67,704 a year
  • Step K: $69,348 a year
  • Step L: $71,136 a year
  • Step M: $72,900 a year
Public Benefits Specialist 4
Class 165J · class description
Grade 51
$56,952 – $76,608 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $56,952 a year
  • Step B: $58,392 a year
  • Step C: $59,760 a year
  • Step D: $61,332 a year
  • Step E: $62,880 a year
  • Step F: $64,512 a year
  • Step G: $66,072 a year
  • Step H: $67,704 a year
  • Step I: $69,348 a year
  • Step J: $71,136 a year
  • Step K: $72,900 a year
  • Step L: $74,748 a year
  • Step M: $76,608 a year
Public Benefits Specialist 5
Class 165K · class description
Grade 54
$61,332 – $82,440 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $61,332 a year
  • Step B: $62,880 a year
  • Step C: $64,512 a year
  • Step D: $66,072 a year
  • Step E: $67,704 a year
  • Step F: $69,348 a year
  • Step G: $71,136 a year
  • Step H: $72,900 a year
  • Step I: $74,748 a year
  • Step J: $76,608 a year
  • Step K: $78,504 a year
  • Step L: $80,496 a year
  • Step M: $82,440 a year

Schedule: General Service Salary Schedule. Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources, Washington Classified Job Listing and OFM Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay in Washington, all employers Sourced

Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs (SOC 43-4061) in Washington, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.

MeasureWA
Workers3,880
10th percentile$52,370
Median$66,330
90th percentile$76,690
National median, government employers$55,330

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

More about this job

Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Eligibility Worker / Benefits Specialist page.

Eligibility Worker / Benefits Specialist in other states

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