Curious about how much you can earn if you work at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)?
This Comprehensive Guide to DFA Salary Grade 2025 will help you understand the latest pay rates, how the salary system works, and what you can expect if you’re planning to apply for a job at DFA.
Whether you’re a fresh grad, a career shifter, or someone aiming for a stable government job, this guide will give you all the info you need — in simple words.
Table of Contents
What is DFA Salary Grade?
DFA Salary Grade is the official pay system used by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to decide how much an employee earns.
Just like in many government offices in the Philippines, the DFA follows the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) — a system that sets the monthly salary based on the job’s position, rank, and responsibilities.
Every job in DFA has a Salary Grade (SG) — it ranges from SG 1 (lowest) to SG 33 (highest, usually for top officials). The higher the number, the bigger the salary. So, if you want to know how much you’ll earn in DFA, you need to check the salary grade of the position you’re applying for.
Here’s what you need to know about DFA Salary Grades:
- Each position has a fixed salary grade – For example, a Clerk may be SG 4, while a Foreign Affairs Officer could be SG 18 or higher.
- Higher roles = higher grades = higher pay – Managers, Directors, and Division Chiefs get higher SGs because of bigger duties.
- Salaries are updated yearly– Thanks to the SSL, government salaries (including DFA) increase over time.
- Your starting salary depends on your job title – New applicants or entry-level workers won’t earn the same as those with more experience or higher roles.
So if you’re eyeing a job at DFA, learning about salary grades will help you know what to expect and how much you’ll possibly earn — super useful when planning your career!
DFA Salary Grade by Position 2025
Below is a list of common Department of Foreign Affairs positions in the Philippines and their corresponding salary grades for 2025:
| Positions | Salary Grade |
|---|---|
| Secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs | 31 |
| DFA Undersecretary | 30 |
| DFA Assistant Secretary | 29 |
| DFA Director IV | 28 |
| DFA Director III | 27 |
| DFA Director II | 26 |
| DFA Director I | 25 |
| Chief Foreign Affairs Research Specialist | 24 |
| Supervising Foreign Affairs Research Specialist | 22 |
| Foreign Affairs Adviser | 22 |
| Senior Foreign Affairs Research Specialist | 18 |
| Foreign Affairs Research Specialist II | 15 |
| Foreign Affairs Research Specialist I | 11 |
| Foreign Service Staff Employee I | 11 |
| Foreign Service Staff Employee II | 9 |
| Foreign Service Staff Employee III | 7 |
To see the exact salary for each grade:
If you’re looking for the salary grades of common government roles like Administrative Officers, Assistants, and Aides at DFA, refer to the Government Plantilla Positions Salary Grade Table 2025.
What is DFA?
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is the government agency in charge of managing the Philippines’ relationships with other countries.
In simple words, they’re the ones who handle anything related to foreign affairs, diplomacy, and Filipinos abroad.
DFA is the reason why we have:
- Philippine Embassies and Consulates around the world
- Passports and travel documents for Filipinos
- Help for overseas Filipinos in times of emergency
- Friendly ties with other countries through treaties and cooperation
DFA’s Main Jobs Include:
- Issuing Philippine passports
- Helping Filipinos in trouble abroad (legal, medical, or safety-related)
- Representing the Philippines in international meetings and organizations
- Making sure the Philippines keeps strong ties with other countries
- Supporting OFWs and promoting Philippine interests overseas
So if you’re dreaming of a career that lets you serve the country — locally or abroad — while wearing that barong or power suit with pride, DFA might be the place for you
Conclusion
Now that you’ve seen the DFA Salary Grades for 2025, you have a better idea of how much you can earn and what roles you can grow into if you decide to work at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Whether you’re planning to be a Foreign Service Officer, a Staff Officer, or a Support Employee, DFA offers a career filled with purpose, stability, and the chance to serve the country — both here and abroad.
If you’re looking for a government job with clear career paths, decent pay, and the opportunity to represent the Philippines, DFA might just be your next big move.
Start preparing now — take the Civil Service Exam, explore DFA job postings, and build your qualifications.
Your dream government job could be just a few steps away.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
References
- The Official Website of the Department of Foreign Affairs – Republic of the Philippines. (2015). Dfa.gov.ph. https://dfa.gov.ph/
- Volume III Index of Classes by Salary Grade 166. (n.d.). https://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/OPCCB/BC/BC-2018-4-vol-iii.pdf
Do you want to know how much different jobs pay in the Philippines? Check this out!
Salary Grades in the Philippines (2025)
Salary grades show how much government workers earn—from public employees and officials to military personnel and even some roles in private sector.