U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Smithsonian Institution

Agency file

Smithsonian Institution

Source file: U.S. Office of Personnel Management — Federal Civilian Workforce (non-Defense, FOIA 25-0777-F, Mar 2024) / ingested Jul 3, 2026

The Smithsonian Institution is a government agency that delivers public services and programs within its jurisdiction.

In 2024, this agency had 4,424 employees with median total compensation of $91,039; the highest distinct record was $231,900.

Year: 2024
Total payroll: $452.2M
Employees: 4,424
Median total: $91,039
Highest record: $231,900

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

$0$198,709+

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

How 2024 total compensation is spread across the 4,424 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($91,039) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $102,107 (100%)
Overtime — $0 (0%)
Other — $113 (0%)
Benefits — $0 (0%)

What an average paycheck here is made of — base salary versus overtime, other pay (bonuses, allowances), and benefits. A large overtime or other-pay share means take-home often exceeds base salary.

Pay percentiles

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$53,681

$68,405

$91,039

$128,956

$171,923

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $171,923 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $53,681. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Security Guard

651 · $62,070

Museum Specialist and Technician

376 · $98,098

Misc Transportation/Mobile Equipment Oper

310 · $47,980

General Arts and Information

284 · $109,119

Miscellaneous Administration and Program

268 · $99,315

The most common job titles in this department by headcount, with the median total compensation for each. Click a title to see everyone who holds it.

Compare

Similar departments

Departments elsewhere with the most similar mix of roles — a proxy for the same kind of agency, matched by workforce composition rather than name. Pay is not cost-of-living adjusted.

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)60% match
Fine Arts Museum City and County of San Francisco36% match

Record list

Employees

Page 7

David Opkins

Financial Administration and Program/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$191,289

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $191,289
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,289
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,289
Basic Pay (before locality): $143,546
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 0501
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Smithsonian Institution, David Opkins serves as a Financial Administration and Program based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $191,289. They are classified at grade 15.

Anna Pardo

General Arts and Information/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$191,289

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $191,289
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,289
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,289
Basic Pay (before locality): $143,546
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 23
Occupation Code (OPM): 1001
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Smithsonian Institution, Anna Pardo serves as a General Arts and Information based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $191,289. They are classified at grade 15.

Robert Robertson

Miscellaneous Administration and Program/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$191,289

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $191,289
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,289
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,289
Basic Pay (before locality): $143,546
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 23
Occupation Code (OPM): 0301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Robert Robertson holds the role of Miscellaneous Administration and Program at Smithsonian Institution based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $191,289. Their pay grade is 15.

Terence Sillett

Wildlife Biology/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$191,289

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $191,289
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,289
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,289
Basic Pay (before locality): $143,546
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 22
Occupation Code (OPM): 0486
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Smithsonian Institution, Terence Sillett serves as a Wildlife Biology based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $191,289. They are classified at grade 15.

Natascha Syre

Management and Program Analysis/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$191,289

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $191,289
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,289
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,289
Basic Pay (before locality): $143,546
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 24
Occupation Code (OPM): 0343
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Natascha Syre is a Management and Program Analysis at Smithsonian Institution based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2024 total compensation came to $191,289. They are classified at grade 15.

Marisa Marinos

General Attorney/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$191,289

Sub-department: National Gallery of Art
Base pay: $191,289
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,289
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,289
Basic Pay (before locality): $143,546
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 18
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Marisa Marinos holds the role of General Attorney at Smithsonian Institution based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $191,289. Their pay grade is 15.

Jennifer Ross

Information Technology Management/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$191,181

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $191,181
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,181
Pay grade: 00
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,181
Basic Pay (before locality): $191,181
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 5
Occupation Code (OPM): 2210
Pay Plan (OPM): SL

Jennifer Ross is a Information Technology Management at Smithsonian Institution based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2024 total compensation came to $191,181. They are classified at grade 00.

Margaret Martin

Technical Writing and Editing/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$191,180

Sub-department: National Gallery of Art
Base pay: $191,180
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,180
Pay grade: 00
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,180
Basic Pay (before locality): $191,180
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 1083
Pay Plan (OPM): SL

At Smithsonian Institution, Margaret Martin serves as a Technical Writing and Editing based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $191,180. They are classified at grade 00.