Patent Examiner Job Description: Duties, Skills & Requirements

Key Takeaways

• Patent examiners evaluate patent applications for compliance with 35 U.S.C. statutory requirements: novelty (§ 102), non-obviousness (§ 103), subject matter eligibility (§ 101), and adequate disclosure (§ 112)
• The role combines deep STEM expertise with legal analysis, requiring a bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or natural sciences
• Examiners work within a counts-based production system, processing 3-5 balanced disposals per biweek depending on art unit complexity
• Starting salaries range from $44,100 (GS-5) to $64,700 (GS-9) in the DC locality, with promotion to GS-13 ($111,800+) typical within 4-5 years
• The USPTO offers one of the most extensive federal telework programs, with most trained examiners eligible for 4-5 days remote work per week