Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is an essential labor law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing significant labor laws affecting nearly 150 million workers.
There are two vacancies being recruited in the West Region through this announcement, one General Wage and Hour Investigator and one Wage and Hour Investigator to focus on Agriculture.
The selected candidate(s) must report to a designated District or Field Office within the West Region.
Summary
Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is an essential labor law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing significant labor laws affecting nearly 150 million workers.
There are two vacancies being recruited in the West Region through this announcement, one General Wage and Hour Investigator and one Wage and Hour Investigator to focus on Agriculture.
The selected candidate(s) must report to a designated District or Field Office within the West Region.
This announcement is open to current Wage and Hour Division (WHD) employees with competitive status and CTAP eligibles in the local commuting area (West Region).
The Wage and Hour Investigator (Regional Enforcement Coordinator) serves as the principal advisor to the Regional Administrator, Deputy Regional Administrator, Director of Enforcement, Deputy Director of Enforcement, and/or District Directors of the assigned WHD region regarding issues and compliance activities, with responsibility for overseeing enforcement of various assigned Acts and enforcement programs. Duties include:
Evaluates case files considering Investigator standards and provides feedback on case deficiencies to the employee as well as the appropriate District Office manager.
Assesses priorities and recommends changes in planned enforcement programs on the basis of current knowledge of industry practices, economic conditions, prevalent attitudes, and other factors; selects individual employers for investigation and determines appropriate remedies, considering such factors as evidence of violations, frequency of certain violations, probable extent of violations, need for clarification in questionable cases of coverage, and degree of compliance.
Coordinates program activities with related activities of other Department of Labor, State, and Federal agencies, regarding contributions to defined benefit plans, concurrent investigations conducted by state or criminal enforcement agencies, etc.
Leads or conducts the full range and scope of investigations in assigned program areas. Investigations frequently involve coordinating efforts and the incumbent serves a leadership role where enforcement activities involve multiple District Offices and/or
Regions. Conducts negotiations with employers, their legal counsels, accountants, and representatives of employers and industry associations to get voluntary compliance and obtain back wages and liquidated damages, when appropriate, due employees.
Identifies potential litigation cases and works closely with representatives of the Solicitor's Office in building the most effective case where litigation is involved. Provides technical advice and assistance to District Office investigators on cases in which enforcement precedents are not applicable, evidence is inconclusive, and issues are ambiguous. Develops and conducts specialized training programs in these program areas.
Plans, develops, and actively participates in an aggressive public relations, information, and educational programs regarding protections for workers covered by the various acts enforced by the Wage and Hour Division and within the assigned enforcement
programs.
Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
Qualifications
You must meet all requirements listed below to qualify for the Wage and Hour Investigator:
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements described below.
A full year of work experience is defined as 35-40 hours per week. All experience listed on your resume must include month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited based on the actual time spent performing qualifying duties. Applicants seeking credit for part-time experience must clearly describe their duties and responsibilities and indicate the number of hours worked per week.
In describing your experience, be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your qualifications.
Step 1: Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR)
Applicants must first meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR).
Applicants MUST satisfy at least two (2) of the following three criteria:
General knowledge of Federal wage and hour labor laws, industrial occupations, wage scales, employment practices, or salary and wage administration practices.
Skill in analyzing written/verbal information and numerical data and making decisions on issues based on interviews, records review, reconstruction of missing or fraudulent records and applying legal or regulatory provisions, precedents, and principles to specific investigative matters.
Skill in personal contacts requiring the ability to explain requirements or rights and obtain information and cooperation from people with diverse backgrounds and levels of understanding, reconcile conflicting interests, and persuade others to comply voluntarily with requirements.
In addition to meeting two of the three criteria above, applicants MUST also demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to apply Federal wage and hour labor laws pertaining to wages, hours of work, or related conditions of employment.
Examples of qualifying experience include:
Developing, interpreting, or applying policies, procedures, and operating standards in determining compliance for an organization or government-based program.
Conducting interviews and providing information about laws and/or regulations.
Industrial personnel or salary and wage administration or responsible work in a certified public accounting firm.
Analyzing or applying labor legislation.
Reviewing and evaluating operations and procedures through analysis, audits, or surveillance inspections.
Federal, State, or self-regulatory agency work involving obtaining compliance with appropriate program requirements.
Step 2: Specialized Experience
In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirement, applicants must possess 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically related to the work of the position being filled.
Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:
Planning, coordinating, and/or conducting compliance activities and analysis for a complex enforcement program.
Coordinating with other organizations, or parts of the organization, to manage cross-regional projects, monitor progress, and evaluate outcomes.
Experience conducting Wage and Hour investigations of national or large multi-unit enterprises.
Ability to effectively mediate, conciliate, and apply techniques required to achieve agreement with others.
For Wage and Hour Investigator that will focus on Agriculture, the following are additional examples of qualifying specialized experience:
Experience planning and conducting large complex agricultural investigations dealing with MSPA and H-2A statutes.
Experience planning and presenting at agricultural outreach events.
Additional Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must also meet the following eligibility requirements:
Time-in-grade: 52 weeks at the GS-12 grade level or equivalent Federal service.
Time after competitive appointment: 90 days, if applicable.
All minimum qualification requirements.
To be eligible for consideration, all requirements must be met within 30 days of the announcement closing date.
Education
There is no educational substitute for this vacancy.
Additional information
The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers.
As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
This position is inside the bargaining unit. If the duty location is within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit. If the duty location is outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the NCFLL bargaining unit.
For more information, click Telework Position Information. This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy.
Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy.
The Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Click here for Additional Information.
