Reference / Public service
Civil-service Grades: Seven National Ladders
Browse civil-service grades in China, the UK, Japan, South Korea, the US, Germany and France. Search native terms across independent national systems without cross-country equivalence.
Civil-service Grades: Seven National Ladders: Presents national grade and career structures independently. China has separate leadership and parallel-rank tracks with numeric ranges. Japanese designated posts and US SES are separate systems. France A+ is a subset of A, and German career groups overlap at some salary grades. Runs 100% locally in your browser with zero server file uploads.
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There is no official cross-country mapping between these civil-service grades. Each ladder belongs to its own national system; matching row positions do not imply equivalence.
China
Leadership posts and parallel ranks are distinct tracks. Numeric levels overlap; 1 is the highest numeric level and 27 the lowest. The rank ranges are transcribed from article 8 of the 2019 regulation; leadership ranges follow article 5 of the management measures.
Leadership posts (领导职务)
| Native grade or level | English gloss | Typical posts or scope | Numeric level (级别) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 国家级正职 | National principal | — | 1–1 |
| 国家级副职 | National deputy | — | 2–4 |
| 省部级正职 | Provincial / ministerial principal | — | 4–8 |
| 省部级副职 | Provincial / ministerial deputy | — | 6–10 |
| 厅局级正职 | Department / bureau principal | — | 8–13 |
| 厅局级副职 | Department / bureau deputy | — | 10–15 |
| 县处级正职 | County / division principal | — | 12–18 |
| 县处级副职 | County / division deputy | — | 14–20 |
| 乡科级正职 | Township / section principal | — | 16–22 |
| 乡科级副职 | Township / section deputy | — | 17–24 |
Parallel ranks (职级)
| Native grade or level | English gloss | Typical posts or scope | Numeric level (级别) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 一级巡视员 | Inspector, level 1 | — | 8–13 |
| 二级巡视员 | Inspector, level 2 | — | 10–15 |
| 一级调研员 | Researcher, level 1 | — | 11–17 |
| 二级调研员 | Researcher, level 2 | — | 12–18 |
| 三级调研员 | Researcher, level 3 | — | 13–19 |
| 四级调研员 | Researcher, level 4 | — | 14–20 |
| 一级主任科员 | Principal staff member, level 1 | — | 15–21 |
| 二级主任科员 | Principal staff member, level 2 | — | 16–22 |
| 三级主任科员 | Principal staff member, level 3 | — | 17–23 |
| 四级主任科员 | Principal staff member, level 4 | — | 18–24 |
| 一级科员 | Staff member, level 1 | — | 18–26 |
| 二级科员 | Staff member, level 2 | — | 19–27 |
Official sources
Accessed 2026-10-04
Source 1https://jjjcz.mee.gov.cn/djfg/dnfgzd/gd/202006/t20200628_786198.html
Source 2https://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2019-03/27/content_5377422.htm
Source 3https://www.npc.gov.cn/zgrdw/npc/xinwen/2018-12/29/content_2069925.htm
Source 4https://www.jszzb.gov.cn/zcfg/zyzyzzbwj/art/2020/art_933077a2be1c4089a9a4660e6553d98f.html
China: leadership, parallel ranks and numeric levels
Civil Servant Law (2018 revision), articles 18–21: https://www.npc.gov.cn/zgrdw/npc/xinwen/2018-12/29/content_2069925.htm . 2019 parallel-rank regulation, article 8: https://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2019-03/27/content_5377422.htm ; readable Ministry of Ecology and Environment reproduction: https://jjjcz.mee.gov.cn/djfg/dnfgzd/gd/202006/t20200628_786198.html . Leadership numeric ranges, management measures article 5: https://www.jszzb.gov.cn/zcfg/zyzyzzbwj/art/2020/art_933077a2be1c4089a9a4660e6553d98f.html . Accessed 4 October 2026.
Other official national structures
UK Civil Service: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/civil-service-grades-and-pay/ . Japan National Personnel Authority, rule 9-8 standard duties: https://www.jinji.go.jp/content/000006718.pdf . South Korea State Public Officials Act: https://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%EA%B5%AD%EA%B0%80%EA%B3%B5%EB%AC%B4%EC%9B%90%EB%B2%95/%EC%A0%9C4%EC%A1%B0 . US OPM: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/general-schedule/ . Germany BBesG Anlage I: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bbesg/anlage_i.html . France DGAFP: https://www.fonction-publique.gouv.fr/devenir-agent-public/je-decouvre-les-voies-dacces-la-fonction-publique . Accessed 4 October 2026. Each country selection includes its supporting sources.
How to use it
- Choose a country to see its own ladder from higher to lower levels.
- Read native terms, English glosses and published examples of duties.
- Search across all countries by a native term or English gloss.
Privacy & limitations
Country selections and searches run locally in your browser.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I convert one country's grade into another?
No. There is no official mapping between these national civil-service ladders.
What do China's numeric ranges mean?
They are 级别 ranges attached to a leadership level or parallel rank. Level 1 is highest and 27 lowest. Parallel-rank ranges follow article 8 of the 2019 regulation; leadership ranges follow article 5 of the management measures.
Is A+ a fourth French statutory category?
No. A+ identifies senior roles within category A. A, B and C are the statutory categories.
Where can I calculate GS pay?
Use the GS Pay Calculator for the 2026 grade, step and locality table. Education examples here are typical entry levels and do not guarantee eligibility.
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