The Life of a Patent Examiner
Patent examiners assist in the process of invention by examining and evaluating patent applications. Most examiners work at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office near Washington, DC.
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Work
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Patent examiners determine whether the inventions of patent applicants meet the criteria of being "new and inventive." To evaluate claims, the examiner searches internal databases and published scientific and technical literature and may collaborate with other patent experts. The examiner communicates findings to the applicant or applicant's patent agent or attorney.
Training
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Most patent examiners have a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering or science. After being hired, the examiner attends the eight-month U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patent Training Academy program. The academy creates an individual development plan for each examiner that includes two years of ongoing training and development assignments. Examiners receive on-the-job training from a supervisory examiner and take U.S. Patent and Trademark Office courses to keep their training current.
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Wages
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The wages of patent examiners are based on a specialized version of the federal general schedule pay system. Examiners are recruited at grades GS-5 through GS-9, with the grade dependent on the applicant's experience and scientific discipline. Annual entry-level wages in 2009 were $41, 350 at the GS-5 level and almost $59, 970 at the GS-9 level.
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