The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act.
Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions.
All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your evaluation will be based on how well you meet the qualifications outlined in this vacancy announcement, as demonstrated through your resume and supporting documentation.
Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review your resume to assess your technical qualifications based on the competencies listed below. Applicants who meet the required qualifications will advance to the next stage of the hiring process.
For each below competency, SME(s) will provide a rating of 0-Not Applicable, 1-Awareness, 2-Basic, 3-Intermediate, 4-Advanced, or 5-Expert based on the content of your resume.
Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:
The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, and volunteer, as it demonstrates the competencies or skills required for the position to be filled. Your evaluation may include an interview, reference checks, or other assessment conducted by HR specialists, subject matter experts, or panel members and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.).
INFORMATION FOR CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. CTAP eligible(s) will be considered well-qualified if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review the eligibility questions to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.
When Wage and Hour Division completes its hiring, the remaining list of qualified candidates may be shared with additional sub-agencies in the Department. You will have an opportunity to opt-in if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results shared to be considered for employment with additional sub-agencies at DOL. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of time-in-grade (52 weeks at the next lower grade), time-after-competitive-appointment (90 days), and minimum qualifications (52 weeks equivalent to the next lower grade in federal service). These requirements must be met within 30 days of 07/19/2026 the announcement closing date.
The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY):
AGENCY EMPLOYEES: Please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility.
*WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step.
Resumes are required- provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and number of work hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions, and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.
Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency, but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. *In most cases, CTAP applicants must submit this document - see the CTAP link below for more details.
The following documents are required (if applicable):
Displaced Employee Placement Documents: Only required if requesting priority consideration under Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Eligibility. Click/Review this CTAP link to confirm what must be submitted as proof that the requirement has been met.
Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience but may be submitted.
Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, including submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration.
Important - Save your information before the 30 minute system timeout! For help, go to USAJOBS Help Center.
STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents. For each employment period, include start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week) otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.
NOTE: In alignment with the Presidential Memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, applicants may only submit a resume limited to two (2) pages. Only the résumé uploaded under the 'Resume" document type in USAJOBS will be reviewed. If the resume submitted exceeds two (2) pages, the application will be deemed ineligible for further consideration.
STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS). Once you have identified a job on USAJOBS that you wish to apply for, click on the job title and then click the Apply button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Proceed through the steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. In the final step, once you have certified your application, click the Continue to agency site button.
STEP 3 - Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL). On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click Apply to this vacancy. Continue through the progress steps at the top of the DOL page. The 2nd progress step is where you answer the vacancy-specific questions. The 3rd progress step Documents is where you submit the required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.
STEP 4 - On the Review and Submit step, verify each section of your application is complete and correct. In order to submit your application, you must have a check mark next to each section listed. If there is an X, return to the appropriate section and follow the prompts. When it is ready for submission, certify your application and click the Submit Application button.
STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm Eastern Time of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, thenUpdate Application.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Wage and Hour Division
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
US
Next steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days of the issuance date of the certificate.
For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to USAJOBS Help Guide.
USAJOBS will no longer send status alert email notifications. You can check your application status in the TAS by logging into USAJOBS and in the Applicant Dashboard, click the hiring agency Talent Acquisition System (TAS). If the TAS does not provide application tracking information, contact the agency's point of contact on the job announcement.
To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link, and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of time-in-grade (52 weeks at the next lower grade), time-after-competitive-appointment (90 days), and minimum qualifications (52 weeks equivalent to the next lower grade in federal service). These requirements must be met within 30 days of 07/19/2026 the announcement closing date.
The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY):
AGENCY EMPLOYEES: Please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility.
*WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step.
Resumes are required- provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and number of work hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions, and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.
Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency, but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. *In most cases, CTAP applicants must submit this document - see the CTAP link below for more details.
The following documents are required (if applicable):
Displaced Employee Placement Documents: Only required if requesting priority consideration under Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Eligibility. Click/Review this CTAP link to confirm what must be submitted as proof that the requirement has been met.
Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience but may be submitted.
Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, including submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration.
Important - Save your information before the 30 minute system timeout! For help, go to USAJOBS Help Center.
STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents. For each employment period, include start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week) otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.
NOTE: In alignment with the Presidential Memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, applicants may only submit a resume limited to two (2) pages. Only the résumé uploaded under the 'Resume" document type in USAJOBS will be reviewed. If the resume submitted exceeds two (2) pages, the application will be deemed ineligible for further consideration.
STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS). Once you have identified a job on USAJOBS that you wish to apply for, click on the job title and then click the Apply button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Proceed through the steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. In the final step, once you have certified your application, click the Continue to agency site button.
STEP 3 - Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL). On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click Apply to this vacancy. Continue through the progress steps at the top of the DOL page. The 2nd progress step is where you answer the vacancy-specific questions. The 3rd progress step Documents is where you submit the required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.
STEP 4 - On the Review and Submit step, verify each section of your application is complete and correct. In order to submit your application, you must have a check mark next to each section listed. If there is an X, return to the appropriate section and follow the prompts. When it is ready for submission, certify your application and click the Submit Application button.
STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm Eastern Time of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, thenUpdate Application.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Wage and Hour Division
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
US
Next steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days of the issuance date of the certificate.
For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to USAJOBS Help Guide.
USAJOBS will no longer send status alert email notifications. You can check your application status in the TAS by logging into USAJOBS and in the Applicant Dashboard, click the hiring agency Talent Acquisition System (TAS). If the TAS does not provide application tracking information, contact the agency's point of contact on the job announcement.
To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link, and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
