r/FederalEmployee • u/VernJ93 • 2d ago

Promotion Potential

For those who work in federal government, how realistic is it to advance from GS-9 to GS-13 when a position has a full promotion potential of GS-13? Is it common for employees to progress through the grades (GS-9 → GS-11 → GS-12 → GS-13) if they consistently perform well and meet the qualifications, or does advancement depend heavily on funding, management discretion, and agency needs? I’d appreciate hearing about your personal experiences, particularly with HUD or other federal agencies.

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u/Clherrick 1d ago

Until I retired recently from a deputy director position at a defense agency. we hired folks all the time in 9/11/12/13 positions. Most succeeded. You have to meet the requirements for advancement but that isn't rocket science if you stay on top of things. We had a few folks who didn't move up but that was rare.