2015 GS-12 Pay in Washington DC
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 24.22% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $61,486 on the base table to $76,378 in Washington DC.
2015 GS-12 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $76,378 | $2,937.62 | $36.60 | +$14,892 |
| Step 2 | $78,924 | $3,035.54 | $37.82 | +$15,388 |
| Step 3 | $81,471 | $3,133.50 | $39.04 | +$15,885 |
| Step 4 | $84,017 | $3,231.42 | $40.26 | +$16,381 |
| Step 5 | $86,564 | $3,329.38 | $41.48 | +$16,878 |
| Step 6 | $89,110 | $3,427.31 | $42.70 | +$17,374 |
| Step 7 | $91,657 | $3,525.27 | $43.92 | +$17,871 |
| Step 8 | $94,203 | $3,623.19 | $45.14 | +$18,367 |
| Step 9 | $96,750 | $3,721.15 | $46.36 | +$18,864 |
| Step 10 | $99,296 | $3,819.08 | $47.58 | +$19,360 |
2015 GS-12 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 24.22% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $76,378 | $2,937.62 | $36.60 | +$14,892 |
| Step 2 | $78,924 | $3,035.54 | $37.82 | +$15,388 |
| Step 3 | $81,471 | $3,133.50 | $39.04 | +$15,885 |
| Step 4 | $84,017 | $3,231.42 | $40.26 | +$16,381 |
| Step 5 | $86,564 | $3,329.38 | $41.48 | +$16,878 |
| Step 6 | $89,110 | $3,427.31 | $42.70 | +$17,374 |
| Step 7 | $91,657 | $3,525.27 | $43.92 | +$17,871 |
| Step 8 | $94,203 | $3,623.19 | $45.14 | +$18,367 |
| Step 9 | $96,750 | $3,721.15 | $46.36 | +$18,864 |
| Step 10 | $99,296 | $3,819.08 | $47.58 | +$19,360 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Washington DC: what to expect
Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
For 2015, the Washington DC pay area adds a 24.22% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-12 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-11 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
The rough military equivalent for GS-12 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-12 in Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,938 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,819. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2015 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-12 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-12 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Washington DC?
In 2015, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $76,378 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $99,296. This is 24.22% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2015, it is 24.22%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $14,892 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,938 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.