U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Department of Energy / Patent Attorney

Job-title file

Patent Attorney

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

29 employees hold this title in Department of Energy. Median total compensation for the role is $176,502, above the department median of $134,419.

Employees: 29
Total payroll: $4.2M
Role median: $176,502
Agency median: $134,419
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$0$193,900+

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

How total compensation varies among the 29 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

Patent 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 Energy pays a median base salary of $189,244 for this role, 19% above that figure — about the 62nd percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Energy sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$78,360

$102,990

$159,670

$221,370

$351,600

Department of Energy median · $189,244

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 Energy’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Computed over the 24 of 29 people in this role paid at least $25,000 in base salary. The rest are part-year or part-time records, whose actual pay isn’t comparable to a full-time annual wage.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Energy is $176,502, 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)

Patent Attorney is held in 7 U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) departments. In Department of Energy, the median of $176,502 ranks #7 of 7.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Department of Commerce

$204,000 · 307

Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

$191,900 · 20

Department of Justice

$191,289 · 19

Department of Agriculture

$184,216 · 3

Environmental Protection Agency

$181,216 · 1

Department of Interior

$180,359 · 1

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

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Michael Dobbs

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$193,900

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $191,900
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $193,900
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Lemont
Work county: Cook
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,900
Basic Pay (before locality): $151,748
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 174750031
Length of Service (Years): 18
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Michael Dobbs holds the role of Patent Attorney at Department of Energy based in Lemont, Illinois. In 2024, their total compensation was $193,900. Their pay grade is 15.

Julia Moody

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$193,900

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $191,900
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $193,900
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Golden
Work county: Jefferson
Work state: Colorado

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,900
Basic Pay (before locality): $159,950
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 081000059
Length of Service (Years): 23
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Julia Moody works as a Patent Attorney for Department of Energy based in Golden, Colorado. Julia earned $193,900 in 2024. Their pay grade is 15.

Robert Burns

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$191,900

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $191,900
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,900
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,900
Basic Pay (before locality): $151,748
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 17
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Robert Burns is a Patent Attorney at Department of Energy based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2024 total compensation came to $191,900. They are classified at grade 15.

Lisa Baker

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$191,900

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $191,900
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,900
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Weirton
Work county: Hancock
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,900
Basic Pay (before locality): $159,950
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 542730029
Length of Service (Years): 40
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Lisa Baker holds the role of Patent Attorney at Department of Energy based in Weirton, West Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $191,900. Their pay grade is 15.

Gary Drew

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$191,900

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $191,900
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,900
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Berkeley
Work county: Alameda
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,900
Basic Pay (before locality): $159,950
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 060340001
Length of Service (Years): 29
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Gary Drew works as a Patent Attorney for Department of Energy based in Berkeley, California. Gary earned $191,900 in 2024. Their pay grade is 15.

Linda Field

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$191,900

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $191,900
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,900
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Millersville
Work county: Anne Arundel
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,900
Basic Pay (before locality): $159,950
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241018003
Length of Service (Years): 25
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Energy, Linda Field serves as a Patent Attorney based in Millersville, Maryland. Their 2024 pay totaled $191,900. They are classified at grade 15.

Marianne Lynch

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$191,900

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $191,900
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,900
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Bethesda
Work county: Montgomery
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,900
Basic Pay (before locality): $159,950
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240130031
Length of Service (Years): 28
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Energy, Marianne Lynch serves as a Patent Attorney based in Bethesda, Maryland. Their 2024 pay totaled $191,900. They are classified at grade 15.

Jennifer Mahalingappa

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$191,900

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $191,900
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,900
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,900
Basic Pay (before locality): $147,647
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Jennifer Mahalingappa works as a Patent Attorney for Department of Energy based in Washington, District of Columbia. Jennifer earned $191,900 in 2024. Their pay grade is 15.

Daniel Park

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$191,900

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $191,900
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,900
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Lemont
Work county: Cook
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,900
Basic Pay (before locality): $159,950
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 174750031
Length of Service (Years): 42
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Daniel Park works as a Patent Attorney for Department of Energy based in Lemont, Illinois. Daniel earned $191,900 in 2024. Their pay grade is 15.

Nathaniel Sloan

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$191,900

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $191,900
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,900
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Golden
Work county: Jefferson
Work state: Colorado

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,900
Basic Pay (before locality): $151,748
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 081000059
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Nathaniel Sloan works as a Patent Attorney for Department of Energy based in Golden, Colorado. Nathaniel earned $191,900 in 2024. Their pay grade is 15.

Glen Drysdale

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$191,900

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $191,900
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,900
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Littleton
Work county: Jefferson
Work state: Colorado

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,900
Basic Pay (before locality): $155,849
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 081520059
Length of Service (Years): 18
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Glen Drysdale is a Patent Attorney at Department of Energy based in Littleton, Colorado. 2024 total compensation came to $191,900. They are classified at grade 15.

Jonathan Parthum

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$191,289

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $191,289
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,289
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Arlington
Work county: Arlington
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,289
Basic Pay (before locality): $143,546
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 510100013
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Jonathan Parthum is a Patent Attorney at Department of Energy based in Arlington, Virginia. 2024 total compensation came to $191,289. They are classified at grade 15.

Emily Schneider

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$188,854

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $186,854
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $188,854
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Oak Ridge
Work county: Anderson
Work state: Tennessee

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $186,854
Basic Pay (before locality): $159,950
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 471850001
Length of Service (Years): 33
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Energy, Emily Schneider serves as a Patent Attorney based in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Their 2024 pay totaled $188,854. They are classified at grade 15.

