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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$98,815 GS-13 Step 1 in San Francisco (2015)
$128,457 GS-13 Step 10 in San Francisco (2015)
+$25,700 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2015 GS-13 pay table for San Francisco

Each step below already includes the 35.15% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-13 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $98,815 $3,800.58 $47.35 +$25,700
Step 2 $102,109 $3,927.27 $48.93 +$26,557
Step 3 $105,402 $4,053.92 $50.50 +$27,413
Step 4 $108,696 $4,180.62 $52.08 +$28,270
Step 5 $111,989 $4,307.27 $53.66 +$29,126
Step 6 $115,283 $4,433.96 $55.24 +$29,983
Step 7 $118,577 $4,560.65 $56.82 +$30,840
Step 8 $121,870 $4,687.31 $58.39 +$31,696
Step 9 $125,164 $4,814.00 $59.97 +$32,553
Step 10 $128,457 $4,940.65 $61.55 +$33,409
← GS-12 Calculate my take-home GS-14 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Francisco pays

  • Base GS-13 Step 1 $73,115
  • San Francisco GS-13 Step 1 $98,815
  • Locality add-on +$25,700
  • Adjustment percent 35.15%
  • Base GS-13 Step 10 $95,048
  • San Francisco GS-13 Step 10 $128,457

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-13 in San Francisco: what to expect

Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.

For 2015, the San Francisco pay area adds a 35.15% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 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-12 level.

Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.

The rough military equivalent for GS-13 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-13 in San Francisco

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $3,801 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,941. 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-13 San Francisco page.

Other grades in San Francisco

GS-13 in San Francisco questions

  • How much does a GS-13 make in San Francisco?
    In 2015, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $98,815 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $128,457. This is 35.15% higher than the base GS-13 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in San Francisco?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2015, it is 35.15%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $25,700 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in San Francisco?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $3,801 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.