A patent examiner is a federal employee who examines patent applications to determine whether or not a patent can be granted for various new inventions, many of which are on the cutting edge of tomorrow’s technological breakthroughs. As a patent examiner, you will search prior art to ensure that an invention is new and unique. You will review patent applications to ensure conformity to formal requirements, and write office actions communicating your findings on patentability to inventors and patent practitioners.

To qualify as a patent examiner, you need to have minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in engineering or science, and successful completion of a full 4-year course at an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s degree, or higher, that included a major field of study, or specific course requirements, in a variety of engineering and science disciplines.

Compensation for patent examiners is such that your earning potential is one of the most important aspects of pursuing federal employment. Most federal government agencies use the General Schedule (GS), which is the predominant pay scale for federal employees. The grade level assigned to a position determines the pay level for that job. Most patent examiners start with the USPTO as a GS-7 or GS-9. The accompanying annual salary for that GS range is $54,857 to $83,242 as of Fiscal Year 2018.

Patent examiners are assigned to a Technology Center depending on their expertise. Each Technology Center has art units classified by technology.

Technology Center 1700 provides examination for patent applications including Chemical and Materials Engineering fields. Technology Center 2100 provides examination for patent applications including Computer Architecture Software and Information Security. Technology Center 2400 provides examination for patent application including Computer Networks, Multiplex, Cable and Cryptography/Security. Technology Center 2600 provides examination for patent applications including Communications. Technology Center 2800 provides examination for patent applications including Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components. Technology Center 2900 provides examination for patent applications including Designs. Technology Center 3600 provides examination for patent applications including Transportation, Electronic Commerce, Construction, Agriculture, Licensing and Review. Technology Center 3700 provides examination for patent applications including Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing and Products.