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

Job-title file

Patent Attorney at Department of Justice, U.S. Federal Government

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

22 employees hold this title in Department of Justice. Median total compensation for the role is $197,200, above the department median of $159,534.

Employees: 22
Total payroll: $4.1M
Role median: $197,200
Agency median: $159,534
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$121,785$228,000+

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

How total compensation varies among the 22 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 Justice pays a median base salary of $197,200 for this role, 24% above that figure — about the 65th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Justice sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$78,360

$102,990

$159,670

$221,370

$351,600

Department of Justice median · $197,200

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

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Justice is $197,200, 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 Justice, the median of $197,200 ranks #2 of 7.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Department of Commerce

$209,600 · 319

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

$195,720 · 20

Department of Interior

$195,200 · 1

Department of Agriculture

$189,518 · 3

Environmental Protection Agency

$185,934 · 1

Department of Energy

$184,852 · 30

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.

Same department

Other job titles in Department of Justice

Accounting 196
Administration and Office Support Student Trainee 52
Administrative Law Judge 6
Administrative Officer 180
Aircraft Operation 20
Architecture 12
Auditing 373
Budget Analysis 215
Building Management 7
Civil Rights Analysis 14
Contracting 185
Data Science Series 9
Economist 61
Electronics Technical 7
Equal Employment Opportunity 25
Equal Opportunity Compliance 29
Equal Opportunity Investigation 12
Financial Administration and Program 314
Financial Analysis 11
Financial Clerical and Assistance 8
Financial Management 9
General Arts and Information 7
General Attorney 6,810
General Business and Industry 94
General Health Science 6
General Legal and Kindred Administration 974
General Physical Science 15
Government Information Specialist 88
Grants Management 388
History 7
Human Resources Assistance 26
Human Resources Management 355
Information Technology Management 706
Language Specialist 116
Law Clerk 77
Legal Assistance 454
Legal Instruments Examining 41
Legal Occupations Student Trainee 22
Librarian 29
Management and Program Analysis 661
Mathematical Statistics 8
Miscellaneous Administration and Program 1,237
Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant 101
Operations Research 7
Paralegal Specialist 884
Program Management 113
Public Affairs 59
Records and Information Management 35
Secretary 32
Security Administration 365
Social Science 115
Social Work 10
Statistics 82
Support Services Administration 36
Technical Information Services 8
Telecommunications 11
Training Instruction 15
Transportation Specialist 12
Writing and Editing 17

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Walter Brown

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$228,000

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $228,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $228,000
Pay grade: 00
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: W

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $228,000
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $228,000
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 22
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

Walter Brown holds the role of Patent Attorney at Department of Justice based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2026, their total compensation was $228,000. Their pay grade is 00.

Brian Gross

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$228,000

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $228,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $228,000
Pay grade: 00
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: N

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $228,000
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $228,000
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 11
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

Brian Gross is a Patent Attorney at Department of Justice based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2026 total compensation came to $228,000. They are classified at grade 00.

Conrad Dewitte

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$197,200

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $197,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $197,200
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: Joseph

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $197,200
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $164,301
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 19
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

Conrad Dewitte works as a Patent Attorney for Department of Justice based in Washington, District of Columbia. Conrad earned $197,200 in 2026. Their pay grade is 15.

Shahar Harel

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$197,200

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $197,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $197,200
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $197,200
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $155,875
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 9
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

Shahar Harel holds the role of Patent Attorney at Department of Justice based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2026, their total compensation was $197,200. Their pay grade is 15.

James Hughes

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$197,200

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $197,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $197,200
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: Patrick

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $197,200
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $151,662
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

James Hughes is a Patent Attorney at Department of Justice based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2026 total compensation came to $197,200. They are classified at grade 15.

Jhaniel James

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$197,200

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $197,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $197,200
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: N

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $197,200
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $147,449
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 5
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

Jhaniel James works as a Patent Attorney for Department of Justice based in Washington, District of Columbia. Jhaniel earned $197,200 in 2026. Their pay grade is 15.

