U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Department of Education / General Attorney

Job-title file

General Attorney

Provide legal advice, draft and review documents, and represent the agency in legal matters.

588 employees hold this title in Department of Education. Median total compensation for the role is $147,176, above the department median of $144,712.

Employees: 588
Total payroll: $86.6M
Role median: $147,176
Agency median: $144,712
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$72,553$195,509+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 588 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

General Attorney pay vs. the United States

Across all employers in the United States, the median wage for Lawyers — about 754,500 people — is $159,670. Department of Education pays a median base salary of $146,352 for this role, 8% below that figure — about the 44th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Education sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$78,360

$102,990

$159,670

$221,370

$351,600

Department of Education median · $146,352

The bar is the range of annual wages for Lawyers across every employer in the United States, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Department of Education’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Education is $147,176, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare departments

This role across U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

General Attorney is held in 98 U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) departments. In Department of Education, the median of $147,176 ranks #90 of 98.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation

$322,736 · 2

Commodity Futures Trading Commission

$252,927 · 273

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

$251,693 · 354

Securities and Exchange Commission

$233,730 · 2,163

Federal Reserve System

$216,602 · 375

National Science Foundation

$203,415 · 32

Presidio Trust

$200,888 · 4

Federal Permitting Improvement Steer

$197,900 · 3

Denali Commission

$191,900 · 1

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

$191,900 · 5

Department of Treasury

$191,900 · 392

Department of State

$191,900 · 325

Median total compensation for the General Attorney role in other U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)departments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

General Attorney beyond U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

This role is reported in 2 jurisdictions. In U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense), the median of $178,914 ranks #1 of 2. See General Attorney across all of U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

New York Public Authorities

$124,825 · 8

Median total compensation for comparable General Attorneyroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Edward Shields

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$102,506

Sub-department: Office of the General Counsel
Base pay: $102,506
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $102,506
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Huntingtown
Work county: Calvert
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $102,506
Basic Pay (before locality): $76,922
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240819009
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Edward Shields holds the role of General Attorney at Department of Education based in Huntingtown, Maryland. In 2024, their total compensation was $102,506. Their pay grade is 12.

Leanne Tyler

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$102,163

Sub-department: Office for Civil Rights
Base pay: $102,163
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $102,163
Pay grade: 12
Work city: New York - New York
Work county: New York
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $102,163
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 364170061
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Leanne Tyler is a General Attorney at Department of Education based in New York - New York, New York. 2024 total compensation came to $102,163. They are classified at grade 12.

Charlotte Miller

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$102,163

Sub-department: Office for Civil Rights
Base pay: $102,163
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $102,163
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Florham Park
Work county: Morris
Work state: New Jersey

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $102,163
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 341030027
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Charlotte Miller is a General Attorney at Department of Education based in Florham Park, New Jersey. 2024 total compensation came to $102,163. They are classified at grade 12.

Amy Young

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$102,163

Sub-department: Office for Civil Rights
Base pay: $102,163
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $102,163
Pay grade: 12
Work city: New York - New York
Work county: New York
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $102,163
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 364170061
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Amy Young is a General Attorney at Department of Education based in New York - New York, New York. 2024 total compensation came to $102,163. They are classified at grade 12.

Sonia Hanson

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$102,163

Sub-department: Office for Civil Rights
Base pay: $102,163
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $102,163
Pay grade: 12
Work city: New York - Kings
Work county: Kings
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $102,163
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 364170047
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Education, Sonia Hanson serves as a General Attorney based in New York - Kings, New York. Their 2024 pay totaled $102,163. They are classified at grade 12.

Hannah Belleau

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$100,622

Sub-department: Office for Civil Rights
Base pay: $100,622
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $100,622
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Seattle
Work county: King
Work state: Washington

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $100,622
Basic Pay (before locality): $76,922
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 531960033
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Hannah Belleau is a General Attorney at Department of Education based in Seattle, Washington. 2024 total compensation came to $100,622. They are classified at grade 12.

Lauren Boothe

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$100,622

Sub-department: Office for Civil Rights
Base pay: $100,622
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $100,622
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Seattle
Work county: King
Work state: Washington

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $100,622
Basic Pay (before locality): $76,922
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 531960033
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Lauren Boothe is a General Attorney at Department of Education based in Seattle, Washington. 2024 total compensation came to $100,622. They are classified at grade 12.

Morgan Schulhof

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$100,314

Sub-department: Federal Student Aid
Base pay: $100,314
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $100,314
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Chicago
Work county: Cook
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $100,314
Basic Pay (before locality): $76,922
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 171670031
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Morgan Schulhof is a General Attorney at Department of Education based in Chicago, Illinois. 2024 total compensation came to $100,314. They are classified at grade 12.

Larry Walker

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$100,314

Sub-department: Federal Student Aid
Base pay: $100,314
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $100,314
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Chicago
Work county: Cook
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $100,314
Basic Pay (before locality): $76,922
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 171670031
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Larry Walker works as a General Attorney for Department of Education based in Chicago, Illinois. Larry earned $100,314 in 2024. Their pay grade is 12.

