Last updated May 9, 2026 · based on 220 verified listings
Median $25/hr — about $52,000/year at full time.
Pay data on this page comes from 220 verified, US-eligible listings active on CushyJobs in the last 30 days. We re-run this analysis weekly. Federal remote jobs pay at the bottom 25% works out to about $17/hr; the top 25% is around $38/hr.
Range: $17–$38/hr · Median $25/hr
| Bracket | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom 25% | $17/hr | $35,360 |
| Median | $25/hr | $52,000 |
| Top 25% | $38/hr | $79,040 |
Most cushy WFH roles pay the same nationally, but a few employers adjust by metro. Multipliers below applied to the median $25/hr.
San Francisco, CA
$30/hr
18% above the national median
New York, NY
$28/hr
14% above the national median
Boston, MA
$28/hr
10% above the national median
Seattle, WA
$27/hr
9% above the national median
Washington, DC
$27/hr
7% above the national median
Entry (0-1 yr)
$18/hr
~$37,440/year FT
Mid (2-4 yr)
$25/hr
~$52,000/year FT
Senior (5+ yr)
$32/hr
~$66,560/year FT
Across 220 verified listings, the median is $25/hour (about $52,000/year at full time). The bottom 25% earn $17/hr; the top 25% earn $38/hr.
Most cushy WFH roles pay the same nationally regardless of where the worker lives. A small minority of employers (mostly tech and high-cost-of-living based) adjust by metro — those rates are reflected in our top-paying-cities table above.
All federal job applications go through USAJobs.gov. Create an account, complete your standardized profile (this is your "federal résumé" and runs 3–5 pages), and apply directly to listings. The federal résumé format is verbose by private-sector standards — include exact dates, hours per week, and full responsibilities. Don't shorten.
3–6 months from application to start date is typical for non-cleared remote positions. The cycle is: apply (week 0), referral list (week 4–6), structured interview (week 8–10), tentative offer (week 12), background check / EOD setup (week 14–24).