Karen Blouin

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$187,198

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $187,198
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $187,198
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Lemont
Work county: Cook
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $187,198
Basic Pay (before locality): $143,546
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 174750031
Length of Service (Years): 17
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Karen Blouin holds the role of Patent Attorney at Department of Energy based in Lemont, Illinois. In 2024, their total compensation was $187,198. Their pay grade is 15.

Felisa Leisinger

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$176,502

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $176,502
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $176,502
Pay grade: 15
Work city: La Grange Park
Work county: Cook
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $176,502
Basic Pay (before locality): $135,344
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 174590031
Length of Service (Years): 8
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Energy, Felisa Leisinger serves as a Patent Attorney based in La Grange Park, Illinois. Their 2024 pay totaled $176,502. They are classified at grade 15.

Christopher Menke

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$172,481

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $172,481
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $172,481
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Oak Ridge
Work county: Anderson
Work state: Tennessee

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $172,481
Basic Pay (before locality): $147,647
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 471850001
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Christopher Menke works as a Patent Attorney for Department of Energy based in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Christopher earned $172,481 in 2024. Their pay grade is 15.

Christine Hartmann

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$167,594

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $167,344
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $250
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $167,594
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Hartford
Work county: Capitol Planning Region
Work state: Connecticut

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $167,344
Basic Pay (before locality): $127,142
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 090280110
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Christine Hartmann works as a Patent Attorney for Department of Energy based in Hartford, Connecticut. Christine earned $167,594 in 2024. Their pay grade is 15.

Jonathan Pettit

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$159,806

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $159,806
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $159,806
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Superior
Work county: Boulder
Work state: Colorado

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $159,806
Basic Pay (before locality): $123,041
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 082400013
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Energy, Jonathan Pettit serves as a Patent Attorney based in Superior, Colorado. Their 2024 pay totaled $159,806. They are classified at grade 15.

Timothy Harney

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$159,151

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $159,151
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $159,151
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Lemont
Work county: Cook
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $159,151
Basic Pay (before locality): $122,039
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 174750031
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Timothy Harney is a Patent Attorney at Department of Energy based in Lemont, Illinois. 2024 total compensation came to $159,151. They are classified at grade 14.

Robert Capps

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$153,975

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $153,975
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $153,975
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Golden
Work county: Jefferson
Work state: Colorado

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $153,975
Basic Pay (before locality): $118,552
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 081000059
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Energy, Robert Capps serves as a Patent Attorney based in Golden, Colorado. Their 2024 pay totaled $153,975. They are classified at grade 14.

Aaron Keith

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$145,509

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $145,509
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $145,509
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Lemont
Work county: Cook
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $145,509
Basic Pay (before locality): $111,578
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 174750031
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Energy, Aaron Keith serves as a Patent Attorney based in Lemont, Illinois. Their 2024 pay totaled $145,509. They are classified at grade 14.

Zameer Sheikh

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$143,986

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $143,736
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $250
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $143,986
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Martinez
Work county: Columbia
Work state: Georgia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $143,736
Basic Pay (before locality): $123,041
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 133463073
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Zameer Sheikh holds the role of Patent Attorney at Department of Energy based in Martinez, Georgia. In 2024, their total compensation was $143,986. Their pay grade is 15.

Andrew Choi

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$97,079

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $97,079
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $97,079
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Lemont
Work county: Cook
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $97,079
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 174750031
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Andrew Choi holds the role of Patent Attorney at Department of Energy based in Lemont, Illinois. In 2024, their total compensation was $97,079. Their pay grade is 12.

Andrew Stark

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$97,079

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $97,079
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $97,079
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Lemont
Work county: Cook
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $97,079
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,441
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 174750031
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Andrew Stark holds the role of Patent Attorney at Department of Energy based in Lemont, Illinois. In 2024, their total compensation was $97,079. Their pay grade is 12.

Wendell Peete

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $0
Pay grade: ##
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): NQ

Wendell Peete works as a Patent Attorney for Department of Energy based in Washington, District of Columbia. Wendell earned $0 in 2024. Their pay grade is ##.

James Durkis

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $0
Pay grade: ##
Work city: Orlando
Work county: Orange
Work state: Florida

Source-specific fields

Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 122360095
Length of Service (Years): 33
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): NQ

James Durkis holds the role of Patent Attorney at Department of Energy based in Orlando, Florida. In 2024, their total compensation was $0. Their pay grade is ##.

Carmen Ekstrom

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $0
Pay grade: ##
Work city: Albuquerque
Work county: Bernalillo
Work state: New Mexico

Source-specific fields

Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 350030001
Length of Service (Years): 19
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): NQ

Carmen Ekstrom holds the role of Patent Attorney at Department of Energy based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 2024, their total compensation was $0. Their pay grade is ##.

Fred Lewis

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $0
Pay grade: ##
Work city: Albuquerque
Work county: Bernalillo
Work state: New Mexico

Source-specific fields

Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 350030001
Length of Service (Years): 19
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): NQ

Fred Lewis works as a Patent Attorney for Department of Energy based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Fred earned $0 in 2024. Their pay grade is ##.

Arthur Trausch

Patent Attorney/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $0
Pay grade: ##
Work city: Albuquerque
Work county: Bernalillo
Work state: New Mexico

Source-specific fields

Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 350030001
Length of Service (Years): 18
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222
Pay Plan (OPM): NQ

Arthur Trausch is a Patent Attorney at Department of Energy based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 2024 total compensation came to $0. They are classified at grade ##.