Kechia Lewis

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$100,314

Sub-department: Federal Student Aid
Base pay: $100,314
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $100,314
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Tinley Park
Work county: Cook
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $100,314
Basic Pay (before locality): $76,922
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 178620031
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Kechia Lewis works as a General Attorney for Department of Education based in Tinley Park, Illinois. Kechia earned $100,314 in 2024. Their pay grade is 12.

Cameron Whitford

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$100,314

Sub-department: Federal Student Aid
Base pay: $100,314
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $100,314
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Chicago
Work county: Cook
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $100,314
Basic Pay (before locality): $76,922
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 171670031
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Education, Cameron Whitford serves as a General Attorney based in Chicago, Illinois. Their 2024 pay totaled $100,314. They are classified at grade 12.

Ariane Armstrong

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$100,099

Sub-department: Office for Civil Rights
Base pay: $100,099
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $100,099
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Kansas City
Work county: Jackson
Work state: Missouri

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $100,099
Basic Pay (before locality): $84,365
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 294120095
Length of Service (Years): 9
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Education, Ariane Armstrong serves as a General Attorney based in Kansas City, Missouri. Their 2024 pay totaled $100,099. They are classified at grade 12.

Gregory Zhelesnik

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$99,907

Sub-department: Federal Student Aid
Base pay: $99,907
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,907
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Fairview Park
Work county: Cuyahoga
Work state: Ohio

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $99,907
Basic Pay (before locality): $81,884
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 392560035
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Gregory Zhelesnik works as a General Attorney for Department of Education based in Fairview Park, Ohio. Gregory earned $99,907 in 2024. Their pay grade is 12.

Katharine Bohrs

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$99,700

Sub-department: Office for Civil Rights
Base pay: $99,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,700
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $99,200
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Katharine Bohrs works as a General Attorney for Department of Education based in Washington, District of Columbia. Katharine earned $99,700 in 2024. Their pay grade is 12.

Naomi Rodriguez

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$99,700

Sub-department: Office for Civil Rights
Base pay: $99,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,700
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $99,200
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Naomi Rodriguez is a General Attorney at Department of Education based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2024 total compensation came to $99,700. They are classified at grade 12.

Ravan Austin

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$99,700

Sub-department: Office for Civil Rights
Base pay: $99,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,700
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $99,200
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Ravan Austin is a General Attorney at Department of Education based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2024 total compensation came to $99,700. They are classified at grade 12.

Paulaine Flerijean

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$99,670

Sub-department: Office for Civil Rights
Base pay: $99,670
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,670
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Atlanta
Work county: Fulton
Work state: Georgia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $99,670
Basic Pay (before locality): $80,737
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 130280121
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Paulaine Flerijean holds the role of General Attorney at Department of Education based in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2024, their total compensation was $99,670. Their pay grade is 11.

Michele Bastacky

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$99,200

Sub-department: Office of the General Counsel
Base pay: $99,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,200
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $99,200
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Michele Bastacky is a General Attorney at Department of Education based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2024 total compensation came to $99,200. They are classified at grade 12.

Katherine Scandura

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$99,200

Sub-department: Office for Civil Rights
Base pay: $99,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,200
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Alexandria
Work county: Alexandria
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $99,200
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 510040510
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Katherine Scandura holds the role of General Attorney at Department of Education based in Alexandria, Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $99,200. Their pay grade is 12.

Amber Saddler

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$99,200

Sub-department: Office for Civil Rights
Base pay: $99,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,200
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $99,200
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Amber Saddler holds the role of General Attorney at Department of Education based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $99,200. Their pay grade is 12.

Michael Lawrence

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$98,240

Sub-department: Office for Civil Rights
Base pay: $98,240
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $98,240
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Boston
Work county: Suffolk
Work state: Massachusetts

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $98,240
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 250120025
Length of Service (Years): 9
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Michael Lawrence works as a General Attorney for Department of Education based in Boston, Massachusetts. Michael earned $98,240 in 2024. Their pay grade is 12.

Rebecca Reindel

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$98,240

Sub-department: Office for Civil Rights
Base pay: $98,240
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $98,240
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Cambridge
Work county: Middlesex
Work state: Massachusetts

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $98,240
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 250170017
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Rebecca Reindel is a General Attorney at Department of Education based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 2024 total compensation came to $98,240. They are classified at grade 12.

Christine Marinello

General Attorney/Department of Education

2024 total comp

$98,240

Sub-department: Office for Civil Rights
Base pay: $98,240
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $98,240
Pay grade: 12
Work city: North Kingstown
Work county: Washington
Work state: Rhode Island

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $98,240
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 440155009
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Christine Marinello is a General Attorney at Department of Education based in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. 2024 total compensation came to $98,240. They are classified at grade 12.