diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/discussion/rest_api/permissions.py b/lms/djangoapps/discussion/rest_api/permissions.py
index dc888729bb9c..f8a5f6288c51 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/discussion/rest_api/permissions.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/discussion/rest_api/permissions.py
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ def get_editable_fields(cc_content: Union[Thread, Comment], context: Dict) -> Se
     is_thread = cc_content["type"] == "thread"
     is_comment = cc_content["type"] == "comment"
     has_moderation_privilege = context["has_moderation_privilege"]
+    is_staff_or_admin = context["is_staff_or_admin"]
 
     if is_thread:
         is_thread_closed = cc_content["closed"]
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ def get_editable_fields(cc_content: Union[Thread, Comment], context: Dict) -> Se
         "abuse_flagged": True,
         "closed": is_thread and has_moderation_privilege,
         "close_reason_code": is_thread and has_moderation_privilege,
-        "pinned": is_thread and has_moderation_privilege,
+        "pinned": is_thread and (has_moderation_privilege or is_staff_or_admin),
         "read": is_thread,
     }
     if is_thread:
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/discussion/rest_api/serializers.py b/lms/djangoapps/discussion/rest_api/serializers.py
index 5f18281c422c..4ac573e76670 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/discussion/rest_api/serializers.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/discussion/rest_api/serializers.py
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ def get_context(course, request, thread=None):
         "cc_requester": cc_requester,
         "has_moderation_privilege": has_moderation_privilege,
         "is_global_staff": is_global_staff,
+        "is_staff_or_admin": requester.id in course_staff_user_ids,
     }
 
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/discussion/rest_api/tests/test_permissions.py b/lms/djangoapps/discussion/rest_api/tests/test_permissions.py
index 5ad67619ef64..756229150e30 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/discussion/rest_api/tests/test_permissions.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/discussion/rest_api/tests/test_permissions.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ def _get_context(
     allow_anonymous=True,
     allow_anonymous_to_peers=False,
     has_moderation_privilege=False,
+    is_staff_or_admin=False,
 ):
     """Return a context suitable for testing the permissions module"""
     return {
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ def _get_context(
         "discussion_division_enabled": is_cohorted,
         "thread": thread,
         "has_moderation_privilege": has_moderation_privilege,
+        "is_staff_or_admin": is_staff_or_admin,
     }
 
 
@@ -96,7 +98,7 @@ def test_comment(self, is_thread_author, thread_type, is_privileged):
 @ddt.ddt
 class GetEditableFieldsTest(ModuleStoreTestCase):
     """Tests for get_editable_fields"""
-    @ddt.data(*itertools.product(*[[True, False] for _ in range(5)]))
+    @ddt.data(*itertools.product(*[[True, False] for _ in range(6)]))
     @ddt.unpack
     def test_thread(
         self,
@@ -105,6 +107,7 @@ def test_thread(
         allow_anonymous,
         allow_anonymous_to_peers,
         has_moderation_privilege,
+        is_staff_or_admin,
     ):
         thread = Thread(user_id="5" if is_author else "6", type="thread")
         context = _get_context(
@@ -113,11 +116,14 @@ def test_thread(
             allow_anonymous=allow_anonymous,
             allow_anonymous_to_peers=allow_anonymous_to_peers,
             has_moderation_privilege=has_moderation_privilege,
+            is_staff_or_admin=is_staff_or_admin,
         )
         actual = get_editable_fields(thread, context)
         expected = {"abuse_flagged", "copy_link", "following", "read", "voted"}
         if has_moderation_privilege:
-            expected |= {"closed", "pinned", "close_reason_code"}
+            expected |= {"closed", "close_reason_code"}
+        if has_moderation_privilege or is_staff_or_admin:
+            expected |= {"pinned"}
         if has_moderation_privilege and not is_author:
             expected |= {"edit_reason_code"}
         if is_author or has_moderation_privilege: