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Patent Examiner Jobs (NOW HIRING)

United States Patent and Trademark Office

As a Supervisory Patent Examiner , imagine being responsible for fostering innovation and enabling the protection of intellectual property. The challenges and opportunities of a dynamic agency makes ...

United States Patent and Trademark Office

As a Supervisory Patent Examiner , imagine being responsible for fostering innovation and enabling the protection of intellectual property. The challenges and opportunities of a dynamic agency makes ...

United States Patent and Trademark Office

As a Supervisory Patent Examiner , imagine being responsible for fostering innovation and enabling the protection of intellectual property. The challenges and opportunities of a dynamic agency makes ...

United States Patent and Trademark Office

As a Supervisory Patent Examiner , imagine being responsible for fostering innovation and enabling the protection of intellectual property. The challenges and opportunities of a dynamic agency makes ...

United States Patent and Trademark Office

As a Supervisory Patent Examiner , imagine being responsible for fostering innovation and enabling the protection of intellectual property. The challenges and opportunities of a dynamic agency makes ...

United States Patent and Trademark Office

As a Supervisory Patent Examiner , imagine being responsible for fostering innovation and enabling the protection of intellectual property. The challenges and opportunities of a dynamic agency makes ...

BakerHostetler

Patent Scientist

Dallas, TX · On-site

$70K - $75K/yr

Participate in discussions with patent examiners and support efforts to advance applications toward allowance. * Analyze competitor technologies and intellectual property landscapes to support ...

asrcfh

Principal Technical Trainer

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$34.75 - $46.25/hr

The Trainer II will provide formal and informal training to newly hired patent examiners and support advanced patent examination activities when not conducting training. The ideal candidate will ...

BakerHostetler

Patent Scientist

Dallas, TX · On-site

$70K - $75K/yr

Participate in discussions with patent examiners and support efforts to advance applications toward allowance. * Analyze competitor technologies and intellectual property landscapes to support ...

asrcfh

Principal Technical Trainer

Alexandria, VA

$34.75 - $46.25/hr

The Trainer II will provide formal and informal training to newly hired patent examiners and support advanced patent examination activities when not conducting training. The ideal candidate will ...

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Patent Examiner information

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$46.5K

$117.9K

$157K

How much do patent examiner jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for patent examiner in the United States is $117,945.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $74,500.00 and $156,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a patent examiner?

Patent Examiners are professionals who review patent applications to determine whether inventions are new, useful, and non-obvious enough to qualify for patent protection. They analyze technical documents, perform searches for prior art, evaluate the claims made by inventors, and communicate with applicants regarding the status and requirements for their patents. Patent Examiners work for government agencies, such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), to ensure that patents are granted only to inventions that meet legal and technical standards.

What does a patent examiner do?

As a patent examiner, your job is to review each application and determine whether or not to grant the patent for a particular invention. In this role, you review legal documents, help file paperwork, search for prior information about an invention, and write legal office actions. You do most of your examination on a computer, so much of your day involves sitting for extended periods. Patent examiners typically focus on one area or industry, such as mechanical engineering or pharmaceuticals. All patent examiner jobs are with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a part of the Federal government. Other positions that involve examining patents, such as corporate roles designed to help determine if a proposed product is violating someone else's patent, have different titles.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a patent examiner, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Patent Examiner, you need a strong background in science or engineering, analytical thinking, and attention to detail, typically supported by at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Familiarity with patent databases, classification systems, and electronic case management tools is crucial. Excellent written communication, time management, and critical judgment are standout soft skills for this role. These abilities ensure accurate and efficient patent evaluations, help maintain legal standards, and support innovation protection.

How do patent examiners typically collaborate with inventors and patent attorneys during the application review process?

Patent Examiners regularly interact with inventors and patent attorneys to clarify technical details and ensure applications meet legal requirements. This collaboration often involves written correspondence, interviews, or phone calls to discuss prior art, patent claims, and possible amendments. Effective communication skills are important, as Examiners must clearly explain decisions and provide guidance on necessary changes. These interactions are a key part of the review process and help ensure that applications are thoroughly evaluated and applicants understand the reasoning behind any objections or rejections.

What is the difference between Patent Examiner vs Patent Agent?

AspectPatent ExaminerPatent Agent
Required CredentialsTypically a technical degree, passing the patent bar exam, and employment with a patent officeTechnical degree, passing the patent bar exam, and licensure as a patent agent
Work EnvironmentGovernment patent office, examining patent applicationsPrivate law firms or corporations, preparing and prosecuting patent applications
Industry UsagePrimarily in government agencies like USPTOIn private practice or corporate IP departments

While both Patent Examiners and Patent Agents require a technical background and passing the patent bar exam, Patent Examiners work within government agencies reviewing patent applications, whereas Patent Agents operate in private firms or companies, actively preparing and prosecuting patents for clients.

How hard is it to get hired as a patent examiner?

Getting hired as a patent examiner typically requires a background in science or engineering, strong analytical skills, and passing a competitive civil service exam or application process. Candidates often need relevant technical experience and may undergo training at a government agency before starting the role.

Is a patent examiner a good career?

A patent examiner is a government professional responsible for reviewing patent applications to determine their eligibility. The role offers job stability, a structured work environment, and opportunities for specialization, often requiring knowledge of patent law and technical fields. It can be a rewarding career for those interested in intellectual property and legal processes.
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Patent Examiner jobs near you
Infographic showing various Patent Examiner job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $117,945 per year, or $56.7 per hour.

Supervisory Patent Examiner - TC2800

On-site

United States Patent and Trademark Office
10K+ employees
Learn more about United States Patent and Trademark Officeexternal

Other

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

Take your career to the next level by becoming one of USPTO's senior leaders within the Patents Corps! As a Supervisory Patent Examiner, imagine being responsible for fostering innovation and enabling the protection of intellectual property.

The challenges and opportunities of a dynamic agency makes leadership at the USPTO a rewarding career!

You must meet the following United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements for the advertised position. OPM's prescribed Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific.
Positions can be found at: Group Coverage Qualifications Standards for Professional and Scientific Positions and the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for GS-1224, Patent Examining Series: General Schedule Qualification Standards. You must meet all qualification requirements including time-in-grade (refer to 5 CFR 300.604 for more information on time-in-grade) by the closing date of the job announcement.

Patent Examining Series: 1224 Individual Occupational Requirements: Basic Requirements:

Applicants for positions in this series must meet the basic requirements for the scientific, technological, or engineering occupational series related to the area for which they are examining patents. Those requirements are described in the individual occupational requirements for the particular series, e.g., Chemistry, GS-1320; Food Technology, GS-1382; etc.

Evaluation of Graduate Education: Qualifying graduate education must have been in a field appropriate to the position to be filled. An LL.B. or J.D. degree from a recognized law school or membership in the bar of any State, territory, or the District of Columbia is also qualifying for GS-9.

Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the federal service.

Candidates for the GS-15 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as experience examining patents in art areas involving experience searching and/or examining patent applications involving one or more of the following art areas: biotechnology, biomedical, pharmaceutical, materials engineering, mechanical, business methods, electrical, computer, physics or chemical technologies.

Selective Placement Factor: Must have full signatory authority.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Co rs, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

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