Grant Johnson

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$197,200

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $197,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $197,200
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: Drew

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $197,200
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $151,662
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 10
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

Grant Johnson works as a Patent Attorney for Department of Justice based in Washington, District of Columbia. Grant earned $197,200 in 2026. Their pay grade is 15.

Jenna Munnelly

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$197,200

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $197,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $197,200
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: Elizabeth

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $197,200
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $155,875
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

Jenna Munnelly holds the role of Patent Attorney at Department of Justice based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2026, their total compensation was $197,200. Their pay grade is 15.

Carrie Rosato

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$197,200

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $197,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $197,200
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $197,200
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $151,662
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 8
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

At Department of Justice, Carrie Rosato serves as a Patent Attorney based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2026 pay totaled $197,200. They are classified at grade 15.

Michel Souaya

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$197,200

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $197,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $197,200
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $197,200
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $155,875
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

Michel Souaya holds the role of Patent Attorney at Department of Justice based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2026, their total compensation was $197,200. Their pay grade is 15.

Philip Sternhell

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$197,200

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $197,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $197,200
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $197,200
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $160,088
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 12
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

Philip Sternhell holds the role of Patent Attorney at Department of Justice based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2026, their total compensation was $197,200. Their pay grade is 15.

Matthew Tanner

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$197,200

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $197,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $197,200
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $197,200
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $147,449
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

At Department of Justice, Matthew Tanner serves as a Patent Attorney based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2026 pay totaled $197,200. They are classified at grade 15.

Lucy Grace Noyola

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$191,900

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $191,900
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,900
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,900
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $147,647
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

At Department of Justice, Lucy Grace Noyola serves as a Patent Attorney based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $191,900. They are classified at grade 15.

Thomas Sullivan

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$191,850

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $191,850
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,850
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,850
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $143,236
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 5
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

Thomas Sullivan is a Patent Attorney at Department of Justice based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2026 total compensation came to $191,850. They are classified at grade 15.

Hayley Dunn

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$180,565

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $180,565
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $180,565
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $180,565
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $134,810
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

At Department of Justice, Hayley Dunn serves as a Patent Attorney based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2026 pay totaled $180,565. They are classified at grade 15.

Rachel Hicks

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$180,565

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $180,565
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $180,565
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $180,565
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $134,810
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

Rachel Hicks is a Patent Attorney at Department of Justice based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2026 total compensation came to $180,565. They are classified at grade 15.

David Pace

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$180,565

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $180,565
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $180,565
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $180,565
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $134,810
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 5
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

David Pace is a Patent Attorney at Department of Justice based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2026 total compensation came to $180,565. They are classified at grade 15.

Michael Bruns

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$180,359

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $180,359
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $180,359
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: B

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $180,359
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $135,344
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

Michael Bruns works as a Patent Attorney for Department of Justice based in Washington, District of Columbia. Michael earned $180,359 in 2024. Their pay grade is 15.

Andrew Curran

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$174,922

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $174,922
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $174,922
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $174,922
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $130,597
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

Andrew Curran is a Patent Attorney at Department of Justice based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2026 total compensation came to $174,922. They are classified at grade 15.

Kavyasri Nagumotu

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$169,279

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $169,279
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $169,279
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $169,279
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $126,384
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

At Department of Justice, Kavyasri Nagumotu serves as a Patent Attorney based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2026 pay totaled $169,279. They are classified at grade 15.

Suzanne Johnson

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$121,785

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $121,785
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $121,785
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $121,785
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $90,925
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 5
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

Suzanne Johnson holds the role of Patent Attorney at Department of Justice based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2026, their total compensation was $121,785. Their pay grade is 13.

Margaret Hibnick

Patent Attorney/Department of Justice

2026 total comp

$121,785

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $121,785
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $121,785
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work state: District of Columbia
Middle name: S

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $121,785
Agency Code (OPM): DJ
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): DJ01
Basic Pay (before locality): $90,925
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Duty Station State: DC
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 1222

At Department of Justice, Margaret Hibnick serves as a Patent Attorney based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2026 pay totaled $121,785. They are classified at grade 13.